Brits can get a new passport in 4 hours – who is eligible

You’ll need the travel document to visit countries outside of the UK, so it’s important you have a valid one before you try to plan a trip.

Booking a trip involves lots of research, packing and organisation, and it’s easy to forget to check your passport is still valid for travel, so if you need one at the last minute – here’s how you can get yours fast.

How long does it take to get an urgent passport?

If you think using the standard passport renewal service will take too long, the government advises paying for the quicker premium service.

It shared how Brits can benefit from the service on X today (March 24).

The online service allows you to book your appointment at a passport office, as well as apply and pay for your new passport.

Appointments can be booked up to three weeks ahead and they last up to 10 minutes.

If you choose the fast track service, which is another way to get an urgent passport, you should expect it to arrive a week after your appointment.

How much does an urgent passport cost?

An urgent passport application using the premium service costs £222 for a standard adult passport or £235 for a 54-page frequent traveller adult passport.

Currently, before passport prices are set to increase in April, a standard adult passport applied for online costs £94.50, while a postal application will set you back £107.

A 54-page frequent traveller adult passport applied for online costs £107.50 while a paper application costs £120.

Take your old passport to the appointment with you so you can hand it in.

Four hours after your appointment, your new passport will be ready to collect.

The service cannot be used to renew a child’s passport, however, an urgent child’s passport can be applied for through the one week fast track service.

What you need to apply for ETIAS

The government warns: “If you’ve already applied for a passport and have not received it yet, do not pay for an urgent passport.

“You will not get your passport sooner and you will be charged a £32 admin fee for each additional application.”

How is fast track different to a premium urgent passport?

Using the fast track service, you can renew a passport, change personal details on your passport, replace a passport or get a passport for a child.

You can expect to pay £178 for an adult passport (or £191 for the frequent traveller option) and £145 for a child passport (or £158 for a frequent traveller passport).

The government website adds: “The earliest you can get an appointment is the next day after you apply.

“Your new passport will be delivered to you by courier 1 week after your appointment.”

It’s worth knowing that urgent passports cannot be issued to adults who want to buy their first adult passport.

You will need to be in the UK to apply for an urgent passport.

Can you change or cancel your appointment? See if someone can attend for you

If you have booked an appointment, you can no longer attend, you can either cancel or rearrange it.

Your confirmation email will give instructions on how to change it but if you need to cancel your appointment, you’ll need to do so at least 48 hours before or pay £32.

No refunds will be given if you miss your appointment, and to get a passport, you’ll need to book another and pay again.

The government explained that someone else can attend the appointment for you: “You can ask someone else to go to your appointment for you.

“They’ll need to bring your application reference number, which starts with ‘PEX’.

“You’ll find this on your confirmation email and in any text messages you get about your appointment.”

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If you used the premium service, the person you nominate will need to make sure they also have your old passport and a letter that is signed and dated by you – it needs to name them and give them permission to collect the new passport for you.

They will also need a form of ID for themselves, like a passport or driving licence.

If you used the fast track service, the person you nominate to collect your new passport will need your old passport and any documents the service said to bring.

This is in addition to your application reference number starting with ‘PEX’.

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