Cheaper passports on the way for British expats

From April, Brits living in Spain will be able to enjoy a 35 per cent saving when they renew their UK passports.

Three years of ‘efficiency savings’ – largely as a result of the controversial decision to close many of the UK’s overseas passport processing centres, including the one at the British Embassy in Madrid – means that the cost savings can now be passed on to Brits living overseas, according to the British Foreign Office…The UK’s Immigration and Security Minister, James Brokenshire, has revealed that from April 7^th a standard 32-page adult British passport will cost just £45 for those who apply from overseas (£28.50 for children).

Currently, an adult passport costs £83 and a child’s £53, so if you are in a position to delay applying until that date passes, it would be wise to do so.

The larger, 48-page passports for adult parents with children will also enjoy a 35 per cent price reduction, costing £91 from April 7^th.

Since the British Embassy in Spain stopped issuing passports, delivery times have increased slightly to between four to six weeks, yet the impending cost savings – and the fact that applications can be made nine months in advance of the expiration date, with the extra time gained added to the new expiry date – are, quite literally a smaller price to pay for the extra wait.