Latest UK Passport Updates 2026: New Fees, ETAs & Digital Borders

Following a series of major Home Office announcements between February and April 2026, here are the three biggest official changes to the UK passport and travel system that you need to know about right now.

1. The April 2026 Passport Fee Increases

On April 8, 2026, His Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO) officially increased the fees for almost all passport application categories. The government stated these increases are necessary to shift the financial burden away from general taxation, ensuring the passport system is entirely funded by the people who use it.

Here is the new official fee structure you must pay at checkout:

Applying from Within the UK:

• Standard Adult Online: £102.00

• Standard Child Online: £66.50

• Paper Application (by Post): £115.50 (Adults) / £80.00 (Children)

• 1-Day Premium Service (Urgent): Now £239.50 (Up from £222)

Applying from Overseas (Expats):

• Overseas Standard Adult Online: £116.50

• Overseas Standard Child Online: £75.50

• Overseas Paper Application: £130.00 (Adults) / £89.00 (Children)

Pro Tip: With prices rising, you cannot afford to have your application rejected due to a faulty photo. Using a specialized service like Passport Photo Digital ensures your digital photo code passes the strict HMPO automated checks on your very first try, preventing you from having to restart the costly application process.

2. February 25th: Strict Enforcement of the ETA Border Scheme

As of February 25, 2026, the UK border fundamentally changed. The Home Office is now strictly enforcing the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme.

This means that non-visa nationals from 85 countries (including the US, Canada, Australia, and France) must hold a valid digital ETA to board a flight to the UK.

The Dual National Trap:

Because British citizens are legally exempt from immigration control, they cannot apply for an ETA. However, if you are a dual citizen and try to travel to the UK using your American or Australian passport, the airline will ask for an ETA. When you don't have one, you will be denied boarding.

To travel smoothly in 2026, dual nationals are strongly advised by GOV.UK to always travel with their valid British passport to prove their exemption from the ETA requirement.

• Emergency Transitional Measure: Recognizing that the strict February 25th rollout caught many expats by surprise, the Home Office introduced a temporary waiver. At an airline's discretion, you may be allowed to board using a foreign passport if you can also present an expired British passport issued in 1989 or later. However, this is a short-term operational fix and should not be relied upon for future travel.

3. The New "Digital" Certificate of Entitlement

What if you are a British citizen but absolutely refuse to carry a British passport? Before this year, you had to apply for a physical "Certificate of Entitlement" stamp to be placed inside your foreign passport.

This process was historically frustrating because the physical certificate expired the moment your foreign passport expired, forcing you to pay the massive application fee all over again.

The Fix: On February 26, 2026, the Home Office launched the new Digital Certificate of Entitlement.

• According to GOV.UK, Certificates of Entitlement are now issued strictly in a digital format linked to your UK Visas and Immigration account.

• The Massive Benefit: This means you only need to apply for the certificate once. It no longer expires alongside your physical foreign passport. When you renew your foreign passport, you simply log into your UK account and update your document details to keep your digital travel permission active.