Holidaymakers warned of 10-week wait for brand new passports amid price hike

Holidaymakers have been warned to permit 10 weeks for brand new passports if they’re planning to journey overseas this summer season.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the Home Office has suggested that the 10-week deadline launched throughout the pandemic would stay in place because of an “elevated” and “volatile” demand for journey paperwork.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman reportedly advised MPs: “We expect elevated demand for passports throughout the year – and demand can be volatile – so customers should continue to allow 10 weeks. I urge people to apply in good time and not at the last minute.”

It comes after figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats by submitting parliamentary questions which had been shared with the Telegraph mentioned the variety of passports misplaced by the Home Office was at a five-year excessive.

The Lib Dem MP for Bath, Wera Hobhouse, advised the paper: “These are new heights of incompetence for the Home Office. British travellers who urgently need new passports are being left high and dry by these endless delays.

“With more and more passports going missing each year, it’s no wonder people are fed up with this endless travel chaos.

“The Home Office needs to step up and take decisive action before more people are let down and lose confidence in these services.”

The publication of those figures comes amid a hike in passport charges – which got here into impact final Thursday.

From February 2, the price of making use of for a brand new British passport rose from £75.50 to £82.50 for adults, and £49 to £53.50 for kids.

While postal purposes for passports will improve from £85 to £93 for adults and £58.50 to £64 for kids.

The Government’s net web page mentioned of the price hike: “The new fees will help the Home Office move towards a system that meets its costs through those who use it, reducing reliance on funding from general taxation.

“The Government does not make any profit from the cost of passport applications.

“The fees will also contribute to the cost of processing passport applications, consular support overseas, including for lost or stolen passports, and the cost of processing British citizens at UK borders.

“The increase will also help enable the Government to continue improving its services.”

It is the primary time in 5 years that the price of making use of for a passport has elevated, the Home Office mentioned, including that the proposals are topic to parliamentary scrutiny.