From 2 February, the fee for a standard online passport application, made from within the UK, will increase from £75.50 to £82.50 for adults and from £49 to £53.50 for children.

Postal applications, meanwhile, will increase from £85 to £93 for adults and from £58.50 to £64 for children. The proposals are yet subject to parliamentary scrutiny.

HM Passport Office said the new fees would help the Home Office "move towards a system that meets its costs through those who use it" and reduce support for passport services from general taxation.

It stressed: "The government does not make any profit from the cost of passport applications."

In addition, HM Passport Office said the fees 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 new fees include those newly applying or renewing their passport," added the passport office.

Since January 2022, HM Passport Office claims more than 95% of standard applications have been processed within 10 weeks. Those seeking to apply for a passport, or renew an existing passport, continue to be urged to apply in good time.