You cannot apply to either service if you are currently outside the UK or you are applying for your first ever adult passport
13:04, 16 May 2025Updated 13:05, 16 May 2025
There are two options if you are in urgent need of a new passport(Image: Getty Images)
Realising you need a new passport before a big holiday abroad can be a nightmare. Thankfully, two surprisingly rapid solutions could help rescue your vacation plans.
The Government posted these options to X just yesterday in a crucial alert. With summer just around the corner, many Brits are jetting off to various far-flung destinations.
“Need a passport urgently?”, it read. “You’ve got two options: one day premium or one week fast track. You’ll need: your old passport if you have it, a digital photo of you, [and] a credit or debit card.”
Both options are recommended if you need a passport but believe the standard service, of roughly three weeks, could be too long. Sometimes the typical service can take longer than three weeks if more information or an interview is required.
Content cannot be displayed without consentOption 1: One-day premium
The first rapid option, a one-day premium, is exclusive to adults who need to renew an existing passport. Travellers are encouraged to apply online, where they will be instructed to pay £222, or £235 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport.
Each application will then be followed by an appointment – the earliest you can book is two days after. Current Government advice also explains: “You’ll need to hand in your old passport at your appointment.
“Your new passport will be ready to collect from the passport office four hours after your appointment.”
Option 2: One-week fast track
This alternative option is similarly available to anyone who needs to renew their passport. However, it is also available in the following circumstances:
- You need to replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport
- You need to get a child’s passport
- You need to change the personal details on a passport (your name, place of birth or gender)
The fast track option is cheaper, costing £178 for an adult passport (£191 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport) or £145 for a child passport (or £158 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport). The soonest you can schedule an appointment is the day after you submit your application. The passport will usually arrive one week after.
Critically, you cannot apply to either service if you are currently outside the UK or you are applying for your first ever adult passport. The Government’s advice continues: “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.”
For more information, head to the Government’s website.