Renewing your passport doesn’t come cheap, but some British nationals are able to get the essential international travel document free.
Britons born on a certain date are eligible for a free passport. (Image: Getty)
British nationals can get a passport free of charge if they’re born on or before a certain date. With the UK in the midst of January gloom and Storm Chandra unleashing rain and snow across parts of the country this week, many Britons will be eyeing up a continental getaway for some sun.
Rules brought in post-Brexit mean UK nationals travelling to the European Union must ensure that passports are issued less than 10 years before they enter a country in the bloc, and it must also be valid for three months after the planned departure date from that nation. Renewing your passport doesn’t come cheap, starting from £61.50 for children’s passports with an online application, and up to £222 for the 1 Day Premium option (for those who need a passport urgently).
Passport eGates: Home Office outlines how to use them
But people born in certain years aren’t subject to renewal fees. In fact, they don’t have to pay for getting a passport at all.
People born on or before September 2, 1929, are eligible for what’s known as a Concessionary Passport for which they aren’t charged.
The waver was announced by the British Government back in May 2004, as part of a series of measures launched to recognise the contribution of British nationals to the war effort.
This included a concessionary passport to people who were old enough to have taken part in World Wars 1 and 2. They began being offered in October of that year.
Those eligible must meet the date of birth criteria and hold any British nationality at the time of their application.
Individuals can qualify whether they’re naturalised or registered as British nationals.
The waver applies for standard 32-page passports, with applicants also not charged secure delivery fees to return the new passport or supporting documents to an address in the UK or overseas.
However, customers still have to pay for any additional services, such as the standard fee for a frequent traveller passport or the service level element of Premium and Fast track services.
But this will be the difference between the base rate a non-eligible adult applicant would pay for a passport (£94.50) and the additional cost associated with the urgent service, not the full amount.
Eligible applicants also don’t have to not pay the Post Office Check and Send fee for using these services. Additionally, if eligible customers pay the Check and Send fee in error, they are eligible for a refund from the Post Office.
You can find out more on the Government website.
