Holiday warning as passports lost by Home Office reach a 5-year high

07 February 2023 , 08:37

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Brits have been warned to allow 10 weeks for new passports (Image: Getty Images)

Brits have been warned to allow 10 weeks for new passports if they are planning to travel abroad this summer.

Figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats through parliamentary questions show the number of passports lost by the Home Office has hit a five-year high.

The department has now reportedly advised that the 10-week deadline introduced during the pandemic would remain in place due to an “elevated” and “volatile” demand for travel documents.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman told MPs: "I note that last spring there were serious concerns about the performance of the Passport Office, concerns which prompted the HASC to inquire into the issue.

"I have made it a priority to fix this issue since I became Home Secretary.

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The number of passports lost by the Home Office has hit a five-year high (Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

"I am pleased that since September, the team at the Passport Office have worked hard to reduce processing times and despite very high demand so far this year, last week 99.5% of all UK applications were completed within ten weeks. Indeed, last week, 97.2% of all UK applications were completed within three weeks.

"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."

But the Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, Wera Hobhouse, has called on the Home Office to "step up and take decisive action" amid what she described as "endless travel chaos".

She told the Telegraph: “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.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, Wera Hobhouse, criticised the "endless travel chaos" (file photo) (Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

“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 these figures comes amid a hike in passport fees – which came into effect last Thursday.

From February 2, the cost of applying for a new British passport rose from £75.50 to £82.50 for adults, and £49 to £53.50 for children.

While postal applications for passports will increase from £85 to £93 for adults and £58.50 to £64 for children.

The Government’s webpage said of the fee 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.

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“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 first time in five years that the cost of applying for a passport has increased, the Home Office said, adding that the proposals are subject to parliamentary scrutiny.

Katie Weston