UK Passport Cost vs EU Countries 2026
UK adult passport renewal at GBP 102 sits at the higher end of EU member-state fees. Spain charges EUR 30, France EUR 86, Germany EUR 70. The post-Brexit practical-value gap is bigger than the headline fee gap. Updated 8 April 2026.
In one paragraph
UK passport renewal at £102 is more expensive than most EU equivalents. Spain (€30), Sweden (SEK 400), and Portugal (€65) are the cheapest. Italy (€73.50 base plus stamp duty) and the Netherlands (€88.96) approach the UK fee. The fees compare apples-to-apples on 10-year validity, but the post-Brexit travel-rights gap means EU passports are worth substantially more in practice.
Adult Passport Renewal Fees Compared
| Country | Adult fee | Approx GBP | Validity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | £102 | £102 | 10 years | HMPO; ETIAS required for EU travel |
| Ireland | €75 | ~£65 | 10 years | DFA; EU passport, no ETIAS |
| France | €86 | ~£74 | 10 years | Online via service-public.fr |
| Germany | €70 (standard) | ~£60 | 10 years | Bundesdruckerei; €100 for express |
| Spain | €30 | ~£26 | 10 years | Lowest in EU; Comisaria-de-Policia |
| Italy | €73.50 + €42.50 stamp | ~£100 | 10 years | Stamp duty adds significantly |
| Netherlands | €88.96 | ~£77 | 10 years | Approaches UK rate |
| Belgium | €65 + €30 to €105 town fee | ~£82 to £147 | 7 years | Shorter validity; municipal supplement |
| Sweden | SEK 400 | ~£30 | 5 years | Cheap fee, shorter validity |
| Denmark | DKK 1,000 | ~£115 | 10 years | Among the highest in the EU |
| Portugal | €65 | ~£56 | 5 years (adults) | 5-year validity unusual |
| Poland | PLN 140 | ~£28 | 10 years | Low fee; EU passport benefits |
Fees from each country's passport-issuing authority website as published in 2026. EUR / SEK / DKK / PLN conversions to GBP at approximate exchange rates. Confirm at the respective official sources: gov.uk/passport-fees, dfa.ie/passports/fees, service-public.fr.
Where the UK Stands
Ranking EU member states by adult passport fee (10-year validity equivalent), the UK sits in the upper middle:
- Cheapest tier (under EUR 35): Poland, Sweden (5-year), Spain
- Low tier (EUR 35 to 65): Portugal, Czech Republic, Hungary, Ireland, several Eastern European states
- Middle tier (EUR 65 to 90): Germany standard, France, Belgium base, Netherlands
- Upper-middle tier (EUR 90 to 130): Italy (with stamp), UK (GBP 102 ~ EUR 119), Denmark
- Highest tier (EUR 130+): Germany express, Belgium with high municipal fee, urgent-service variants
UK fees are higher than most EU comparators but not the highest. The April 2025 and April 2026 UK increases moved the UK from a middle position to upper-middle. Future EU increases may close the gap; the UK is unlikely to fall back into the middle tier without a fee reduction.
Why Spain Is So Cheap
Spain's EUR 30 adult passport fee is conspicuously low. Three reasons:
- Passport issuance handled by national police (Comisaria de Policia). Costs are absorbed into general police budgeting rather than passport-fee-only cost recovery.
- Subsidised by general taxation. The Spanish model treats passports as a basic citizen service, not a self-funded operation.
- Policy choice. Successive Spanish governments have kept the fee low explicitly to support travel and migration. Increases have been rare and modest.
UK applicants cannot get a Spanish passport without Spanish citizenship, which requires either descent (limited Spanish-ancestry options exist) or 10 years of legal residence. So the EUR 30 fee is mostly relevant as a comparison data point rather than a practical alternative.
The Italian Stamp-Duty Quirk
Italy publishes a EUR 73.50 base passport fee, but actual cost is closer to EUR 116 because of the marca da bollo (stamp duty). The full breakdown:
- Base passport fee: €73.50
- Stamp duty (marca da bollo): €42.50
- Total cost: €116 for a 10-year adult passport
That puts Italy slightly below the UK in effective adult-passport cost (EUR 116 vs UK GBP 102 ~ EUR 119) but with the practical advantage of being an EU passport.
Children: Where the Gap Widens
Many EU member states offer significantly cheaper child passports than the UK. A comparison:
| Country | Child fee | Approx GBP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | £66.50 | £66.50 | 5-year validity |
| Ireland | €20 to €40 | ~£17 to £35 | Sliding scale by age; 3 to 5 years |
| France | €17 to €42 | ~£15 to £36 | By age |
| Germany | €37.50 | ~£32 | Under-12 reduced fee |
| Spain | €30 | ~£26 | Same as adult |
| Italy | €73.50 + €42.50 stamp | ~£100 | No child discount |
For a family of four (2 adults, 2 children) the UK total at 2026 rates is GBP 337. The Irish equivalent (EUR 150 adults + EUR 40 to 80 children) is roughly GBP 165 to 200. The gap widens substantially with children.
Post-Brexit: The Practical Value Gap
The fee comparison understates the practical difference between a UK and an EU passport. Post-Brexit:
- ETIAS authorisation required (about EUR 7 every 3 years from 2026)
- Non-EU border queues at most EU airports
- 90-day-in-180-day Schengen limit
- No automatic right to work or live in EU
- Some EU countries impose additional document checks
- Free movement throughout the EU and Schengen
- Right to live, work, study in any member state
- EU border queues (typically faster)
- No 90-day-in-180-day limit
- Access to EU citizens-rights services (consular, EHIC, voting in EU elections)
For occasional EU travellers, the fee difference matters; for frequent travellers, the rights difference matters more. A UK citizen with Irish ancestry (or via another EU descent route) often finds the time-investment in obtaining an EU passport worth the practical benefits, regardless of the modest fee saving.