Lost UK Passport Replacement Cost 2026: What You'll Pay
Same cost as a normal renewal - no penalty fee. But you must cancel the lost passport before applying for a replacement.
Lost Passport Replacement Costs 2026
| Service | Adult | Child (under 16) | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard online | £102 | £66.50 | Usually within 3 weeks |
| Standard postal | £115.50 | £80 | Usually within 3 weeks |
| Fast track | £192 | £156.50 | ~1 week |
| Premium same-day | Not available | Not available | Adult renewals only |
Fees effective 8 April 2026, confirmed against gov.uk/passport-fees on 7 September 2026. The 1 day premium service cannot be used for a lost or stolen passport: gov.uk states it can only be used to renew an adult passport. Fast track is the fastest route for a replacement.
No penalty: HMPO does not charge extra for replacing a lost or stolen passport. The fee is the same as a standard renewal. There is no "lost passport surcharge".
Cancel the Lost Passport First: Free, and Irreversible
Cancelling costs nothing and you cannot apply for a replacement until it is done. Report it at gov.uk/report-a-lost-or-stolen-passport. You need a phone number to use the service, and a photo or photocopy of the missing passport helps you answer the questions it asks. You can report a passport for someone else if they cannot do it themselves. Cancellation is permanent: a passport you report lost can never be used again, even if it turns up the next day.
One exception, and it matters if you are abroad. If you are outside the UK and need to travel urgently, apply for an emergency travel document instead. gov.uk says that if you apply for one, you do not need to cancel your passport separately: the cancellation happens as part of that application. A fee applies. An emergency travel document is usually valid for a single or return journey through up to five countries, and you must need to travel within six weeks.
The full walkthrough, including how to cancel the passport of someone who has died, is on our cancel a passport page.
Sources: gov.uk, Report a lost or stolen passport (page updated 9 June 2025), and gov.uk, Travel urgently from abroad without your UK passport. Checked 7 September 2026.
What to Do: Step by Step
Go to gov.uk/report-a-lost-or-stolen-passport and cancel it online. This is free and takes 5 minutes. You cannot apply for a replacement until this step is done. Cancellation is irreversible - do not cancel unless you are sure it is lost.
Report the theft to your local police or use the Police non-emergency number (101) to get a crime reference number. Most travel insurance policies require a police report to process a claim for passport replacement.
Apply online at gov.uk/apply-renew-passport for the standard £102 service, or use 1 week fast track (£192 adult) if you need to travel urgently. The 1 day premium service is not available for a lost passport: gov.uk limits it to adult renewals.
If you lost your passport abroad, your travel insurance may cover the replacement cost. Check your policy before paying. Some insurers also cover emergency travel expenses while you wait.
Unlike a normal renewal where you keep your old passport while waiting, a lost passport means you have no travel document during processing. If you have upcoming travel, urgency services may be essential.
How to Apply for a Replacement Passport
Apply the same way you would renew, once the old passport is cancelled. There are two routes and one of them is closed to you. The standard online application costs £102 for an adult and usually takes around 3 weeks. If you need it sooner, the 1 week fast track service is £192 for an adult and £156.50 for a child, and gov.uk lists replacing a lost, stolen or damaged passport as one of the things fast track can be used for. The 1 day premium service cannot be used: gov.uk restricts it to adult renewals.
- Apply online at gov.uk. No office visit at any point
- Usually within 3 weeks, and a lost-passport case can take longer if HMPO runs extra checks
- £115.50 if you use the paper form instead of applying online
- Child under 16: £66.50 online, £80 by paper form
- Apply and pay online first, then book an appointment at one of the 7 passport offices
- Earliest appointment is the day after you apply; appointments can be booked up to 3 weeks ahead and last up to 10 minutes
- The passport is couriered to you a week after the appointment
- £156.50 for a child. Add £14 for the 54-page frequent traveller version of either
You will need a digital photo and your old passport if you still have it, which in a lost-passport case you will not. Have the cancellation confirmation to hand.
Sources: gov.uk/passport-fees and gov.uk, Get a passport urgently (page updated 4 November 2024). Fees effective 8 April 2026, checked 7 September 2026.
No Passport While Waiting - Why This Matters
When you renew normally, you keep your old passport while HMPO processes the new one. If your old passport has remaining validity you can still travel. With a lost passport replacement, there is no old passport to keep. You have no travel document until the new one arrives. If you have upcoming travel, factor this in - standard processing (usually within 3 weeks, longer if HMPO needs more checks on a lost-passport case) may leave you unable to travel. Fast track (about 1 week, £192 adult) is the only urgent route open to you, because gov.uk limits the 1 day premium service to adult renewals. If you are abroad, an emergency travel document is the route instead.
Travel Insurance and Lost Passports
Many annual and single-trip travel insurance policies include passport replacement cover. Check before paying the replacement cost yourself.
- Check your policy for "personal documents" or "passport replacement" cover
- Most policies require a police report if the passport was stolen
- Some policies also cover emergency transport to a passport office
- Keep receipts for all costs - insurers typically require proof of expense
Lost Passport FAQs
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