The price of a new adult British passport is now more than £88 after the Home Office hiked application fees.

Charges for all passports have increased by 7% from this week – a plan first announced by the government just over a fortnight ago.

Raising prices for new or replacement documents, say border officials, will help the Home Office move towards a system that meets its costs through those who use it, as it attempts to scale back the Passport Office's reliance on funding from general taxation.

The government insists it makes no profit from the cost of applications - with the fees people pay contributing both to the cost of processing applications alongside meeting budgets for additional services such as consular support overseas, including help with lost or stolen passports and the cost of processing British citizens at UK borders.

The cost of online applications made within the UK for people aged 16 and above is rising from £82.50 to £88.50 while passports for children under 16 will cost £57.50, up from £53.50.

A standard postal application is now £100.00 for adults and £69.00 for children alongside price hikes for those applying from overseas.

The changes come into force on Thursday, April 11.

Passport fees last rose in February last year.

The Home Office said in a statement: “The new fees will help ensure that income from these applications better meets the cost of delivering passport and associated operations, reducing reliance on funding from general taxation.

“The Government does not make any profit from the cost of passport applications.

“The fees 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.”