The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is poised to introduce new charges for Britons this week. From Wednesday, April 9, 2025, the government will implement new fees for emergency travel documents (ETDs) and emergency passports.

An ETD permits international travel in urgent circumstances when a British passport cannot be used, for example, if it is lost. It is usually valid for either a single journey or a return trip.

The revised fee now includes the cost of delivering the emergency travel document, which was previously an additional charge. Emergency passports are issued in exceptional cases, mainly when an ETD cannot be supplied.

The existing fee for processing an emergency travel document application is £100. This will remain until April 8, but by April 9, the price will rise to £125.

The current fee for processing an application for providing an emergency passport, on occasions when it is not possible to provide an emergency travel document, is £75. This will stay the same until April 8, but from April 9, it will increase to £125, reports the Liverpool Echo.

An emergency travel document allows you to travel internationally when you need to do so urgently and are unable to use your UK passport. Typically, it is valid for just one single trip or a return journey.

This document allows passage through up to five countries. You can apply for an emergency travel document if all the following apply:

• you’re a British national
• you’re outside the UK
• you need to travel within 6 weeks
• your UK passport has been lost, stolen, damaged, is full, has recently expired or is with HM Passport Office or a foreign embassy
• you cannot renew or replace your UK passport from abroad before you travel
• you have had a valid UK passport that was issued on or after 1 January 2006

If your UK passport was issued before January 1, 2006, you will typically need to apply for a UK passport rather than an emergency travel document. You might be able to get an emergency travel document if all the following apply:

• you have, or are eligible for, British nationality
• you’re outside the UK
• you need to travel within 6 weeks
• you have an urgent and unplanned reason to travel due to exceptional circumstances

Exceptional circumstances may include the following:

• your child was born unexpectedly
• you need urgent medical treatment that you cannot access without travel to another country
• you wish to attend the funeral of a close relative

If you haven't received a UK passport issued on or after January 1, 2006. In that case, you won't be able to obtain emergency travel documents for holidays, weddings, family gatherings, or job interviews.

You'll need to clarify the urgency of your trip and provide supporting evidence to demonstrate its necessity. Each application will be evaluated individually.

Before submitting your application, verify whether the countries you intend to depart from, enter, and transit through will accept an emergency travel document. This also includes checking if a visa is required.

You can apply online only if your passport was issued on or after January 1, 2006. The application fee is currently £100, but it will rise to £125 on April 9. Refunds are not available.

To apply for your emergency travel document online, you will need:

• a valid digital passport photo that meets the guidelines and has not been used in a previous passport
• a contact telephone number
• an email address
• a debit or credit card for the fee

A relative or friend can pay for you if you cannot pay using the online service. For example, because you've lost your wallet.