1 Week Fast Track vs 1 Day Premium Passport Service
Two urgent passport services, one for renewals, changes, replacements and children, one for adult renewals only. Here is how they differ on timing, fees, who is eligible and what photo you need, and when to pick each.
By Helal · Last updated
What are the urgent passport services?
If a standard application will not arrive in time, GOV.UK offers two faster, paid options. The 1 week Fast Track service delivers a passport by courier a week after an appointment. The 1 day Premium service has it ready to collect from a passport office four hours after an appointment.
They are not interchangeable. They differ in who can use them, how fast they are and what they cost, and choosing the wrong one costs either money or time you do not have. This guide compares them side by side, using GOV.UK's current figures.
Fees and rules change, so treat every price below as correct at the time of writing and check GOV.UK before you book. The standard service is covered in how long a UK passport takes, which is the place to start if you have not yet worked out whether you need an urgent service at all.
1 week Fast Track
Who can use it. GOV.UK says it covers "renewal, personal detail changes, replacement, and child passports." That makes it the broader of the two services.
How it works. You apply online, then book an appointment. GOV.UK states: "The earliest you can get an appointment is the next day after you apply." Your new passport is "delivered to you by courier 1 week after your appointment."
What it costs. At the time of writing:
- an adult passport is £192 (or £206 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport)
- a child passport is £156.50 (or £170.50 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport)
The photo. You need "a digital photo of you," submitted as part of the online application.
1 day Premium
Who can use it. Adults renewing a passport, and no one else. GOV.UK says: "You can only use this service to renew an adult passport." It is not available for children, replacements or first applications.
How it works. You apply online, then book an appointment at a passport office. The earliest appointment is "2 days after you apply." Bring your old passport, which you hand in at the appointment. Your new passport is "ready to collect from the passport office 4 hours after your appointment."
What it costs. At the time of writing it is £239.50 (or £253.50 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport).
The photo. As with Fast Track, you supply "a digital photo of you" during the online application.
Side by side
- Fast Track — who: renewals, personal detail changes, replacements and child passports. Premium — who: adult renewals only.
- Fast Track — earliest appointment: the day after you apply. Premium — earliest appointment: two days after you apply.
- Fast Track — how you get it: delivered by courier one week after your appointment. Premium — how you get it: collected from the passport office four hours after your appointment.
- Fast Track — adult fee: £192. Premium — adult fee: £239.50.
- Fast Track — child: available (£156.50). Premium — child: not available.
- Both — photo: a digital photo, submitted online.
The fees above are from GOV.UK at the time of writing. Confirm them before you commit.
Which one should you choose?
The decision usually comes down to three questions.
Are you renewing an adult passport? If not, Premium is not available, and Fast Track is your only faster option. That covers children, replacements and personal detail changes.
How many days do you have? Count from the day you apply. Fast Track needs a day before the earliest appointment, then a week for courier delivery, so roughly nine days in all. Premium needs two days before the earliest appointment, then four hours. If you have less than about nine days, Premium is the only one that fits, and only if you are eligible for it.
Can you get to a passport office? Premium needs you to attend an appointment and collect the passport in person. Fast Track delivers to you. If getting to a passport office is hard, that matters as much as the price.
It is also worth remembering that a standard application is often fast enough. Where the trip is more than a few weeks away, the standard service is the cheaper choice. The urgent services are for when it is not.
When neither is right
GOV.UK points to two alternatives for genuine emergencies:
- Medical treatment, government business or a family emergency: call the Passport Adviceline instead of using the paid services.
- You are abroad: apply for an emergency travel document.
Neither of those is a general fast lane. They are for emergencies with a reason, so use the services above for ordinary urgent trips.
Get the photo right, because there is no time to redo it
The urgent services compress the whole process into days, which makes a rejected photo far more costly than it is on the standard route. Both services need a digital photo uploaded with the application, and there is little slack if it has to be replaced.
Before you upload:
- check the file is at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, and between 50KB and 10MB
- make sure it is taken in the last month, in colour, in focus and unaltered
- check the content: plain light background, facing forwards, plain expression with mouth closed, eyes open, no shadows, no red eye
The complete list is in passport photo file requirements, and the common reasons photos fail are covered in why UK passport photos get rejected. If you would like the photo checked before you submit, the passport photo checker reads it against the main requirements.
Do not book travel until the passport arrives
GOV.UK gives a simple warning that applies to every route: "Do not book travel until you have a valid passport — your new passport will not have the same number as your old one." Even with an urgent service, wait until the passport is in your hands.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Fast Track and Premium?
Fast Track is a one-week service for renewals, personal detail changes, replacements and child passports, delivered by courier. Premium is a one-day service for adult renewals only, collected from a passport office.
How much does the 1 day Premium service cost?
At the time of writing, £239.50 for a standard adult passport, or £253.50 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport. Check GOV.UK for the current fee.
How much does 1 week Fast Track cost?
At the time of writing, £192 for an adult passport and £156.50 for a child passport. The 54-page frequent traveller versions cost £14 more.
Can I use Premium for my child?
No. GOV.UK says Premium can only be used to renew an adult passport.
Do I need a photo for the urgent services?
Yes, a digital photo submitted with your online application.
Do I have to hand in my old passport?
For Premium, yes: you hand it in at the appointment.
Sources
- GOV.UK, Get a passport urgently
- GOV.UK, Apply for or renew a passport
- GOV.UK, Get a passport photo