New passports are to include expensive technology to help se

A rise in the cost of Passport to £66 will include mircro chips to aid security

Travel Insurance News - 09/08/2006

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A second jump in 10 months for passport fees may come as a surprise to travelers. The overall jump of 57 per cent since December last year, is to pay for new security measures including digital photograph inclusion and the inclusion of a microchip. There are also enhanced background checks and, from early 2007, new face to face interviews for first time passport applicants. From October 5th the rise in a standard 10 year passport will take the price to £66, a rise of 29 per cent from £51. In December last year the fees went up from £42, a rise of £24 in less than a year.

The Home Office minister Joan Ryan said: 'There is a cost to the anti-fraud measures that we are introducing, but we are clear that it is a price that must be paid to protect the integrity of our travel documents and improve the security of our borders.' She added: 'From the end of this summer all new British passports will be ePassports, containing a secure chip storing the holder's personal details and a scan of their photo, as well as other improved security features. 'This provides enhanced security and reassurance for the holders and is in line with internationally-agreed standards aimed at combating the growing threat of fraud and forgery.' The Home Office insisted the biometric ePassport is the most secure passport ever produced by the UK.

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