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AIBU?

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Original poster

The cost of a passport is just stupid

282 replies

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 09:14

That’s it really.

£94.50 for the actual passport, which is alright, I suppose.

£10 for the pictures because you need the fancy digital codes now and can’t just have a picture

£10 for guaranteed postage of the old one back to them, because of course they can’t just have a database that they update to say that one has expired or been replaced.

£115 in total! Bring on the days that it becomes totally digital.

OP posts:
Simonjt · 27/11/2025 09:52

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 09:49

It’s a book. You have to pay for visas for most places these days. You’re not able to fast track through passport control anymore.

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You can visit 115 countries without a visa if you have a British passport, 184 if visa on arrival, like the etsa or a landing card. There are 195 countries in the world.

dontmalbeconme · 27/11/2025 09:51

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 09:49

Photos and postage are actually required.

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But you can take your own photo and use standard post.

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 27/11/2025 09:51

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 09:26

It’s just ludicrously overpriced. For such a small document. It’s a book.

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It’s a tax. That’s why it costs a lot.

MsDoof · 27/11/2025 09:51

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 09:26

It’s just ludicrously overpriced. For such a small document. It’s a book.

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So if passports were bigger in size that would be okay? 😂😅 it’s not about the size of them, it’s their function. They also last for a decade.

Mercurial123 · 27/11/2025 09:50

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 09:46

But it’s not a tenner a year, is it? It’s £115 up front. You can’t pay it on a yearly basis

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Just stay at home. And you're not going to win this debate you're ridiculous.

Coffeeishot · 27/11/2025 09:50

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 09:49

It’s a book. You have to pay for visas for most places these days. You’re not able to fast track through passport control anymore.

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The ultimate first world problem, what is your real issue ?

dontmalbeconme · 27/11/2025 09:50

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 09:46

But it’s not a tenner a year, is it? It’s £115 up front. You can’t pay it on a yearly basis

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Save £1 per week for the next 10 years and you'll have more than enough saved when your next renewal comes up. (Likely enough for the renewal and a weekend break!)

ObelixtheGaul · 27/11/2025 09:50

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 09:46

But it’s not a tenner a year, is it? It’s £115 up front. You can’t pay it on a yearly basis

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But it's not an unforseen expenditure, and it's also not an expenditure that cannot be delayed until funds become available if you are brassic when it's due for renewal.

Thewindowdressing · 27/11/2025 09:49

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 09:46

But it’s not a tenner a year, is it? It’s £115 up front. You can’t pay it on a yearly basis

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It's not unless you pay for what's basically premium services.

Original poster
SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 09:49

Simonjt · 27/11/2025 09:49

It’s only £115 if you choose to pay for extras that aren’t needed, I’m tight so I don’t.

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Photos and postage are actually required.

OP posts:
Original poster
SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 09:49

Cynic17 · 27/11/2025 09:47

OP, your passport is one of the most valuable things you will ever own, it's not "just a book"!
I think £10 a year to travel the world (& have the protection of the British Embassy if you have problems abroad) is an absolute bargain.

It’s a book. You have to pay for visas for most places these days. You’re not able to fast track through passport control anymore.

OP posts:
Simonjt · 27/11/2025 09:49

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 09:46

But it’s not a tenner a year, is it? It’s £115 up front. You can’t pay it on a yearly basis

Show quote history

It’s only £115 if you choose to pay for extras that aren’t needed, I’m tight so I don’t.

Coffeeishot · 27/11/2025 09:48

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 09:26

It’s just ludicrously overpriced. For such a small document. It’s a book.

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It is a legal document so you can travel, yes it is expensive but how much do you think it should be?

TheBlackSheepbaaaa · 27/11/2025 09:48

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 09:31

And the risk of it being turned down is a lot higher

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My 13 year old daughter took my photo for my last passport renewal. I just stood against a white door. I applied online and the photo was accepted first time.

dontmalbeconme · 27/11/2025 09:47

Less than £100 for 10 years freedom to travel. Utter bargain!

Cynic17 · 27/11/2025 09:47

OP, your passport is one of the most valuable things you will ever own, it's not "just a book"!
I think £10 a year to travel the world (& have the protection of the British Embassy if you have problems abroad) is an absolute bargain.

Original poster
SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 09:46

ObelixtheGaul · 27/11/2025 09:37

Cheaper than a tenner a year?

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But it’s not a tenner a year, is it? It’s £115 up front. You can’t pay it on a yearly basis

OP posts:
Chilliandbanana · 27/11/2025 09:46

From Jan 25 an Australian passport will cost $596. I think £94.50 is very reasonable actually.

ItsInTheSingingOfAStreetCornerChoir · 27/11/2025 09:45

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 09:37

Or they could be made cheaper

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It’s not a notebook from WHSmiths that they’ve stuck your photo in. The security checks that are needed, the anti forgery technology plus the size of the operation is huge. As others have said £94.50 for ten years is not bad.

Chersfrozenface · 27/11/2025 09:44

Northquit · 27/11/2025 09:40

If you only want it as id then it's expensive.

For many ID purpose, including voting, you can use a provisional driving licence. It costs £34 to apply for one online.

user56439842965 · 27/11/2025 09:44

You can take your own photo - it tells you if the photo is good enough. Just the lighting is a bit of a faf to get right.
I’ve never knowingly paid to have the old passport returned, its just turned up sometimes before the new one.

It’s not just a bit of paper - there is a lot of tech in there. We've just had to do companies house ID with a smart phone app, you put your phone on top of the closed passport and it reads something or other so there must be a chip or similar in the cover. (Can you tell I'm a technophobe?! - if I can do the application online anyone can)
It’s absolutely right that you pay for a passport, the poor old taxpayer can’t take much more!

Genevieva · 27/11/2025 09:44

I don’t think it is. They might look like they are just a little book, but they have sophisticated technology in them. To give a price comparison, it’s about the same cost as 2 weeks’ petrol for me to get to work. They last 10 years, so cost about £10 a year or less than £1 a month.

Sprogonthetyne · 27/11/2025 09:42

I did my application online and uploaded a picture I'd taken on my phone. The postage was £3-4 not £10.

Winterwonderwhy · 27/11/2025 09:41

Oh please stop complaining. Do you want it for free? It will last you a decade!

Northquit · 27/11/2025 09:40

If you only want it as id then it's expensive.