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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:
tedibear · 27/11/2025 12:35

I just did mine few weeks ago. I paid £94.50 and sent it Royalmail tracked which was about £3.50. I don’t think that’s too bad to be honest.

Didn’t pay extra to get the old one back and I did the photos myself on my iPhone. It’s so much easier than it was a few years ago and I spent a fortune getting pictures done at Timpsons for the kids.

NoSoapJustUseShowerGel · 27/11/2025 12:32

The last few passport renewals we’ve done (for four family members over the last few years) we’ve just taken our own photos on our phones, according to the guidelines and uploaded them - costs nothing.

Topseyt123 · 27/11/2025 12:31

What a load of utter bollocks from the OP, who is absolutely determined to be right come what may.

EBearhug · 27/11/2025 12:30

I met someone at a women in tech event who was a graphic designer for passports - some of the security stuff is really interesting (and some of it is secret, so there's probably even more interesting stuff.) It seems pretty good value for money to me.

Waltzers · 27/11/2025 12:30

Another Aussie here who's spent a small fortune on Australian passports this year. Needed 4 renewed, plus 3 British ones. The British ones weren't only considerably cheaper but also easier to organise despite applying from the other side of the world!

Thechaseison71 · 27/11/2025 12:28

Keepoffmyartichokes · 27/11/2025 12:06

I think they mean the new ETIAS security check that's is coming in at some point. You will need to pay £20 I think but it will last 3 years and will allow travel to the Schengen area

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There is no visa for UK citizens to travel to Europe so I'm not sure why a PP says they stand in a queue and have to pay for one

JackGrealishsCalves · 27/11/2025 12:27

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 09:26

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

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But it lasts you 10 years so £11 a year

Thechaseison71 · 27/11/2025 12:25

scalt · 27/11/2025 11:00

It’s a stealth tax on travel, in keeping with the green agenda.

Only half joking. But wasn’t it about £15 in 1980?

But £15 in 1980 is about the equivalent of £85 now so not much difference really.

Wexone · 27/11/2025 12:21

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 11:36

Ah yes, I have to pay for a visa to visit Europe and stand in queues for hours to get in. So strong

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Of course you do - thats what UK people voted for with Brexit 😂No one forcing you to get a passport - you don't have to leave the UK ever

Coffeeishot · 27/11/2025 12:21

TigerRag · 27/11/2025 12:02

What? When I moved house both times I needed ID and I still sometimes get ID'd for age restricted stuff and I needed ID on Tuesday to pick up my parcel

A citizens card isn't accepted everywhere

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Fair about the house move I use my bank card if im picking up a parcel or the email I've never been asked for photo ID.

Hoodlumboodlum · 27/11/2025 12:17

So about £10 a year. Seems very reasonable to me although I understand it could feel very pricey if you're a family of 5 and they all need buying/updating at the same time.

Theyreeatingthedogs · 27/11/2025 12:16

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 09:37

Or they could be made cheaper

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How would that work then? Please explain you detailed scheme to make passports cheaper.

MyAmusedPearlSquid · 27/11/2025 12:15

Did my own photo it has a indicater on it to tell you how likely it is to be accepted so photo free was accepted-

Tracked delivery signed for i think i paid £6 this was about 4 months ago

Simonjt · 27/11/2025 12:12

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 12:11

But it’s not a yearly cost. It’s a one off cost.

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It is a one off cost if you choose not to save up.

Chersfrozenface · 27/11/2025 12:12

And of course ETIAS is a visa waiver programme. Like ESTA for the USA and the ETA for Australia.

Original poster
SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 12:11

BashfulClam · 27/11/2025 12:09

£11.50 a year? That’s not crazy.

But it’s not a yearly cost. It’s a one off cost.

OP posts:
BashfulClam · 27/11/2025 12:09

£11.50 a year? That’s not crazy.

Keepoffmyartichokes · 27/11/2025 12:06

Noshadelamp · 27/11/2025 12:03

Which European countries require a visa on a UK passport?

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I think they mean the new ETIAS security check that's is coming in at some point. You will need to pay £20 I think but it will last 3 years and will allow travel to the Schengen area

Noshadelamp · 27/11/2025 12:03

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 11:36

Ah yes, I have to pay for a visa to visit Europe and stand in queues for hours to get in. So strong

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Which European countries require a visa on a UK passport?

TigerRag · 27/11/2025 12:02

Coffeeishot · 27/11/2025 11:20

What are you using id for that you need a passport?

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What? When I moved house both times I needed ID and I still sometimes get ID'd for age restricted stuff and I needed ID on Tuesday to pick up my parcel

A citizens card isn't accepted everywhere

Keepoffmyartichokes · 27/11/2025 12:01

Bumblebee72 · 27/11/2025 11:59

I just used a selfie for my last passport photo...

Me too 😁

Frynye · 27/11/2025 12:01

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 11:40

Well, it is.

for £100 they can’t have a digital database where I just give my name and they can renew it?

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If you do an online renewal it’s all there. You put in your old passport number and it asks you if everything is the same! That’s exactly what you are asking for.

Its a five min job

XWKD · 27/11/2025 12:01

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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What have visas got to do with it? The charges are imposed by the issuing country.

Keepoffmyartichokes · 27/11/2025 12:00

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 11:40

Well, it is.

for £100 they can’t have a digital database where I just give my name and they can renew it?

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And what happens when a fraudsters does that and then has photo ID in your name which then allows them to take out loans etc all in your name.
You will be sorry then.

Grammarnut · 27/11/2025 12:00

When it's totally digital your ID will be more open to theft, not everyone will comply with the rules, a sun spot or solar flare will disrupt the lot or bad actors will. Better a hard, paper copy every day of the week. And it's only necessary to pay this once every 10 or 15 years - hardly a burden. It's a bit like complaining about the licence fee - its approx 40p a day (for which I get the i-player, BBC channels and their news, the proms, local radio, radios 1 to 5 etc - cheap in fact and no adverts - indeed I am not sure why Sky et al need to charge me at all since they are funded by adverts (me once more!)!). 115/10 years is £11.50 a year, not a lot.

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