Page 7 | The cost of a passport is just stupid

SoloTripSoloVibes · 2025-11-27T09:14:46+00:00

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.

Katiesaidthat · 27/11/2025 10:30

Chilliandbanana · 27/11/2025 09:46

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

Gosh, my Spanish passport costs 30€! It also lasts 10 years and also has a chip and anti forgery technology. So the OP does have a point about price, many do it for less, except in the anglosphere where everything has to cost hundreds...
She doesn´t have a point when she says it is just a book, it isn´t.

Coffeeishot · 27/11/2025 10:30

Spiderx · 27/11/2025 10:28

Yeah, but the thing that really gets me ...you have to be ' validated' by some other human being ( that has a posh job too) I am my own human being , I don't need to be 'validated' by someone else !!

It isn't validation it is someone saying you are who you say you are.

My dh and Dd can countersign if they wanted to and definitely not "posh jobs".

ChristmasMantleStatue · 27/11/2025 10:29

Tammygirl12 · 27/11/2025 09:33

Just follow the guildines, white background and no shadows. It’s super basic stuff

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I was pleasantly surprised when I did DH and DS1s with my camera phone. Got them both to stand in the bath next to the white tiles. Sorted straight away.

Mind you, happy memories of when I got DS1's first passport aged 3 months .... the passport photo people lay him down on a white blanket and we all stood over him and cooed while they took the photo.

Imisscoffee2021 · 27/11/2025 10:28

I think a large part isn't just the admin, the cost to print such an important document to try and prevent counterfeiting us much higher than printing something as simple as a book. Embossing, water marks, hologram, plastic additions etc all adds up. It's expensive yes, but it does last a long time so spread over the years it's active its very little.

Imisscoffee2021 · 27/11/2025 10:28

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 09:26

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

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I think a large part isn't just the admin, the cost to print such an important document to try and prevent counterfeiting us much higher than printing something as simple as a book. Embossing, water marks, hologram, plastic additions etc all adds up. It's expensive yes, but it does last a long time so spread over the years it's active its very little.

Coffeeishot · 27/11/2025 10:28

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 10:23

I think they should be cheaper. They should include the cost of posting it back in the cost of application.

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But they pay for other services connected to travel that affect you. On the off chance you needed the brittish embassy would you want a lesser service because you didn't want to pay a few,pounds postage

Spiderx · 27/11/2025 10:28

Yeah, but the thing that really gets me ...you have to be ' validated' by some other human being ( that has a posh job too) I am my own human being , I don't need to be 'validated' by someone else !!

Greggsit · 27/11/2025 10:27

They should include the cost of posting it back in the cost of application.

Why? You're the one wasting money by spending more than you need to send it back.

Noshadelamp · 27/11/2025 10:26

"it's just a book"
😂

Surely you know your passport is more than just a book.

Apple2Orange · 27/11/2025 10:26

LighthouseLED · 27/11/2025 09:36

Passports aren’t compulsory.

If you don’t like the cost, don’t get one 🤷‍♀️

Personally I think it’s well worth it

Passports are expensive if you only need them for photo ID and a disability means you can't opt for the cheaper provisional driving licence, though perhaps that's something the proposed digital ID would be useful for.

It might not be much spread over 10yrs but is a lot out of your budget in one go if on a low income.

Christmascarrotjumper · 27/11/2025 10:25

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 10:23

I think they should be cheaper. They should include the cost of posting it back in the cost of application.

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Why do you think they should be cheaper? Are you suggesting they should be subsidised by taxpayers?

mrssquidink · 27/11/2025 10:23

Radiatorvalves · 27/11/2025 10:16

Such a shame we don’t have ID cards which enable us to travel in Europe without a passport. But we voted for Brexit. The gift that keeps on giving. And yes, for those of you that need British passports you will need a European visa fairly soon. Sorry I don’t know specifics as I am fortunate to have an Irish passport.

Not a visa but a visa waiver. A moot point as to what difference there is as you have to apply and pay for it, but the visa waiver is considerably cheaper (20€ and children go free, as compared to 90€ for adults/35€ for children for an EU visa).

Pearlmaster500 · 27/11/2025 10:23

Radiatorvalves · 27/11/2025 10:16

Such a shame we don’t have ID cards which enable us to travel in Europe without a passport. But we voted for Brexit. The gift that keeps on giving. And yes, for those of you that need British passports you will need a European visa fairly soon. Sorry I don’t know specifics as I am fortunate to have an Irish passport.

Yes haha even more tedious for the ones who voted to oppose 😂

I think the visa thing is starting in 2026 at some point

Original poster

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 10:23

Coffeeishot · 27/11/2025 10:22

You think passports are a "scam" I don't really know what else there is to say to you, i don't know what your agenda is.

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I think they should be cheaper. They should include the cost of posting it back in the cost of application.

OP posts:

fancytoes · 27/11/2025 10:23

It’s expensive, yes, but you’re willfulky paying more to go via the paper route and old fashioned photos. Do it online, upload free photos that tell you if they’re good and get the cheapest postage. Still a lot I guess as an initial outlay 🤷🏼‍♀️

PsychoSyd · 27/11/2025 10:22

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 09:31

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

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Then follow the online guidance for taking a suitable picture.

The British passport is a highly secure document in that it has many security features to help prevent it being counterfeited and thereby not only safeguarding your identity against fraud but the security of the U.K. None of these come cheap. You may also be surprised to know that the cost is heavily subsidised as the true cost would run to about £300 odd pounds.

There’s also the fact that you don’t have to have one if you don’t intend to travel out of the U.K., thereby saving yourself the money.

Coffeeishot · 27/11/2025 10:22

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 10:19

Exactly. Such a scam.

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You think passports are a "scam" I don't really know what else there is to say to you, i don't know what your agenda is.

WalkDontWalk · 27/11/2025 10:20

...what do you need a passport for? Travelling?

A hundred quid is likely to be a very small proportion of the cost of doing that for ten years, even if you only go abroad once a year.

I think it's very reasonable.

Christmascarrotjumper · 27/11/2025 10:20

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 10:19

Exactly. Such a scam.

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It's really not.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 27/11/2025 10:20

Chilliandbanana · 27/11/2025 09:46

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

😱!! That is serious $$$!

anniegun · 27/11/2025 10:20

Its a once in a decade cost. Not really a problem

jellybellyready · 27/11/2025 10:19

You can do the picture yourself, its not hard.

I dont know why you are bothering to get one if £115 is too much for you, the price of the holiday will be a lot more and it lasts 10 years.

Original poster

SoloTripSoloVibes · 27/11/2025 10:19

Radiatorvalves · 27/11/2025 10:16

Such a shame we don’t have ID cards which enable us to travel in Europe without a passport. But we voted for Brexit. The gift that keeps on giving. And yes, for those of you that need British passports you will need a European visa fairly soon. Sorry I don’t know specifics as I am fortunate to have an Irish passport.

Exactly. Such a scam.

OP posts:

Coffeeishot · 27/11/2025 10:18

Stillpoor · 27/11/2025 10:13

I had no proof of my mother so had to go down the legal route.
Also had no suitable countersigner.

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Ah ok that sounds complicated and stressful least you got there in the end.

Isthismykarma · 27/11/2025 10:18

I think it’s good value for money at a tenner a year. However, I do sympathise that £100 upfront is a lot of money for a lot of people, and I don’t understand why people on this thread can’t see that. When I was younger I had family abroad. I could afford the £30 return Ryanair flights but couldn’t afford the passport, so the cost definitely is a barrier for many which is a shame.