Home › Comparison

Press card comparison UK: UK Press Card, NUJ, CIoJ, BAJ, IFJ and FJA

For professional newsgatherers working in the UK, the UK Press Card from a UKPCA gatekeeper is the strongest press card, because UK police guidance is built around it. For freelancers, part-timers and online journalists who do not meet gatekeeper criteria, an association card such as the FJA press card is the practical alternative. The IFJ card is for union members working abroad.

This comparison lists the main press cards available to journalists in the UK, with their criteria, costs, validity and recognition – based on the issuers’ own websites, checked in October 2026.

Apply for the FJA card Full table

At a glance

Best for UK newsgatherers: UK Press Card (via NUJ, CIoJ, BAJ, BPPA and others)
Best for union members abroad: IFJ International Press Card (UK: via NUJ)
Best without membership or income test: FJA press card
Not recommended: Unchecked template or novelty cards

All UK press cards at a glance

Criteria and costs from the issuers’ own pages.

Card / issuer	Who can get it	Cost	Validity
UK Press Card via NUJ	Eligible NUJ members; full membership needs at least 50% of earned income from journalism (25% under 30)	Card free for eligible members; full membership £18.85–£32 a month	Per UKPCA scheme, renewed via NUJ
UK Press Card via CIoJ	Full and trainee members directly involved in newsgathering	Full £16.50, trainee £8.25 a month	Per UKPCA scheme
UK Press Card via BAJ	Staff or freelancers for major UK news organisations with paid, credited work and an editor’s letter; no bloggers or influencers	£39.50 members; £87 + £20 non-members	2 years
UK Press Card via BPPA	Professional news photographers	£50 admin fee plus membership or equivalent	Up to 2 years
IFJ International Press Card	Members of IFJ-affiliated unions (UK: NUJ)	Fee set by the union, on top of membership	2 years
FJA press card	Adults 18+ who work journalistically on a regular basis	€95 / €150 / €180, no membership	12, 24 or 36 months

Sources below. Fees and criteria change; check the issuer before applying.

Recognition: who accepts which card?

Recognition is decided by the person checking the card, not by the issuer.

Context	UK Press Card	IFJ card	FJA press card
UK police	Recognised under College of Policing guidance	Not specifically mentioned	Not part of the guidance
English football (EFL)	Accepted ID	Not listed	Not listed
Press offices and local events	Widely accepted	Accepted	Often accepted after verification
Major events and Parliament	Outlet accreditation decisive	Outlet accreditation decisive	Outlet accreditation decisive
Abroad	Designed for UK use	Endorsed by unions in 148+ countries (IFJ)	English-language card, QR verification

Strengths and limits of each option

An honest assessment.

UK Press Card

Recognised by UK police
Often free with membership

Strict professional criteria
Usually requires membership

IFJ card

Long-established international card
Backed by national unions

Only for union members
Extra fee

FJA card

No membership or income test
Open to online and part-time journalists

Not part of UK police guidance
Not accepted where only the UK Press Card counts

Which press card should you choose?

Answer three questions.

Do you work professionally as a newsgatherer in the UK? Yes → apply for the UK Press Card through the right gatekeeper.

Do you want union services and work abroad? Yes → consider NUJ membership and the IFJ card.

Do you publish regularly but part-time, online or without membership? Yes → the FJA press card.

Many journalists hold more than one card – for example a UK Press Card for domestic news and an association card for international or freelance work. The UKPCA rules allow only one UK Press Card per person.

Cards to avoid

Not every card is worth having.

Avoid cards from anonymous websites that do not check applicants, cannot be verified, imitate the UK Press Card design or promise VIP access, free entry or immunity from police. The UKPCA warns against organisations that sell press cards with such claims, and we agree. Signs of a trustworthy issuer: a named organisation with contact details, a review of each application, a way to verify cards and honest statements about limits. More: fake press card and can you buy a press card?

Checklist: compare any press card offer

Use these questions for any card – ours included.

Question	Why it matters
Who issues the card, and can you contact them?	An issuer with a name, address and legal notice can be held to account
Does the issuer check applicants?	A card anyone can buy says nothing about the holder
Can the card be verified?	Organisers need a quick way to confirm a card is genuine and valid
What does it cost over three years?	Annual fees and memberships add up; one-off cards are easier to compare
What does the issuer say the card does not do?	Honest issuers state clearly that there is no guaranteed access or discount
Is there a minimum age?	Responsible issuers do not sell press cards to children

Frequently asked questions

Which press card is best in the UK?

For professional newsgatherers, the UK Press Card, because UK police guidance refers to it. For part-time, online and freelance journalists who do not qualify, an association card such as the FJA card.

Is the NUJ press card a UK Press Card?

Yes. The NUJ is a UKPCA gatekeeper and issues the UK Press Card free of charge to eligible members.

What is the cheapest press card?

For eligible NUJ members the UK Press Card is free, but membership costs from £18.85 a month. The FJA card costs €95 for 12 months without membership.

Can I hold more than one press card?

Yes, different cards can be combined. The UKPCA scheme allows only one UK Press Card per person.

Is the FJA card a UKPCA card?

No. It is an association press card issued by the Freelance Journalists Association.

Which card works abroad?

The IFJ card is endorsed by unions in more than 148 countries; the FJA card is an English-language card with QR verification. Recognition abroad is never guaranteed.

Which press card is most widely recognised in the UK?

The UK Press Card, issued through the gatekeepers of the UK Press Card Authority, is the best-known card in the UK, especially with police. Other cards, including ours, are assessed by each organiser individually.

Sources and last review

Last reviewed: October 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.