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How much does a press card cost?

The FJA press card costs £82 for 12 months, £130 for 24 months or £156 for 36 months – one payment, no membership fee and no automatic renewal. Postage to the UK costs £5.99 per order; within the EU it is free.

A UK Press Card from one of the UKPCA gatekeepers usually costs less as a one-off fee but is tied to union or association membership: the NUJ, for example, issues it free of charge to eligible members whose subscription starts at £18.85 a month. Below you will find all prices, what they include and how they compare.

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FJA press card front side with sample data – price from £82 for 12 months

FJA press card prices

You choose the validity in the application. Longer validity lowers the price per year.

12 months

£82

£82 per year

24 months

£130

£65 per year – save £34

36 months

£156

£52 per year – save £90

What is included
Review of your application before printing	included
Printing on a durable PVC card in ID-1 format (85.60 × 53.98 mm)	included
Personal card number and QR code linked to an online verification page	included
Full refund if we decline your application	included
Membership fee or annual subscription	none
Automatic renewal	none

Prices are final prices; where VAT applies it is included. As shown at checkout, October 2026.

Postage and delivery time

Your card is printed after the review and sent by post.

Destination	Postage	Typical time
United Kingdom	£5.99 per order	14–18 working days processing + 3–7 working days delivery
European Union	Free	14–18 working days processing + 3–7 working days delivery
Rest of the world (including the USA)	£5.99 per order	14–18 working days processing + up to 14 working days delivery

Working days exclude weekends and public holidays. If we need to ask you for examples of your work, the time starts once your application is approved. Plan ahead if you need the card for a specific event: accreditation deadlines are often weeks before the event – see how press accreditation works.

What does the UK Press Card cost?

The UK Press Card is issued by 22 gatekeepers. Each sets its own fee, and most link it to membership.

Gatekeeper	Cost of the card	Membership
NUJ	Free of charge for eligible members	Full members £18.85–£32 a month depending on earnings; temporary members from £6.22 a month
CIoJ	Included for full and trainee members	Full £16.50 a month, trainee £8.25 a month
BAJ	£39.50 for 2 years (members); £87 plus £20 admin fee (non-members)	Optional
BPPA	£50 admin fee plus membership or an equivalent fee	Photographers only
NMA, PPA and others	NMA: £42 for staff of member publishers, £77 for non-member national or regional papers; PPA: £40 – both need sponsorship by an employer or editor	Depends on the gatekeeper

Sources: NUJ, CIoJ, BAJ, BPPA, NMA and PPA websites, October 2026. Fees change; please check the gatekeeper’s own page before applying.

If you qualify for the UK Press Card and already belong to a union, it is usually the cheaper and more widely recognised option in the UK. The FJA card is designed for people who do not qualify, do not want to join a union, or work across borders. More: the UK Press Card explained and NUJ press card.

Is there a free press card?

Not really – someone always pays for checking, printing and verifying a card.

“Free” with membership

Unions such as the NUJ issue the UK Press Card at no extra charge, but only to members who meet the scheme rules – and membership has a monthly cost. Students on journalism courses can join the NUJ for £10 a year and apply for its UK student press card.

Free online “press passes”

Some websites offer free or printable press passes. They are usually templates without any check or verification, so organisers and police have no way to rely on them. Making your own card can also raise legal questions – see make your own press card and fake press card.

Why press card prices differ so much

You are not paying for plastic. You are paying for what stands behind the card.

A union fee covers far more than the card: legal advice, representation, training and campaigning. A gatekeeper’s card is cheap because the membership already finances the organisation. Commercial cards range from free templates to more than £130; the differences lie in whether applications are checked, whether the card can be verified, whether the issuer is identifiable and how honestly the limits are explained.

The FJA price covers the review of every application, production on a durable card, a verification page that shows whether the card is valid, customer support and refunds for declined applications. What it does not buy is access: no press card guarantees entry, accreditation or discounts. See press card benefits for a realistic picture.

Payment, cancellation and tax

Simple payment, clear refund rules.

Payment methods

Debit and credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Depending on your country, local methods such as iDEAL, Bancontact, BLIK, EPS, Przelewy24, Trustly, MyBank or Multibanco may also appear at checkout.

Cancellation and refunds

A cancellation is not possible because your card is made individually for you. If we decline your application, you receive a full refund. Details: cancellation policy.

Tax

If you are self-employed, costs incurred wholly for your business can usually be claimed as allowable expenses. Whether this applies to you depends on your circumstances – see HMRC guidance on GOV.UK or ask an accountant. You receive an invoice by email.

What the FJA card is – and what it is not

Before you apply, it helps to know exactly where this card fits next to the UK Press Card.

What it is

A photo press card in English for people who work journalistically but fall outside the UK Press Card scheme: freelancers without union membership, photographers, bloggers, creators and people starting out.
Checked by a person before it is printed. Anyone can confirm it is genuine through the QR code on the card (how verification works).
A quick way to show organisers, press offices and venues who you are – alongside your published work and, ideally, a commissioning letter.

What it is not

It is not the UK Press Card. That card is issued only through the 22 gatekeepers of the UK Press Card Authority and is the press ID recognised by the UK police chiefs’ associations. If you qualify for it, get it.
It has no standing in the UKPCA scheme. The UKPCA warns that “press cards” sold by other organisations have no standing or value within its system. That is true for ours too: the FJA card is a separate, openly issued card and we never present it as a UK Press Card.
No card guarantees access. Police, organisers and press offices decide case by case. College of Policing guidance also lets officers accept a letter from your editor instead of a UK Press Card.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a press card in the UK?

The FJA press card costs £82 for 12 months plus £5.99 postage to the UK. A UK Press Card through a gatekeeper ranges from free for eligible union members to about £87 plus an admin fee for non-members of the BAJ.

Is the NUJ press card free?

The NUJ issues the UK Press Card free of charge to members who are eligible under the scheme rules. Membership itself costs from £18.85 a month for full members, depending on earnings.

Are there hidden costs?

No. You pay the card price and, outside the EU, £5.99 postage. There is no membership fee, no subscription and no automatic renewal.

Is the 24-month or 36-month card worth it?

If you expect to keep working journalistically, yes: the 24-month card costs £65 per year and the 36-month card £52 per year, compared with £82 for 12 months.

Do I get a discount as a student?

No, the price is the same for everyone. Students over 18 who publish journalistic work regularly can apply under the normal requirements.

What does a replacement card cost if I lose it?

A replacement card costs £17. Report the loss in your customer area “My press card” and order the replacement card there; it shows the same details as your previous card and is valid until the same expiry date.

Do I get a refund if my application is declined?

Yes, in full, including postage, to the original payment method. We only produce the card after approving your application; no voluntary cancellation is offered.

Can my employer pay for the press card?

Yes. Your employer or client can pay the order. The card itself is personal and must carry your own details and photo.

Is there a discount for a follow-up card?

Yes. If you order a follow-up card through your customer area before your current card expires, you get a 10% loyalty discount, deducted automatically in the basket. After expiry, a personal offer we send you by email may apply (currently 20% for 30 days). Discounts cannot be combined with discount codes; the higher discount applies.

Sources and last review

News Media Association – Press cards – fees
PPA – Press cards – fees
NUJ – how much will it cost? – membership rates
NUJ – press and membership cards
CIoJ – membership bands
BAJ – UK Press Card guidance – fees and validity
BPPA – UK press cards – fees
GOV.UK – expenses if you are self-employed

Written and reviewed by the FJA editorial team. Last reviewed: 23 October 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.