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Press card requirements: who can apply?

You can apply for the FJA press card if you are 18 or over and work journalistically on a regular basis – in any medium, paid or unpaid, full-time or alongside another job. You confirm this in your application, and we check every application before the card is printed.

You do not need a journalism degree, union membership or a minimum income from journalism. That is the main difference from the UK Press Card, whose gatekeepers look for professional newsgatherers. On this page you will find exactly what we ask for, what we check and who does not qualify.

Apply for your press card Who it is for

At a glance

Price: €95 for 12 months · €150 for 24 months · €180 for 36 months
Delivery: Printed and posted 14–18 working days after payment; postage to the UK €6.99
Who can apply: Adults (18+) who work journalistically on a regular basis – staff, freelance or part-time
Checks: Every application is reviewed before printing; full refund if we decline it
Verification: QR code on the card links to a live verification page

The three requirements for the FJA press card

Every applicant must meet all three. There are no exceptions.

18 or over

The card is only issued to adults. We do not make exceptions, even with a parent’s consent. Young reporters will find alternatives on our page for under-18s.

Regular journalistic work

You research, report, comment, photograph or film for publication, and you publish regularly – roughly at least every two to three months. The outlet can be a newspaper, magazine, website, blog, channel, podcast or broadcaster.

Professional use only

You use the card only for your journalistic work, never to obtain private advantages. Details are in our usage guidelines, which form part of the terms and conditions.

What counts as journalistic work?

We look at what you do, not at your job title or your income.

This qualifies

News, features, interviews and investigations for print or online outlets
Reviews and criticism of music, film, games, food, travel or technology
Press, documentary or event photography and video intended for publication
Reporting or commentary on your own blog, YouTube channel or podcast
Student journalism for a student paper, radio or TV station (from 18)
Local and community reporting, including unpaid work

This does not qualify

Private hobby photography that is never published
Pure advertising, sponsored posts or influencer marketing without editorial content
Wanting a card mainly for free entry, discounts or parking
Corporate communications only – see press officers
Anyone under 18

Income is not a criterion. Many people publish journalism alongside another job or while studying, and that is exactly who our card is designed for – see part-time journalists and freelance journalists. If journalism is already your main income and you work as a newsgatherer in the UK, read the UK Press Card explained as well: it may suit you better.

What you need for the application

The application runs entirely online and takes about five minutes.

Documents and details

A recent passport-style photo as a JPG or PNG file – face centred, looking at the camera, plain light background, no sunglasses or hat
First name, last name, date of birth and nationality, exactly as you want them on the card
A signature text of up to 50 characters, printed on the card in a handwriting font
A valid email address and postal address for delivery

Confirmation and payment

Your confirmation that you are 18 or over and work journalistically – given in the order before checkout
Payment by debit or credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay or Google Pay; local methods such as iDEAL or Bancontact are offered where available
Optional but helpful: links to two or three recent publications in the order notes

No printing, scanning or posting of documents is needed.

How we check your application

A press card is only useful if it means something. That is why we review every order before printing.

Plausibility check of your details, date of birth and photo.

Review of your journalistic work – if anything is unclear, we email you and ask for links or examples.

Decision – approved applications go into production; declined ones are refunded in full.

We do not ask for payslips, contracts or a minimum income, and we do not require a letter from an editor. In return we expect honest answers: if it turns out that the card is used for private advantages or that the details were false, we may cancel it, as set out in the terms and conditions. A cancelled card must no longer be used.

Requirements compared with the UK Press Card

UK Press Card gatekeepers set stricter professional criteria. Here is how they compare.

Issuer	Main requirement	Membership
FJA press card	18+, regular journalistic work in any medium; self-declaration and review	Not required
NUJ (UK Press Card)	Eligible under the UKPCA scheme rules; full membership if at least half of earned income comes from journalism (25% under 30)	Required
BAJ (UK Press Card)	Verifiable published, paid and credited work and a signed letter from an editor; bloggers and influencers excluded	Optional, higher fee for non-members
BPPA (UK Press Card)	Professional news photographers only	Members and non-members
CIoJ (UK Press Card)	Professionals directly involved in newsgathering	Full or trainee membership

Sources: NUJ, BAJ, BPPA and CIoJ websites, checked October 2026. Full comparison including costs: press card comparison UK.

Photo requirements for your press card

A good photo makes the card easier to check at a glance.

Recent colour photo, taken within the last 12 months
Head and shoulders, face centred, looking straight at the camera
Plain, light background without patterns or other people
Even lighting, no strong shadows on the face

No sunglasses, hats or caps (religious head coverings are fine)
No filters, heavy editing or AI-generated images
No group photos or screenshots
No photos of a photo

The upload tool crops your image to the right format automatically.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be a professional journalist to get a press card?

No. You need to work journalistically on a regular basis, but it does not have to be your main job. Freelancers, part-time journalists, bloggers, podcasters and student journalists over 18 can apply.

Do I have to prove my income from journalism?

No. We do not ask for payslips or invoices and there is no minimum income. We may ask for links to published work if your application leaves questions open.

Is there a minimum age for a press card?

Yes. The FJA press card is only for adults aged 18 or over. There are no exceptions, not even with parental consent.

Can I apply if I do not live in the UK?

Yes. We post cards worldwide. Postage within the EU is free; to the UK and other countries it costs €6.99 per order.

Do I need a journalism qualification such as the NCTJ diploma?

No qualification is required. A qualification such as the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism can help your career, but it is not a condition for our card.

What if I only publish occasionally?

If you publish roughly every two to three months, please list a few examples in your application. If you publish less often or not at all, we will decline the application and refund you in full.

Can my editor or employer apply for me?

Each card is personal. The application must contain your own details and photo, and you confirm the requirements yourself. An employer can pay for the order.

What happens if I stop working as a journalist?

The card may only be used for journalistic work. If you stop, please stop using it; it expires at the end of its validity and is not renewed automatically.

Sources and last review

UK Press Card Authority – scheme rules – definition of an eligible newsgatherer
NUJ – how much will it cost? (membership criteria)
BAJ – UK Press Card guidance for applicants
BPPA – UK press cards
CIoJ – press cards

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