Home › Comparison › Without membership

Press card without membership: one payment, no subscription

Most UK Press Cards are tied to membership of a union or professional body – the card may be free, but the subscription is not. The FJA press card works differently: you pay once for 12, 24 or 36 months (€95, €150 or €180), there is no membership, no monthly fee and no automatic renewal.

Membership has real advantages – legal advice, representation, campaigns. But not every journalist needs or wants it, especially part-timers and people outside the UK. Here is how the two models compare over time.

Apply for your press card Check the requirements

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

Cost over two years: membership vs one-off card

A simple comparison of what you pay in total.

Option	What you pay	Total over 24 months
NUJ full membership, grade 1 (up to £20,000 earnings)	£18.85 a month; UK Press Card free if eligible	£452.40
NUJ temporary membership (years 1–2)	£6.22 then £13.20 a month	£233.04
CIoJ full membership	£16.50 a month	£396.00
BAJ UK Press Card, non-member	£87 + £20 admin fee	£107.00
FJA press card, 24 months	€150 once + €6.99 postage to the UK	€156.99

Calculated from the issuers’ published rates, October 2026. Membership includes services beyond the card; the comparison only shows the cost of holding a card. Eligibility criteria differ – see press card comparison.

What membership gives you – and what the FJA card does not

Be clear about the trade-off.

Union or institute membership

Legal advice and representation
Employment support and collective bargaining
The UK Press Card, recognised by UK police
Training, networks and campaigns

FJA press card

A verifiable press ID without commitments
No income or membership criteria
Open to online and part-time journalists

No legal advice or representation
Not a UK Press Card

Who benefits from a card without membership?

Typical situations.

Part-time journalists

Who do not meet income thresholds. More

Creators and bloggers

Who are excluded by some gatekeepers. More

International freelancers

Who work across borders. More

No subscription traps

How we keep it simple.

There is no automatic renewal and no hidden fee. Your card simply expires at the end of its validity, and the verification page then shows it as no longer valid. If you want a new card, you order one – see renewal. You can cancel free of charge until production starts, and if we decline your application, you get a full refund. All rules are in our terms and conditions and cancellation policy.

Six questions to ask before you choose

Membership and a standalone card both have their place. Your answers to these questions show which fits you better.

Do you need the UK Press Card specifically?

Some organisers and police cordons in the UK look for the UK Press Card. If your work regularly depends on that, a gatekeeper route – staff employment or membership of a gatekeeper body – is worth the extra effort.

Do you want union or professional support?

Legal advice, rate guidance, training and a community are reasons to join a union or professional body, independent of any card.

How often do you report?

If journalism is a regular but smaller part of your working life, a one-off card for 12, 24 or 36 months may be easier to justify than an annual subscription.

What does it cost over three years?

Add up membership fees, card fees and any joining fees for the whole period, not just the first year. Our press card cost overview shows the FJA prices.

What happens if you stop?

Check whether a card stays valid if you leave a membership organisation. The FJA card stays valid until its expiry date as long as you keep working journalistically.

Can you combine both?

Yes. Many journalists are members of a union and also hold another press card for specific purposes. There is no rule against holding more than one card.

What you get with the FJA card – and what you do not

A clear picture avoids disappointment.

Included

A printed photo ID card with your name, photo and signature
Online verification through the QR code
A check of your application before printing
Validity of 12, 24 or 36 months
Support by email if your card is lost or details change

Not included

Membership, union rights or legal representation
The UK Press Card or recognition under the UKPCA scheme
Guaranteed access, accreditation or discounts
Insurance or legal advice

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a press card without joining a union?

Yes. The FJA press card requires no membership. UK Press Card gatekeepers usually require membership or employment.

Is a press card without membership less valuable?

It depends on where you use it. The UK Press Card is recognised by UK police; the FJA card is a verifiable association ID that many press offices and organisers accept.

Do I become a member of the FJA when I order?

No. Ordering creates no membership and no subscription.

Can I join a union later?

Yes, at any time. Many journalists hold an association card and later join a union, or the other way round.

Is there a monthly fee?

No. You pay once for the validity you choose.

Does the card renew automatically?

No. It expires at the end of its validity.

Is a card without membership less serious?

Not in itself. What makes a press card credible is a real issuer, a check of the applicant’s work and a way to verify the card. Membership adds services such as legal advice, but it does not automatically make a card more trustworthy.

Can I cancel a membership and keep using its press card?

That depends on the organisation’s rules. Many membership cards remain the property of the issuer and must be returned or stop being valid when membership ends. Check the terms before you cancel.

Do I have to renew automatically?

No. The FJA card is a one-off purchase for the period you choose. There is no subscription and no automatic renewal. Before your card expires, you can order a new one – see press card renewal.

Will I lose anything if I switch from a membership card to the FJA card?

You keep your journalistic work and contacts, but you lose the member services of the organisation, such as legal advice or union representation. If those matter to you, you can keep the membership and still hold an FJA card.

Sources and last review

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