passports

[garf123gsd]

am i the only one that finds the increase in the price of a passport unreal and disgusting,and not only that the price of passport photos?

[kempie]

[Presuming you are in the UK]

A lot of the increase in the cost of a UK Passport is to fund the incorporation of biometric data into the ePassport, a requirement of the US if we wish to remain part of the Visa Waiver Program to enter that country, as well as it being the preferred security measure of the UK Government to combat ID fraud.

[heathfield]

I agree with you Garf. And it's an unfair cost to the public when, even if you never leave the UK , airline rules on ID mean you still have to have one for domestic flights.

[ugly_bob]

heathfield - you don't need a passport for domestic flights. Phot Id is required, such as a driving license. My gran flew with easyjet using her bus pass

[Jules001]

we did our own photos using the digital camera and printer and as long as you stick to the sizes given by them, there are no problems doing this.

[Trotbot]

The Foreign Office has decided that the real cost of providing services should be charged to the user. Therefore if you get drunk and lose your passport, wallet and ticket and turn up at an Embassy demanding to get home, you will pay the true cost of getting you home (and you better believe it is expensive and a thankless task). Passports are the same. It costs x to run the whole operation, there are y passports issued each year so the cost per passport is x/y
I get through a 48 page passport every 12-16 months. However, I accept that I have to pay for each renewal (and living outside the UK it is more expensive and time consuming as it is my choice, and my need.