Passport fees - how can they justify them?

Question

£72 for a renewal - whats that about?

Answer 1

It's always the same with things that you can only get in one place, oh and plus the government get the profit so go figure

Answer 2

I know and £46 for a child's passport that only lasts 5 years! hmmmm disgraceful.

Answer 3

Our fees doubled not longer after the US began requiring the new style chip enhanced passports after 9/11. These passports are more expensive to produce and require stricter guidelines (ie, many countries changed the photo requirements).

Countries in the Visa Waiver Program implemented it fairly quickly, as it meant that if you didn't carry one of the new style passports, you wouldn't be allowed entry to the US under the VWP and would have to apply for a tourist visa instead, which would mean a huge inconvenience to their citizens. It also meant that you'd go through much tighter security checks at the border.

It's required for all countries now, though I believe the VWP countries were allowed a shorter timeframe to implement the new system than non-VWP.

Answer 4

Terrorism costs lots of money! Passport fees and many others have skyrocketed in the name of protection from extremists!

Answer 5

well it,s $100.00 here in canada. It,s just more cash in the trough for the Gov,t pigs to feed at. LOL

Answer 6

Tell me about it!

Some how they lost mine and its MY fault! So ive got to pay for new 1! JOKE!

Seriousely PISSED OFF with this!

Answer 7

Passport fee is not based on cost basis.

Answer 8

Somewhere a government employee has to process the paperwork - no matter how simple that paperwork is to process.  Your fee pays their wages and helps compensate for the electricity used during the process, the wear and tear on the computer, the amount of paper supplied and on and on...

Answer 9

they don`t have to justify it, theirs no one to stop them from raising it even higher.

its a rip off,baby!

Answer 10

It is just the "grease" that keeps your government running.

Answer 11

I see the British Pound sign so that tells me it's not just the USA that DOUBLED the fee a couple of weeks ago!

World governments are banding together to eliminate the middle class.

Glad I got mine a couple months ago.

Answer 12

In India it is Rs. 1000/-. Passport fee is not based on cost basis. Govt. has to make many expenses on records, enquiry, making booklet on best paper etc. Fee is normally more to avoid application from each person. Only genuine traveller should apply and pay.

Answer 13

You want it to be supported by the tax payers?