Passport pains of the Internationista

Photo from British government site. Framed by Internationista

As an Internationista, one who has and continues to live in different countries around the world, I was revolted yet admittedly not surprised, to discover the costs of renewing a British passport differ greatly depending on which country you live in.

The fact that the end product is the same: a little burgundy book, the service is the same: renewal of passport and the buyer is the same: a British citizen, leaves one to question why one British citizen should pay more than another British citizen based on their current location?

Perhaps it is a question of postage? Though the discrepancy in fees does not match postage fees, in some cases those closer to the UK pay more, and additionally, according to the British government site the renewal of passports is processed in regional passport centres so perhaps international postage costs are irrelevant altogether?

So here's a quick look at the wide discrepancies for the same service and same product with very different charges. A British citizen wishing to renew their passport living in:

• UK pays just £77.50 (€93.86)
• Italy (€185)
• Australia $267.66 (€211.15)
• USA $243 (€186.03)
• Afghanistan $266 (€203.71)
• Serbia (€185)
• India (€160.92)
• Japan £147.86 (€179.10)
• Ireland (€185)
• Venezuela VEF1144 (€203.65)
• China £147.86 (€179.97)
• Nigeria NGN40,800 (€198.24)

So why does a British citizen living in Australia pay more than one living in Japan? Why does one in Afghanistan pay more than one living next door in India? And why does one living mere meters away in Ireland pay more than one living in another continent in China?

For Internationistas around the world shouldn't we have a fair system where all British citizens pay the same price (excluding delivery costs) for their national passport regardless of where they choose to lay their tweed hat or fancy fascinator?