The BAJ is part of the UK Press Card Authority (PCA) which issues through Gatekeepers the only UK PRESS CARD formally recognised by all Police forces in the UK and other public bodies. The UK PRESS CARD is an essential ID verifier for journalists and newsgatherers working on assignments. A two-year Press Card is available to both members and non-members of the BAJ who need to identify themselves in public as genuine media workers.* – The card carries the issuing gatekeeper’s logo in the top right-hand corner, with multiple built-in security features that the Police and public bodies can quickly verify, including a unique user PIN.
A two-year UK Press Card costs £35.00 for BAJ members and £80.00** for non-members. Unlike most other Gatekeepers, you do not need to be a member of the BAJ to apply for a UK Press Card through us. However, we do not issue UK Press Cards to Vloggers, Bloggers or Social Media Influencers regardless of how many subs, followers or likes you may have.
NOTE
* ‘UK Press Cards’ are subject to meeting strict criteria laid down by the UK Press Card Authority that the BAJ must follow for the issue of PRESS ID. Membership of the BAJ does NOT guarantee entitlement. Please allow ten working days for your application to be reviewed, verified and processed.
** Applications for a UK Press Card will only be accepted if accompanied by the following;
- Proof of identity, e.g. certified copy of a passport, driving licence etc., and proof of home address.
- Samples of verifiable published paid journalistic work.
- A passport-style image of yourself.
- An original signed letter with a ‘wet’ signature on official headed paper from the editor or managing editor of a recognised major UK national or regional media outlet, certifying that the applicant regularly produces paid work for them as either a staff member or freelance contributor. Applicants can not supply letters signed by themselves; all supporting letters will be verified by the BAJ ‘cold-calling’ the signatory using the supporting organisation’s published UK telephone number. We do not call the mobile phone numbers of signatories. All documents supplied will be retained and kept on file. We do not return supporting documentation for press accreditation. Altered or forged documents shall be considered an attempt to obtain press credentials by deception. BAJ will, without exception, report such attempts to the Police and share details with all other gatekeeper organisations to prevent secondary applications from being made. Rejected applications will be excluded from reapplying for six months. We do not accept Press Card applications electronically.
Royal Parks News Permit
If you are working on an assignment within the Royal Parks estate, along with a UK Press card, you will need a Royal Parks News Permit.
News permits are required for all media members wishing to film, photograph or sound record for news coverage on designated land managed by The Royal Parks. In addition, there are specific guidelines on what times, locations within the Royal Parks and subject matter you can take an image of, and these are detailed on the Royal Parks website and are subject to change at short notice.
These are:
- Brompton Cemetery
- Bushy Park
- The Green Park (including Canada Gate for views of Buckingham Palace)
- Greenwich Park
- Hyde Park
- Kensington Gardens
- The Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill
- Richmond Park
- St James’s Park – including The Mall, Horse Guards Road & Birdcage Walk, but excluding the rear of Downing Street, where you are no longer restricted in taking images, video or sound recordings. (see statement below from the Royal Parks)
The previous news permit conditions stated that there can be no “filming/photography at the rear entrance to Downing Street on Horse Guards Road.
There has long been confusion about Horse Guards Parade, given the news permit was silent on this point. The revision sought to clarify that this area was also included in the prohibition. However, given the approaches we have received from journalists concerned that it would impact on their news gathering, we are re-issuing the permits to remove the restriction on using Horse Guards Parade and reverting to the wording in the previous news permits. The longstanding restriction on filming from Horse Guards Road remains unchanged. – issued September 2022
You can use the map below to check where a Royal Park News Permit is required. Note you must always display your permit when working on the estate property as the media are often challenged for their ID by the Police.
- From 1 April 2022, news permits will cost £150 (ex VAT) per year. Permits can take up to ten working days to process – Please visit the Royal Parks media website to complete an application.
- The BAJ does not issue Royal Park News Permits directly.
