Last update: 17 July 2025 – Prices updated and new items added.
This webpage outlines the administration charges and fines that form part of the terms and conditions of participation in GBR international competitions, where international federations require BF to process entries and administer participation (EFC, FIE, WPF).
For context on finance charges and BF resources, please refer to the explanatory note at the bottom of the page.
Charges below are not optional. By completing entry request forms or by accepting invitations/selections, you are agreeing to the full scope of costed services. There is no option to opt out of individual elements.
These charges do not always cover full costs, and many of the events have elements that are subsidised by other funding sources.
NB For Major Championships, the BF financial assistance scheme (based on ability to pay, not performance) is available for application here.
Standard Charges
International events | Managed | Admin fee | Individual Entry & Team Entry Fees | Accommodation (per night) |
Referee Costs | Event Support Contribution | Media Services | Totals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EFC U14 events | – | £16 | Entry fees are made at the event registration desk. The Local Organisers, EFC, or FIE determine the amount. | – |
Organised between participants |
– | – | £16 |
EFC U14 Festival | Yes | £16 | – |
Covered by event entry fee |
£46 | – | £62 | |
Nominated EFC Cadet | – | £21 | – | £154 | – | – | £175 | |
Nominated Junior World Cup | Yes | £33 |
Priced per event* |
£132 | £80 | – | £239* | |
EFC U23 – nominated for Juniors | Yes | £16 | – | £83 | £54 | – | £153 | |
EFC U23, Eurofence League or FIE Satellite | – | £16 | – | Organised between participants | – | – | £16 | |
Junior and Senior Nominated FIE satellite | Yes | £16 | – | £83 | £33 | – | £132 | |
Development or Non-nominated events – all ages | – | £16 | – | – | – | – | £16 | |
Senior World Cup/GP | – | £16 | – | – | – | – | £16 | |
Cadet/Junior European or World Championships | Yes | £52 |
Paid in Advance – Set by the EFC/FIE |
Priced per event** |
Covered by event entry fee |
£155 | £31 | £238** |
Senior European or World Championships |
Yes | £31 |
Paid in Advance – Set by the EFC/FIE |
Priced per event** |
Covered by event entry fee |
£100 | £31 | £162** |
World Para Fencing (WPF) | Yes | Price on Application |
All nominated U20 (Junior) World Cups and European or World Championships—excluding veterans events—are classified as ‘managed’ GBR events. These events involve additional services and therefore incur supplementary charges.
International Federation Licences
Required for participation are athletes, coaches, and referees.
EFC licence (25 Euros) | £30 |
FIE licence (25 Euros) | £30 |
World Para Fencing | £10 |
GBR Pathway Licences
Required for participation in GBR Pathway Camps. Discounts are available for wheelchair athletes and coaches. Please contact gbr_support@britishfencing.com
GBR Pathway Athlete Licence | £260* |
GBR Pathway Coach License | £55 |
Wheelchair Athletes and Coaches | POA |
Late Entries and Withdrawals
Late entries will only be accepted in exceptional personal circumstances that demonstrably prevent the entry from being completed by the deadline and will be subject to available administrative resources, provided the place is still available (see explanatory notes). Withdrawals must be submitted using the form here. BF requires at least three full working days to take action on any (non-medical) withdrawals. The deadlines are set out on the GBR Calendars.
Where no EFC/FIE/WPF fines are associated with a late entry or withdrawal:
BF late entry fee (after BF entry deadline) | £100 |
BF withdrawal fee (non-medical) | £16 |
BF withdrawal fee (medical, with evidence provided) | Free of charge |
Late Entry and Withdrawal – EFC and FIE fines
Where EFC or FIE fines are associated with a late entry or withdrawal:
Fines & Fees | FIE | EFC | World Ability Sport |
BF administration fee | £100, plus any of the following: | £100, plus any of the following: | £100, plus any of the following: |
Late entry after the first entry deadline | 150 Euros | 50 Euros | £150 |
Late entry after the second and final entry deadline | 250 Euros | N/A no second deadline | £250 |
Failure to appear at the competition | 500 Euros | 200 Euros | £500 |
Non-medical withdrawal after the first entry deadline | 500 Euros | 200 Euros | £250 |
Failure to provide an FIE referee | 1000 Euros per weapon | Up to 500 Euros per weapon | £1500 before the deadline. £2000 after the deadline. |
Late Payments
Invoices unpaid after 30 days are subject to a non-payment administrative fee. | £25 |
Late Payment | If payment is not received within 30 days of the invoice date, we reserve the right to charge interest at a rate of 1.5% per month on the outstanding balance, as outlined in our payment terms and conditions. |
If any outstanding debt remains unpaid for more than 30 days, membership will be suspended. During this suspension, the individual will be uninsured to train or compete, will be unable to enter future competitions, will lose their ranking status, and will be ineligible for GBR selection. Full payment is required to reinstate membership and associated benefits.
Refunds
Administration Charge (all Events)
There is an administration fee for all entries processed by BF, which varies. The administration fee covers the time spent by staff on processing requests to enter, answering queries, checking eligibility, chasing up membership/licences, setting up platform entry acceptance confirmation, and entering onto FIE/EFC/WPF systems.
All individual entry requests are subject to charges, regardless of acceptance, due to the administrative time required for conducting eligibility checks and processing entries.
The standard administrative fee applies to the following international competitions:
Standard and non-standard administration fees are found at the top of the page.
Additional Charges
Referee Charges:
Accommodation Charges: Junior World Cups 2025–26
In previous seasons, BF applied a flat-rate accommodation fee based on the average costs across all GBR-managed JWCs. For 2025–26, accommodation for Junior World Cup events will be charged on an event-by-event basis, reflecting the actual costs incurred, plus applicable platform fees and overheads (see below for more details). The admin fee has been updated to contribute to the additional staff time spent reconciling each event.
Platform fees and merchant fees – To keep our overheads and staffing costs low, our membership platform uses a fee-per-transaction model, charging a percentage of the transaction value for using the platform and processing payments.
Pass-Through Finance Charges.
When you make a payment to BF, finance charges apply. These charges mean that if you pay £10, BF will typically receive less than £10. The exact amount received depends on various factors, including the payment method, the provider, and the type of card used.
Similarly, when BF transfers funds to external organisations on your behalf—such as the EFC, FIE, or Event Organising Committees—our bank applies transaction and currency conversion fees, plus the transaction will be subject to platform fees. For example, if BF is required to send £100 to the FIE, the total cost will exceed £100 due to these additional charges.
BF does not absorb these costs and will be factored into your overall event charges. Please be aware that online payment mechanisms also reduce the amount BF receives, meaning the net value received may be less than the amount you submit.
Staffing and deadlines
BF operates with a small administrative team to keep membership fees as low as possible. Staff members are not available 24/7 and are entitled to annual leave and public holidays.
To ensure high standards of service within reasonable timeframes, BF has established procedures and deadlines to ensure timely delivery. These allow the team to manage the significant volume of entries across all age groups effectively.
Entry deadlines are set and published in advance. If an athlete fails to enter and pay by the stated deadline, the system will, in most cases, automatically offer the place to the next athlete on the reserve list. As a result, late entries cannot always be accommodated.
Entry Fees
All entry fees have been calculated using accurate exchange rates, adjusted for currency fluctuations, platform and transaction charges, and an overhead allowance to cover staff time and banking fees related to fund transfers. This methodology has been consistently applied across major championships in recent seasons. BF has only marginally increased its fees in recent years, maintaining a strong commitment to keeping athlete costs as low as possible.
For some Senior Major Championships, BF receives designated funding to cover team entry fees.
**Accommodation—outside BF’s control—is typically designated by the local organising committee (LOC). Direct bookings with hotel providers are typically redirected to the LOC, a practice that has become standard for major events. BF selects hotels based on the best-value options available within these constraints.
While third-party platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia, or Hotels.com may offer occasional discounts or rewards, they pose practical challenges for complex squad bookings:
Due to these issues and the absence of additional funding, BF is unable to subsidise accommodation costs for athletes.
In Event Support
Funding from Sport England and UK Sport is available in specific circumstances to help offset the costs associated with Major Championships. However, this funding does not fully cover the expenses related to team management, coaching, physiotherapy, and athlete support.
To deliver a high-quality championship experience, athletes are asked to contribute via the BF Charge, which covers a comprehensive range of services designed to support athlete preparation, safety, and welfare. These services include:
These contributions play a vital role in ensuring athletes are well-prepared, safe, and supported throughout their championship journey.
British Fencing receives partial funding from Sport England to support Cadet and Junior Major Championships.
British Fencing receives partial funding from UK Sport to support Senior Major Championships. Although external funding is limited, British Fencing ensures that athletes continue to receive essential support throughout their competitions.
Media Services
You can see the fines and charges for previous seasons here.