What Passport Fees Cost and How to Pay Them

Passport fees depend on your age, the type of document, and how fast you need it

A standard adult passport book costs $130 for a new one and $110 to renew. If you are under 16, a new passport costs $100. A passport card (the credit-card-sized version) costs $35 new or $30 to renew, but it only works for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean — not air travel or international flights. These are the base fees the State Department charges; they do not include execution fees or expediting costs, which add to the total.

The execution fee is what you pay the acceptance agent (usually a post office, courthouse, or library) to process your application. This fee is $35 for a passport book or card, and it is separate from the State Department fee. So a new adult passport book costs $130 plus $35 execution, totaling $165 before any expediting.

If you need your passport faster than the standard timeline, expediting costs an additional $60. Standard processing takes 6 to 8 weeks; expedited takes 2 to 3 weeks. Routine service has no extra charge. Some acceptance agents also charge a service fee on top of the execution fee — this varies by location, so ask before you apply.

Key Takeaways

• A new adult passport book costs $130 from the State Department plus $35 execution fee at your local acceptance agent, totaling $165 without expediting.
• Expediting adds $60 and cuts processing time from 6 to 8 weeks down to 2 to 3 weeks.
• A passport card costs less ($35 new, $30 renewal) but only works for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
• Acceptance agents (post offices, courthouses, libraries) may charge additional service fees beyond the execution fee, so call ahead to confirm the total cost.
• Renewal by mail costs less than in-person application if you still have your old passport and meet other requirements.

Renewal by mail costs less if you are may be able to access

If you are renewing a passport book and your old passport is still in your possession, you may be able to renew by mail instead of going to an acceptance agent. By-mail renewal costs $110 (no execution fee) and takes 6 to 8 weeks. This saves you the $35 execution fee, bringing the total to $110 instead of $145.

You are not may be able to access for by-mail renewal if your passport was lost or stolen, if it was issued when you were under 16, if it is damaged, or if your name has changed since it was issued. You also cannot renew by mail if you want to expedite — expedited renewals must go through an acceptance agent and cost the full $110 plus $35 execution plus $60 expediting.

To renew by mail, you fill out Form DS-82, include your old passport, a new photo, and a check or money order, then mail everything to the address on the form. The State Department processes it at their facility, not at a local office. Processing takes the full 6 to 8 weeks because there is no acceptance agent step.

Expediting and rush services add $60 to your total

Expedited processing costs $60 and is the only way to speed up a passport. It cuts the timeline from 6 to 8 weeks to 2 to 3 weeks. You cannot expedite a by-mail renewal — you must apply in person at an acceptance agent and pay the full execution fee.

Some private companies advertise "rush passport" services and charge $200 to $500 or more. These services do not actually speed up the State Department's processing. What they do is handle the paperwork and photos for you, then submit your application to an acceptance agent. You still wait 2 to 3 weeks for expedited processing. The extra cost is for their convenience service, not for faster government processing. If you have all your documents ready, paying the State Department's $60 expediting fee directly is cheaper.

If you need a passport in less than 2 to 3 weeks, you have limited options. Some acceptance agents offer same-day or next-day service for passport cards only, but this is not available everywhere. Call your local post office or courthouse to ask if they offer this. For passport books, there is no faster option than the 2 to 3 week expedited timeline.

Passport photos and supporting documents have their own costs

You need a new passport photo for every application or renewal. Photos must meet specific requirements: 2 by 2 inches, taken within the last 6 months, with a white or off-white background, and showing your full face straight-on. You cannot use a selfie or a photo from social media.

You can get a passport photo at most post offices, pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens), and professional photo studios. Post offices and pharmacies typically charge $10 to $20 per photo. Professional studios charge more, sometimes $25 to $50. You need one photo for a new passport and one for a renewal. Some people take their own photo at home using a smartphone and a plain wall, then print it at a drugstore for $1 to $3, but the photo must still meet the size and background requirements.

You also need supporting documents: a birth certificate, state ID or driver's license, and proof of citizenship (naturalization certificate if you were not born in the U.S.). Getting certified copies of a birth certificate costs $10 to $30 depending on your state and whether you order in person or by mail. These costs are separate from passport fees and add to your total expense.

Replacement passports cost the same as new ones

If your passport was lost, stolen, or damaged, you need a replacement. A replacement passport book costs the same as a new one: $130 plus $35 execution fee. You cannot renew by mail if your passport is lost or stolen — you must apply in person.

When you report a lost or stolen passport, you fill out Form DS-11 (for a replacement) or Form DS-64 (to report it lost or stolen). If you are replacing a damaged passport, you also use Form DS-11. You must apply in person at an acceptance agent and bring your supporting documents, a new photo, and proof of citizenship.

If your passport was stolen abroad, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. They can issue an emergency travel document (a temporary passport valid for one trip home) for $135. This is faster than waiting for a full replacement to be mailed to you, but it only works for one journey.

Passport cards cost less but have strict limits on where you can use them

A passport card is a wallet-sized document that costs $35 new or $30 to renew, plus the $35 execution fee if you apply in person. The card is valid for 10 years (same as a passport book) and proves citizenship, but it only works for travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean by land or sea. You cannot use a passport card for air travel to any country, for travel to Europe, Asia, Africa, or anywhere else outside that limited region.

A passport card is useful if you live near the Canadian or Mexican border and travel frequently by car. It fits in a wallet and is harder to lose than a full-size book. But if you travel by air at all, you need a passport book. You cannot get a passport card by mail renewal — you must apply in person at an acceptance agent.

Some people get both a passport book and a passport card. If you apply for both at the same time, you pay $165 for the book ($130 plus $35 execution) and $70 for the card ($35 plus $35 execution), totaling $235. This is cheaper than applying for them separately at different times.

Fees vary slightly by location and acceptance agent

The State Department fees ($130, $110, $35, $30) are the same everywhere in the U.S. The execution fee ($35) is also standard. However, some acceptance agents charge an additional service fee on top of the execution fee. A post office might charge $35 execution plus $5 service fee, while a courthouse might charge only the $35 execution with no extra fee.

Call your local acceptance agent before you go. Ask for the total cost including any service fees. Some locations are busier than others and may have longer wait times, so it is worth calling ahead to ask about appointment availability and current processing times.

If you are applying at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad, fees may be different. Embassies charge in the local currency and may have different execution fees. Contact the embassy in your country before you travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay with a credit card or do I need a check?

Acceptance agents (post offices, courthouses) accept cash, check, money order, and credit or debit card. If you are renewing by mail, you must send a check or money order — the State Department does not accept credit cards by mail. Call your local acceptance agent to confirm what payment methods they take.

What if I need a passport for a child under 16?

A new passport for a child under 16 costs $100 plus $35 execution fee. Both parents or guardians must be present to apply in person, or one parent must have a notarized consent form from the other. You cannot renew a child's passport by mail. A child's passport is valid for 5 years, not 10.

Do I have to pay the full fee if my passport was damaged by the State Department?

No. If the State Department damaged your passport during processing, they replace it at no charge. You must contact them with proof of the damage. If you damaged it yourself, you pay the full replacement fee.

Is there a fee to report a lost or stolen passport?

No. Reporting a lost or stolen passport (Form DS-64) is free. However, getting a replacement passport costs the full $130 plus $35 execution fee, the same as a new passport.

Can I get a refund if I change my mind after applying?

No. Once you submit your application and pay the fees, they are not refunded. If you decide you do not need the passport, you can cancel the application before it is processed, but you lose the fees you paid.