A first-time U.S. passport book costs $165 for an adult and $135 for a child under 16. That total combines a $130 or $100 application fee paid to the U.S. Department of State with a $35 execution fee paid to the facility that accepts your paperwork. Optional add-ons for faster processing and shipping can raise an adult book to $247.05, and a cheaper passport card is available if you only travel by land or sea to nearby countries.1U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
The Two Fees Every First-Time Applicant Pays
Two separate charges make up the base cost, and they go to two different places. The application fee goes to the U.S. Department of State. The $35 execution fee goes to the acceptance facility (usually a post office, county clerk, or library) that verifies your identity and mails your application in.1U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
For a passport book, the totals work out like this:
- Adults 16 and older: $130 application fee plus $35 execution fee, for $165.
- Children under 16: $100 application fee plus $35 execution fee, for $135.
An adult book is valid for 10 years from the date of issue. A child’s book is valid for five years.2eCFR. 22 CFR 51.4 – Validity of Passports
The Passport Card Costs Much Less
If your travel is limited to land or sea entry from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, or certain Caribbean countries, a passport card is the cheaper option. The card is not valid for international air travel, but it does work as federally accepted ID for domestic flights.3U.S. Department of State. Compare a Passport Card and Book
- Adults 16 and older: $30 application fee plus $35 execution fee, for $65.
- Children under 16: $15 application fee plus $35 execution fee, for $50.
You can apply for both the book and the card on a single Form DS-11, and the $35 execution fee is only charged once whether you order one or both.1U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
Optional Fees That Add to Your Total
Three optional charges can raise the price above the base amounts.
- Expedited processing costs $60 and brings processing time down from the standard 4 to 6 weeks to 2 to 3 weeks.4U.S. Department of State. Processing Times for U.S. Passports
- 1-to-3-day delivery costs $22.05 and gets your finished book to your door one to three days after the Department mails it. It is only offered for passport books shipped to U.S. addresses.1U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
- A file search fee of $150 applies when you cannot provide evidence of citizenship and the Department has to search its records for a previously issued passport or Consular Report of Birth Abroad.5U.S. Department of State. United States Passport Fees
Adding every optional fee to an adult book brings the maximum to $247.05. Most applicants pay the base $165 and wait for routine processing.
How You Pay the Fees
Because the money goes to two different entities, you make two separate payments. The application fee ($130 or $100 for a book) goes to the Department of State by check or money order, payable to “U.S. Department of State,” with the applicant’s full name and date of birth in the memo line.1U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
The $35 execution fee is paid separately to the acceptance facility. Accepted payment methods vary by location. Some take credit cards, others accept only checks or money orders, so confirm with the facility before your appointment.
What the Fees Don’t Cover
Your passport photo is not included. It has to be 2 by 2 inches, in color, on a plain white or off-white background, and taken within the last six months.6U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passport Photos Drugstores and shipping stores commonly take passport photos on-site and typically charge $7 to $18 for a set of prints. Some acceptance facilities also offer photo services on-site, which you can filter for when searching for a location.
Fees Are Non-Refundable
Once you pay, the money is gone even if your application fails. If the Department of State decides it cannot issue a passport based on the documents you submitted, the fees are not returned.7U.S. Department of State, Foreign Affairs Manual. 8 FAM 602.2 Passport Fees That makes it worth confirming ahead of time that your citizenship evidence meets the requirements: an original or certified copy of a qualifying U.S. birth certificate, Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship, or Consular Report of Birth Abroad. Photocopies are not accepted.8eCFR. 22 CFR Part 51 Subpart C – Evidence of U.S. Citizenship or Nationality
Putting the Numbers Together
For most first-time adult applicants who just want a passport book and can wait a month or two, the out-the-door cost lands around $165 plus roughly $15 for a photo. Families applying for a child add $135 per minor, plus the same photo cost per child. If you need the book in hand within two to three weeks, add $60 for expedited service and, if you want it shipped fast, another $22.05. Skip the book entirely for cross-border driving trips and a passport card runs $65 for an adult or $50 for a child.