A first-time adult US passport book costs $165: a $130 application fee to the Department of State plus a $35 execution fee paid to the acceptance facility where you apply. US passport fees vary from there depending on whether you want a book or a card, whether you’re renewing or applying for the first time, whether the applicant is a minor, and whether you pay extra for speed. The figures below reflect the fee schedule updated in February 2026.
First-Time Adult Fees
If you’re 16 or older and have never held a passport, or your previous one doesn’t qualify for renewal, you apply in person using Form DS-11. Your payment splits in two: the application fee goes to the Department of State, and a separate $35 execution fee goes to the acceptance facility clerk who verifies your identity and witnesses your signature.
- Passport book: $130 application fee + $35 execution fee = $165
- Passport card: $30 application fee + $35 execution fee = $65
- Both book and card: $160 application fee + $35 execution fee = $195
The book is valid for 10 years and works for all international travel. The card is a wallet-sized alternative limited to land and sea crossings between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and certain Caribbean countries. It cannot be used for any international flight. If you fly abroad at all, you need the book.
Fees for Children Under 16
Minors always apply in person with Form DS-11, so the $35 execution fee applies to every application. The application fees themselves are lower because minor passports are valid for five years rather than ten.
- Passport book: $100 + $35 = $135
- Passport card: $15 + $35 = $50
- Both book and card: $115 + $35 = $150
Both parents or guardians generally need to appear with the child, or the absent parent must supply a notarized consent statement. Notary fees for that form typically run $25 to $35 and don’t appear on the State Department’s fee chart. You’ll also need a passport photo, which some acceptance facilities provide for an additional charge.
Renewal Fees
Renewing costs less because the $35 execution fee drops out. You mail the application in rather than appearing in person.
- Passport book: $130
- Passport card: $30
- Both book and card: $160
You can renew by mail using Form DS-82 if your most recent passport was issued when you were 16 or older, was issued within the last 15 years, is not damaged beyond normal wear, and has never been reported lost or stolen. A name change requires a certified document, such as a marriage certificate.
Online Renewal
Online renewal carries the same fees. To qualify, you must be 25 or older, not changing your name or other personal information, and not traveling internationally for at least six weeks after you submit. Your current passport has to be in hand and undamaged. Only routine processing is offered, and you pay by credit or debit card.
Expediting and Faster Delivery
Routine processing takes four to six weeks. Two optional charges can speed things up, and they stack.
- Expedited processing: $60 added to your application fees, cutting the timeline to two to three weeks.
- 1-to-3 day delivery: $22.05 for faster return shipping of a finished passport book to a U.S. address. It doesn’t apply to passport cards.
The $60 expedite fee is charged once per application, not per product, so paying it once covers a book-and-card combo. A renewer paying for both speed options on a book pays $130 + $60 + $22.05 = $212.05. A first-time adult applicant adding both to a book application pays $130 + $35 + $60 + $22.05 = $247.05.
Other Fees You Might Run Into
File Search
If you can’t produce a birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or other primary proof of citizenship, the State Department can search its archives for a previously issued passport or consular report of birth abroad. The file search costs $150 and is non-refundable. You submit Form DS-11 along with a written search request.
Corrections and Name Changes
When the State Department makes a printing error on your passport, Form DS-5504 fixes it at no cost. Mail back the incorrect passport with the form and a new photo, and the corrected document ships back free.
The same form also covers a legal name change if you use it within one year of the passport’s issue date, again at no cost. After that one-year window, a name change requires a full renewal or new application at the standard fees. The free DS-5504 update does not include expedited processing unless you pay the $60 expedite fee separately.
52-Page Large Book
Frequent travelers who fill visa pages quickly can request a 52-page book instead of the standard 28 pages. There’s no extra charge. Select “Large Book” on your application.
How to Pay
Payment method depends on how you apply, and the most common mistake is writing one check for everything at an acceptance facility. You need two separate payments: one to the Department of State for the application fee and one to the facility for the $35 execution fee.
At an Acceptance Facility
Pay the application fee by check or money order made out to “U.S. Department of State,” with the applicant’s full name and date of birth in the memo. Each facility sets its own accepted payment methods for the $35 execution fee, so check with your local post office, clerk’s office, or library before your appointment. Some take cash or credit cards for that portion. You can also prepay the application fee online through Pay.gov, which accepts credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, and Venmo.
Renewing by Mail
Include a check or money order payable to “U.S. Department of State” with your DS-82 form, placed on top of your application inside the envelope.
At a Passport Agency
Passport agencies only accept credit cards, debit cards, and contactless payments such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay. They do not accept checks, cash, or money orders.
Online Renewal
Pay by credit or debit card during the online application.
Total Cost Examples
Common scenarios add up like this:
- Adult first-time book, routine: $130 + $35 = $165
- Adult first-time book, expedited with fast delivery: $130 + $35 + $60 + $22.05 = $247.05
- Adult renewal book, routine: $130
- Adult renewal book, expedited with fast delivery: $130 + $60 + $22.05 = $212.05
- Minor passport book, routine: $100 + $35 = $135
- Adult first-time book and card, routine: $160 + $35 = $195
These totals don’t cover passport photos, notary fees for minor consent forms, or mailing costs if you’re renewing by mail. Budget an extra $15 to $40 for photos and postage depending on where you go.