Last Verified: September 2026 | Fact-checked by U.S. Passport Service Guide Staff
U.S. passport fees depend mainly on the type of passport you need and how you apply. Use the tables below to find the government fees that apply to your situation and determine what you'll need to pay.
What Does a Passport Cost?
| Passport Fees by Application Type | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Passports |
Passport Renewal |
Minor Passports |
Optional Services |
Special Services |
Payment Instructions |
Form DS-11 is used for first-time applicants and for many adults replacing a lost, stolen, or damaged passport. You will typically make two separate payments: the application fee to the U.S. Department of State and the $35 acceptance fee to the facility where you submit your application.
Passport card note: A passport card cannot be used for international air travel.
Next step: See our new passport guide for the documents, photo, and in-person application requirements.
| Adult Renewals (Age 16 and Older) | ||
|---|---|---|
| What Are You Applying For? | Application Fee | Total Fees |
| Adult Passport Book + Card | $160 | $160 |
| Adult Passport Book | $130 | $130 |
| Adult Passport Card | $30 | $30 |
Eligible adults renewing with Form DS-82 do not pay the $35 acceptance fee. You can renew by mail or, if eligible, through the State Department's online renewal system.
Online renewal is available for routine service only. If you need your passport sooner, you can request expedited processing when renewing by mail or, for qualifying urgent travel, make an appointment at a regional passport agency.
Next step: See our passport renewal guide to confirm how you can renew and what you need to submit.
Children under 16 must apply in person at a passport acceptance facility using Form DS-11. In addition to the State Department application fee, each applicant pays the $35 acceptance fee.
Passport card note: A passport card cannot be used for international air travel.
Next step: See our passport guide for children under 16 for parental consent, documents, and in-person application requirements.
If Timing—Not the Fee—Is Your Problem, Choose by Travel Date
If your main concern is getting your passport in time for a trip, the right option depends on how soon you are traveling.
Government expedited service
If you have enough time to apply by mail or at an acceptance facility, add the $60 expedited service fee to your regular passport fees. Current State Department expedited processing takes 2 to 3 weeks, not including mailing time.
Urgent service at a regional passport agency
If you are traveling internationally within 14 calendar days, you may qualify for an urgent appointment at a regional passport agency or center. You will need proof of travel, and appointment availability is not guaranteed. In qualifying urgent-travel situations, same-day issuance may be possible through an official passport agency, but it should not be assumed when making travel plans.
Private passport courier or expeditor
A private passport courier may be worth considering when travel is urgent and getting to a regional passport agency yourself is impossible or impractical. Couriers charge their own service fees in addition to government fees. They can help review an application and handle submission logistics, but only the State Department approves and issues U.S. passports. Courier eligibility, service levels, and turnaround vary by application and deadline, so confirm the available option before ordering.
For more help choosing by deadline, see our passport expediting guide or expedited passport renewal guide. If you are considering paid assistance, our Rush My Passport review explains the service, cost, and when it may be worth using.
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Understanding Passport Fees
Most passport applicants pay an application fee to the U.S. Department of State. Applicants who use Form DS-11 also pay a separate $35 acceptance fee when they submit the application in person.
Application fee
The application fee is paid to the U.S. Department of State and varies by passport document and application type.
Acceptance fee
The $35 acceptance fee, sometimes called the execution fee, applies when you submit Form DS-11 at a passport acceptance facility. This includes first-time applicants, children under 16, and adults who do not qualify to renew using Form DS-82. Adults eligible to renew with Form DS-82 do not pay this fee.
Optional Passport Fees
Some applicants choose additional services when timing is a factor. Others may need a file search if they cannot provide acceptable citizenship evidence.
| Service | Fee | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Expedited Processing | $60 | Shortens State Department processing from routine service to the current expedited timeframe. |
| 1–3 Day Return Delivery | $22.05 | Speeds delivery of an issued passport book after the State Department mails it. |
| File Search | $150 | Used in qualifying cases when an applicant cannot provide required citizenship evidence. |
Expedited service
Fee: $60 per application
Current expedited processing takes 2 to 3 weeks, not including mailing time. Add the $60 fee to the application fee for each passport you want expedited. If that timeframe does not fit your travel plans, check whether your travel date qualifies you for an urgent passport agency appointment instead.
Passport book 1–3 day return delivery
Fee: $22.05 per application
For an additional $22.05 per application, this service reduces the time it takes for an issued passport book to reach you after the State Department mails it. It does not shorten passport processing time. It is available for passport books mailed to U.S. addresses but not for passport cards.
File search
Fee: $150
The State Department may require a file search when an applicant cannot provide acceptable evidence or verification of a previously issued U.S. passport or Consular Report of Birth Abroad. Because the fee is substantial, check whether you can obtain another acceptable form of citizenship evidence first.
Passport Fees for Special Services
Correcting a State Department error
Fee: $0
If the State Department made a printing or data error on your passport, you can use Form DS-5504 to request a correction at no charge.
Passport name changes
Fee: Varies
The cost of changing the name on your passport depends on when it was issued and your circumstances. If your passport was issued less than one year ago and you qualify to use Form DS-5504, there is generally no passport fee. If it was issued more than one year ago, you may need to renew and pay the applicable renewal fee.
See our passport name change guide to determine which form and fee apply.
Other Passport Costs to Consider
Government application fees may not be the only costs involved. Depending on how and where you apply, you may also need to pay for passport photos, postage, certified copies of supporting documents, or travel to an acceptance facility or regional passport agency.
If you use a private passport courier, its service charge is separate from all government passport fees.
For official government costs, use the State Department's Passport Fee Calculator to confirm the form you need and the amount you should pay.
Passport Fee Payment Instructions
How you pay depends on how you submit your passport application.
- Applying at a passport acceptance facility: Applicants using Form DS-11 make two separate payments. Pay the passport application fee to the U.S. Department of State by check or money order, and pay the separate $35 acceptance fee directly to the facility. Payment methods for the acceptance fee vary by location.
- Renewal by mail: Pay by personal, certified, cashier's, or traveler's check, or by money order payable to "U.S. Department of State." Credit and debit cards are not accepted for mail-in renewals. Applicants renewing from Canada must pay in U.S. dollars through a U.S. financial institution.
- Online passport renewal: Eligible applicants can pay by credit or debit card. Online renewal is available for routine service only and cannot be expedited.
- Passport agency appointments: Passport agencies accept major credit cards, qualifying debit or prepaid cards, and contactless payments such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.
- U.S. embassies and consulates: Payment methods vary by location. Check the website of the embassy or consulate where you plan to apply for current instructions.
Passport Fee FAQs
It depends on how you renew. Eligible online renewals can be paid by credit or debit card. Renewals submitted by mail using Form DS-82 must be paid by check or money order. If you apply or renew at a passport agency, you can use a credit card, qualifying debit card, or accepted contactless payment method.
Yes. If you are mailing multiple renewal applications together, the State Department allows you to pay the combined fees with one check or money order. You can also use separate payments if you prefer. Either method is acceptable as long as the correct total is included.
A first-time adult passport card costs $65 total, including the $30 application fee and $35 acceptance fee. An adult renewing a passport card pays $30. For a child under 16, a passport card costs $50 total: a $15 application fee plus the $35 acceptance fee. Passport cards cannot be used for international air travel.
The passport application fee and acceptance fee are non-refundable, even if a passport is not issued. If you paid the $60 expedited service fee and the State Department did not provide expedited service within its stated processing timeframe, you may be eligible to request a refund of that fee.
The State Department lists personal, certified, cashier's, and traveler's checks as accepted payment methods for passport applications paid by check. If you are unsure whether a temporary or starter check will be accepted, the safer option is to use a cashier's check or money order.
