How much does a passport cost?

Thinking about traveling soon? Double check to verify your current passport is up-to-date. If not, make sure your passport application is submitted. More so than a good camera or a sturdy bag, a government-issued passport is the single most essential requirement for international travel. But that’s just one reason to apply for one. A U.S. passport is also one of the documents employers accept on Form I-9 to show both your identity and your authorization to work [1].

You might be curious: How much does a passport cost?

The actual cost of a passport depends on a few factors, including how quickly you need your passport. We’ll review the following topics to help you tally the final cost:

• The Two Types of Passports
• The Basic Costs of a Passport
• Expediting Fees
• Ancillary Expenses to Keep in Mind

Two types of passports

Before trying to answer the question, how much does a new passport cost, it’s important to consider that not all passports are created equal. When you’re ready to order yours, decide which of these two variations fit your needs:

• Passport Book – This is the standard dark blue booklet form of a passport. It can be used for international travel and as a form of official government-issued identification.
• Passport Card – A passport card closely resembles a state-issued driver’s license. This card is considerably cheaper, but it can’t be used for international travel by air. It’s strictly used as a form of official ID card and for land and sea travel from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and some Caribbean countries.

Understanding the difference between passport book and card will be important as you navigate your passport application and its final cost.

Basic costs of a passport

Now that we covered the differences between the two passport types, back to answering our question: How much does a US passport cost? Let’s dig into the two basic costs:

• Application Fees
• Execution Fees

This can be the most complicated part of your costs, but there is a simple way to think about this. The State Department requests your application fee for making the passport itself, while the party who accepts your passport paperwork — often times a local post office — requests the execution fee [2].

The execution fee is a flat $35 passport fee and applies to anyone who must apply in person with Form DS-11, including first-time applicants and all children under 16 [3]. Passport Application fees can vary.

Adult passport costs

If you’re 16 or older, you must apply for an adult passport. How much a US passport costs depends on which type of passport you’re ordering:

A first-time adult passport book costs $165 [3].

• Application Fee – $130
• Execution Fee – $35

A first-time adult passport card costs $65 [3].

• Application Fee – $30
• Execution Fee – $35

Ordering both a first-time adult passport card and book costs $195 [3].

• Application Fee – $160
• Execution Fee – $35

Adult passports are good for ten years.

Minor-child passport costs

Ordering a passport for a child under the age of 16 is slightly less expensive.

A passport book for minors costs $135 [3].

• Application Fee – $100
• Execution Fee – $35

A passport card for minors costs $50 [3].

• Application Fee – $15
• Execution Fee – $35

Ordering both a passport card and book for minors costs $150 [3].

• Application Fee – $115
• Execution Fee – $35

Tip: Technical errors on your passport can often be free to change, depending on the issue. If your change is not a technical error, making a correction can be a hassle. GOV+ passport tools help you prepare the forms to replace, change or apply for a passport, which you then submit to the State Department. GOV+ is a private company, not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency.

Passport renewal fees

Consider renewing your current passport before it expires. How much does a new passport cost?

Passport renewals can be done by mail or online, and since your application goes directly to the State Department, there are no execution fees. The cost of renewing your passport is simply the standard application fee charged per passport type [3].

The routine processing time for a passport renewal is 4-6 weeks, not counting mailing time [4].

Expedited service costs

Realistically, it’s not uncommon for people to find themselves with an upcoming trip in the near future, only to be hit with a sudden realization that their passport has expired. The good news? No need to panic. There is a passport service available that allows you to purchase an expedited passport.

But you probably guessed the catch: There’s an expedited passport fee for that.

The expedited passport fee is $60 [3]. For nearly half the cost of the passport itself, this fee shortens the processing time of a passport to 2-3 weeks [4]. For many looking to skip the line, the cost of this expedited service is a small price to pay.

Ancillary expenses to consider

There are a few extra costs to obtaining a passport that would be wise to keep in mind, including:

• Your Passport Photo – You’re on the hook to get your own passport photo. Many local pharmacies can provide this service for about $18 [5]. Or, learn how to take a passport photo at home to cut costs!
• Shipping Fees – It’s important to remember your expediting fees only cover the passport processing time, not the shipping time. For an extra $26.87, your passport can be delivered 1-3 days after the State Department mails it. This option is not currently available for passport cards [3].

Tip: The State Department says the camera should be several feet away from you, so a close-up “selfie” can get your passport photo rejected [6]. Getting your photo professionally taken helps make sure it meets requirements. Otherwise, it may run the risk of being rejected during processing.

Time to get your passport

First-time applicants fill out Form DS-11, available on travel.state.gov, and submit it in person at a passport acceptance facility. If you’d rather skip the guesswork, GOV+ fills in your DS-11 and lists the documents to bring, so you’re less likely to submit an application with errors.

• We prepare your DS-11 application package, so you don't have to work through the form on your own.
• Your answers fill in the right fields on the DS-11, which lowers the chance of mistakes on the form.
• We give you a checklist of the documents the State Department requires for your situation.

Some of the additional benefits that come with a GOV+ subscription:

• Your renewal application prepared before your passport expires. You pay only the government fee.
• If your passport is lost, stolen, or damaged, we prepare your replacement application with no GOV+ fee. You pay only the government fee.
• Identity theft protection with up to $1M coverage.

Ready to get started? Apply for a passport with GOV+.

References

1. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-9 Acceptable Documents. https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents
2. U.S. Department of State. Where to Apply for a Passport. https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/help/where-to-apply.html
3. U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees. https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/help/fees.html
4. U.S. Department of State. Get Your Processing Time. https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/help/processing-time.html
5. CVS Pharmacy. Passport Photos. https://www.cvs.com/photo/passport-photos
6. U.S. Department of State. Passport Photos. https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/help/photos.html