On this page · 8 sections
- How much does a U.S. passport cost by type?
- Who do you pay, and do you pay the passport fee at the post office?
- How much does it cost to renew a U.S. passport?
- How much does it cost to change the name on a passport?
- What extra costs can raise the total?
- How much does it cost to replace a lost or stolen passport?
- How much does a faster passport cost when your trip is soon?
- What changes for green card holders and non-U.S. citizens?
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. passport execution fee of $35 is paid to the acceptance facility, separately from the application fee paid to the U.S. Department of State, and applies only to in-person applications such as first-time, child and lost-passport applications.
- PassportsAndVisas.com pre-checks your documents, takes your application to a passport agency for you and returns your passport by FedEx in as little as 3-4 business days, for a service fee from $199 plus government fees.
- U.S. government expedited service costs an extra $60 and cuts processing to 2–3 weeks, but expedited service can still take up to 7 weeks door to door once shipping is added.
- A U.S. passport name change within one year of issue (form DS-5504) has no application fee; after one year it is processed as a renewal for $130.
- A passport photo is not included in any U.S. passport fee and is always a separate cost.
How much does a U.S. passport cost by type?
A U.S. passport costs between $15 and $160 in application fees, depending on whether you want a book, a card or both, your age, and whether you are renewing. First-time and child applications add the $35 execution fee.
Find your situation in the table. The application fee goes to the U.S. Department of State. The execution fee goes to the acceptance facility and applies only when you apply in person.
| Passport type | Application fee (paid to U.S. Department of State) | Execution fee (paid to acceptance facility) |
|---|---|---|
| First-time adult passport book | $130 | $35 |
| Adult passport book renewal (form DS-82) | $130 | None |
| Child passport book (under 16) | $100 | $35 |
| First-time adult passport card | $30 | $35 |
| First-time adult book and card | $160 | $35 |
| Adult card renewal (form DS-82) | $30 | None |
| Adult book and card renewal (form DS-82) | $160 | None |
| Child passport card (under 16) | $15 | $35 |
| Child book and card (under 16) | $115 | $35 |
| Lost or stolen adult book replacement | $130 | $35 |
| PassportsAndVisas.com service (optional, any type above) | Not a government fee: our service fee from $199, paid to PassportsAndVisas.com | Government fees in your row still apply, paid separately |
Who do you pay, and do you pay the passport fee at the post office?
A first-time U.S. passport needs two separate payments: the application fee goes to the U.S. Department of State, and the $35 execution fee goes to the acceptance facility, often a post office, that witnesses your application. At the window you hand over both, as two separate payments.
- U.S. Department of State: the application fee, plus the expedite fee and faster return delivery if you choose them.
- Acceptance facility: the execution fee, on in-person applications only (first-time, child and lost or stolen).
- Renewals (form DS-82): one payment only, a check or money order made out to the U.S. Department of State. Post office staff send renewals on through USPS but do not review or process them.
The check is worth a second look before you seal the envelope, because a small error on it holds up the whole application.
Any issue on the check significantly delays a passport application: the wrong amount, the wrong payee, the wrong date, or a check that isn't signed.
Philip Diack, Founder
How much does it cost to renew a U.S. passport?
An adult U.S. passport book renewal costs $130, a card renewal costs $30, and a book and card together cost $160. A renewal has no execution fee, because you do not apply in person. For every renewal cost and speed option, see our passport renewal cost guide.
The U.S. Department of State lets you use the government's routine renewal (form DS-82) when your most recent passport meets all of these conditions:
- It was issued within the last 15 years, when you were 16 or older, as a 10-year passport.
- It is in your current name, or you can send a marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order showing the change.
- It was not reported lost or stolen and is not damaged beyond normal wear.
Online renewal uses the same application fee, but the U.S. Department of State allows it only in set cases. You must be 25 or older and not traveling for at least 6 weeks. Your passport must be a 10-year passport that expires within 1 year or expired less than 5 years ago. You must be in a U.S. state or territory, hold an undamaged passport, and not be changing your name or sex. You complete your own online application, because no third-party service can submit it. Online renewals cannot be expedited.
A child under 16 cannot renew. Children apply for a new passport in person, at the child fees in the table above. Not sure which route fits you? Our guide to renewal vs. a new application sorts it out.
How much does it cost to change the name on a passport?
A U.S. passport name change has no application fee within one year of the passport's issue date, using form DS-5504. More than one year after issue, the U.S. Department of State processes the name change as a renewal (form DS-82), for $130.
| If… | Then… |
|---|---|
| Your passport was issued less than one year ago | Use form DS-5504. There is no application fee. |
| Your passport was issued more than one year ago | Renew on form DS-82 with your new name, for $130, plus a certified marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order. |
PassportsAndVisas.com handles name-change renewals too. You sign at home and send the packet to us with the prepaid FedEx label.
What extra costs can raise the total?
A U.S. passport costs more than the base fee only when you add speed, faster delivery or outside help: the government expedite fee is $60, faster return delivery is $26.87, and the photo is always separate. Here is a worked example for a first-time adult book, with each part labelled.
| Cost | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee Paid to the U.S. Department of State | $130 | Government |
| Execution fee Paid to the acceptance facility; first-time, child and replacement applications only | $35 | Government |
| Passport photo Required, but not included in any government fee | Varies | Third party |
| Government expedite fee Shortens government processing to 2–3 weeks | $60 | Government |
| 1 to 3-day return delivery Faster delivery of the finished passport back to you | $26.87 | Government |
| PassportsAndVisas.com service fee Our fee, from this price; government fees are paid separately | $199 | PassportsAndVisas.com |
The extra fees people pay are related to expediting the passport and extra shipping.
Philip Diack, Founder
The cheapest passport is the one that goes through the first time. A rejected photo or missing document costs you weeks, so it pays to get the packet right. Our list of common passport application mistakes shows what to watch for.
Or let us handle it: PassportsAndVisas.com turns a selfie into a compliant passport photo and checks every document before your application goes in.
Want your documents checked before you pay any fee?
Get your passport now →How much does it cost to replace a lost or stolen passport?
Replacing a lost or stolen U.S. passport costs the same as a first-time adult book: $130 plus the $35 execution fee. A lost, stolen or damaged passport cannot be renewed, so you apply in person on form DS-11.
- Form DS-64, the statement about the lost or stolen passport, which you can sign at home.
- Form DS-11, signed only in front of the acceptance agent.
- Proof of U.S. citizenship other than the lost passport, such as a certified birth certificate or naturalization certificate.
Lost your passport abroad? Report it right away to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. In the U.S., our lost or stolen passport service prepares the forms and checks your documents first.
Our date assumes you send us your documents tomorrow. Government dates are the State Department's published estimates.
First-time, child and certain replacement applications still require one in-person acceptance signing — we prepare the packet and find the soonest slot near you.
How much does a faster passport cost when your trip is soon?
A faster U.S. passport through the government costs the $60 expedite fee on top of the application fees, plus $26.87 for faster return delivery. Expedited processing takes 2–3 weeks, which comes to up to 7 weeks door to door.
| Stage | Time | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Routine processing U.S. Department of State processing only | 4–6 weeks | Government processing |
| Routine, door to door Shipping in, processing and shipping back | up to 10 weeks | Other |
| Expedited processing With the $60 expedite fee | 2–3 weeks | Government processing |
| Expedited, door to door Shipping in, processing and shipping back | up to 7 weeks | Other |
| Shipping your application in On the government route | up to 2 weeks | Shipping |
| Shipping the passport back Faster with 1 to 3-day return delivery | up to 2 weeks | Shipping |
| PassportsAndVisas.com fastest service Counted from when we receive your packet; an estimate, not a guarantee | 3-4 business days | PassportsAndVisas.com |
The in-person passport agency route is for urgent travel and means getting yourself to an agency city. If you're not near one, or would rather not make the trip and take the time off, PassportsAndVisas.com takes it there for you, with your documents pre-checked first: in hand in as little as 3-4 business days.
| PassportsAndVisas.com service level | Our service fee (paid to PassportsAndVisas.com) | Our speed |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Expedited | $199 | 12 business days |
| Priority Expedited | $249 | 8 business days |
| Rush Expedited | $349 | 6 business days |
| Emergency Expedited | $449 | 3-4 business days |
Government fees are paid separately from every service level above. For a first-time passport, you still sign in front of an acceptance agent before the packet comes to us. A renewal is signed at home.
“I felt trust. Got quick results that justified the fee. And now I am off to Chile, Morocco, France, India and Tahiti! One needs a full passport book to accommodate those destinations.”
Trip, cruise or wedding coming up? See how fast your passport can arrive.
Get your passport now →What changes for green card holders and non-U.S. citizens?
A U.S. passport is issued only to U.S. citizens, so green card holders and other non-citizens cannot apply for one. They travel on their own country's passport, at fees set by that country, and may need a visa for their destination.
Green card holders who naturalize can then apply for a first-time U.S. passport at the fees above. Our guide to becoming a U.S. citizen with a green card covers that path.
PassportsAndVisas.com assists with processing U.S. passports and travel visas globally. Whatever passport you hold, our visa checker shows what your destination asks of you.