How Much Does It Cost to Get Your Passport? (Price Guide)

A U.S. passport is priced by the federal government, so you pay the same fees whether you apply at a post office, a county clerk, or a library. What changes the total is the document you choose (book, card, or both), the applicant's age, and whether you want faster processing.

The government fee figures on this page come from the State Department's schedule of fees in the Code of Federal Regulations (22 CFR 22.1), in the version effective July 1, 2026, as published in the eCFR. We checked them on Oct 11, 2026. Fees can change by rule, so confirm the current amounts on travel.state.gov before you pay.

The totals below include the acceptance (execution) fee that every first-time applicant pays. A passport book is valid for international travel by air, land, and sea. A passport card is wallet-sized and works only for land and sea crossings to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda, so it can't replace a book if you plan to fly abroad.

Children under 16 pay less because their application fee is lower, but their passports are also valid for a shorter period than an adult's. Ordering a book and a card together costs less than ordering them at separate times, because you pay the acceptance fee only once.

First-time applicants usually make two payments, which surprises a lot of people at the counter.

• To the U.S. Department of State: the application fee. For an adult book, this is the application services fee of $50 plus the passport book security surcharge of $80. For a child under 16, the application services fee is $20, and the same book surcharge applies.
• To the acceptance facility: the execution fee of $35. The post office, clerk of court, or library that witnesses your application keeps this fee.

The State Department payment goes in the envelope with your application. The acceptance facility collects its fee separately, and each facility decides which payment methods it takes. Ask before your appointment so you bring the right form of payment.

Passport Photo

You must submit a recent photo that meets State Department rules. Many post offices take it for you for $15, according to USPS. Pharmacies and photo shops also take passport photos, and prices vary by store. You can take your own photo if it meets the size, background, and lighting requirements.

Expedited Processing

If you need your passport sooner than routine processing allows, you can pay the expedite fee of $60 on top of the standard fees. Processing times change throughout the year, so check the current routine and expedited estimates on travel.state.gov before deciding.

The State Department also sells faster return delivery for an extra charge. That fee isn't in our data, so check the official fee page for the current amount.

Getting There and Documents

Plan for small costs outside the fee schedule: a certified copy of your birth certificate if you can't find yours, travel to an acceptance facility, and postage if you track your application. These vary by state and by how you send things.

You pay the execution fee if you are applying for the first time, are under 16, or can't renew by mail (for example, because your last passport was issued before you turned 16, was lost or stolen, or was issued more than 15 years ago). Adults who qualify for renewal by mail skip this fee and pay only the State Department application fee.

• If you only drive to Canada or Mexico, a card may be enough. If you might fly abroad, the book is the safer buy.
• If you want both documents, order the book and card together so you pay one acceptance fee.
• Apply months before a trip so you don't need the expedite fee or faster delivery.
• Take your own photo if you are comfortable meeting the photo rules.
• Next time, renew by mail if you're eligible and skip the acceptance fee.