USPS Passport Cost: Prices, Fees & Ways to Save

The post office is one of the most common places to apply for a U.S. passport. Many Post Office locations act as passport acceptance facilities: a clerk checks your identity documents, watches you sign the application, and sends the package to the State Department. The post office does not issue the passport itself, and that split explains why the bill comes in pieces.

You pay two separate bodies. The State Department sets the application fee, and the Postal Service sets its own charges for accepting the paperwork and, if you want one, taking the photo. Knowing which fee goes where helps you bring the right payment methods and avoid a second trip.

The State Department application fee depends on the age of the applicant and on whether you want a passport book, a passport card, or both. The post office does not collect this fee. It travels with your application package. USPS says State Department fees cannot be paid with a credit or debit card, so plan on a personal check, certified check, cashier's check, traveler's check, or money order made out to the U.S. Department of State.

These figures come from USPS and Newsweek. An adult book is $130, while a child's book is $100. A passport card is the cheaper document, and the card is only valid for certain land and sea border crossings, so it does not replace a book for international flights.

When you apply in person, the post office adds an acceptance fee. USPS lists it separately from the State Department charge and accepts credit cards, checks, and money orders for it. If you need a passport photo taken on site, that is a further charge, and it is optional.

The acceptance fee is $35 and the optional photo is $15, both according to USPS. You only pay for the photo if you do not already have one that meets State Department rules.

Adding the application fee and the acceptance fee gives the amount most first-time applicants actually pay. The totals below come from RegistryFee.

Treat these as government fees only. They leave out the photo, any expedited service, and the cost of mailing documents or buying a money order.

If your trip is close, the State Department offers faster processing for an extra fee of $60, per USPS. It is paid per application, on top of every other fee. Faster return shipping is also sold as an add-on. Check the current amount of the delivery upgrade on the State Department's official fee page before you pay, because it can change.

Other charges can apply in special cases. Name changes and data corrections may involve their own fees, and a lost or stolen passport follows a different path than a routine renewal. If your situation is unusual, read the State Department instructions for your form first.

• Renew by mail if you qualify. Adults who are eligible to renew by mail or online generally skip the acceptance fee, because they do not apply in person. Eligibility depends on factors such as the age and condition of your current passport.
• Skip the post office photo if you can. Photos from other retailers can cost less, and you may be able to use a compliant photo you already have. The photo has to meet State Department requirements regardless of where it was taken.
• Choose only the document you need. A card alone costs far less than a book, but it does not work for air travel abroad.
• Avoid unofficial services. The State Department warns that some outside websites charge extra for steps that are free or routine through government channels.

Passport fees are set by the State Department and change from time to time. The State Department's passport fee page is the authority for the current amounts, so check it before you mail anything. If a figure on that page differs from the table above, trust the State Department.