Requesting a U.S. passport for the first time, renewing it, or trying to receive it more quickly can have very different prices, and the U.S. State Department has just released its updated fee schedule for October 2026.
For an adult applying for a passport book for the first time, the basic fee is $165: $130 for the application and an additional $35 for the acceptance fee at the office where the documents are submitted.
In contrast, an adult who qualifies for renewal typically pays $130 for the booklet and does not have to pay the $35 acceptance fee again.
The cost may increase if the document is needed more quickly, if a passport card is requested, or if there are special circumstances.
How much does it cost to obtain a U.S. passport for the first time?
According to the official fee schedule from the Department of State updated in October 2026, applicants who are 16 years old or older processing the document using form DS-11 must pay two separate fees.
Passport booklet: $130 application fee plus $35 acceptance fee, for a total basic amount of $165.
Passport card: $30 application fee plus $35 acceptance fee, for a total of $65.
Notebook and card together: $160 for application plus $35 for acceptance, for a total of $195.
The application fee is paid to the Department of State, while the $35 acceptance fee is paid to the authorized office that receives and verifies the documentation.
These offices can be found, for example, in certain post offices, libraries, and local government offices.
Renewing the passport costs less because the $35 fee is not charged
Adults who meet the requirements to renew their passport using form DS-82 do not pay the acceptance fee.
The renewal of a passport booklet costs $130.
To renew just one card costs $30, while applying for both a booklet and a card together costs $160.
Eligible applicants can renew by mail and, in certain cases, also through the official online renewal system of the Department of State.
To use the online renewal, there are additional requirements. Among them, the applicant must be at least 25 years old, be in a state or territory of the United States, and not plan to travel for at least six weeks after submitting the application.
In addition, the online renewal is only available with routine service and does not allow for expedited processing.
How much does a passport for a minor under 16 years old cost?
For individuals under 16 years old, the rates are different, and the application must be made in person.
Passport book: $100 plus $35 for processing, for a total of $135.
Passport fee: $15 plus $35 for processing, for a total of $50.
Notebook and card: $115 plus $35 for acceptance, for a total of $150.
Passports for minors under the age of 16 are not renewed in the same way as those for adults. When the document expires, a new application must be submitted.
The expedited service costs an additional $60
Those who need to expedite the processing can pay $60 additional per request to use the expedited service.
The Department of State currently reports that routine processing takes approximately four to six weeks, while expedited service takes around two to three weeks.
These times do not include postal delivery.
The authority warns that a request may take up to two weeks to reach the processing center, and the new passport may take another two weeks to arrive at the applicant's address after being sent.
Current processing times can be found on the official processing times page of the Department of State.
A first expedited passport can cost over $250
Additional charges help to better understand how much a person may actually end up paying.
An adult applying for a notebook for the first time pays a $130 application fee and a $35 acceptance fee.
If you add the $60 for the expedited service, the total rises to $225.
If you also want the issued passport to be sent via the one to three day delivery service, you must add another $26.87, bringing that example to $251.87.
That estimate does not include the possible cost of sending the application to the Department of State via Priority Mail Express or another expedited service, the price of which depends on the location from which it is sent.
The fast delivery of 1 to 3 days costs $26.87
The State Department allows for an additional $26.87 fee to receive a passport book within one to three days after the document has been mailed.
This service is only available for delivery addresses within the United States and is not offered for passport cards.
It is also important not to confuse this service with expedited processing.
The $60 reduces the time it takes for the Government to process the application, while the $26.87 speeds up the return shipment once the new passport has been issued.
The passport card is not valid for flying to Cuba
The passport card costs much less than the passport booklet, but it has a fundamental limitation for those traveling internationally.
The card is not valid for international air travel.
Therefore, a U.S. citizen wishing to travel by air between the United States and Cuba needs a valid passport book.
The card is mainly limited to certain entries by land and sea from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean.
For the Cuban-American community, this point is particularly relevant. CiberCuba recently reported that the State Department reminded U.S. citizens with dual nationality that they must enter and exit the United States using a valid U.S. passport.
The obligation also applies to minors who are United States citizens, even if they also hold Cuban, Spanish, or other citizenships.
There is another charge of $150 that few people are aware of
The official table also includes a fee of $150 per file search.
This fee may apply when the applicant is unable to provide evidence of U.S. citizenship and needs the Department of State to locate records of a previously issued U.S. passport or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad.
It is not a fee that most applicants should pay, but it can significantly increase the cost in certain cases.
The photo can also add an expense
The official government rates do not necessarily include the cost of having a passport photo taken.
Anyone who uses a business, pharmacy, photography studio, or other facility to obtain it will have to pay the price charged by that establishment.
Individuals renewing online need to upload a digital photograph that meets the official requirements.
Be careful with websites that charge too much for online renewals
The State Department has also warned about private sites that claim to offer services for renewing U.S. passports online.
The authority emphasizes that the only authorized portal for officially submitting an online renewal belongs to the Government of the United States and uses the .gov domain.
Private companies may charge additional fees for forms or services that do not replace the official submission of the application.
The State Department also warns that these services may jeopardize sensitive personal information.
And what if I have an urgent trip?
Paying $60 for expedited service is not the same as requesting assistance for an urgent international trip.
Those planning to travel abroad within the next 14 days can try to secure an appointment at a passport agency or center, as long as they can demonstrate their travel plans.
In life-or-death situations involving an immediate family member, there are specific procedures for those who need to travel in an even shorter timeframe.
Therefore, before booking a flight, it's advisable to check both the validity of your passport and the total time needed to obtain a new one.
How much to pay in the most common cases
Adult, first booklet: $165.
Adult, booklet renewal: $130.
Under 16 years old, booklet: $135.
Adult, first booklet with expedited service: $225.
Adult, first booklet with expedited service and return in 1-3 days: $251.87.
Adult, expedited renewal by mail: $190.
Adult, expedited renewal by mail and return in 1-3 days: $216.87.
The prices correspond to the official rates in effect published by the Department of State in October 2026 and may increase if the applicant uses additional services such as shipping, photography, or private assistance.
Related videos:
Filed under: