A U.S. passport costs $135 to $217.05 for a minor under 16 and $130 to $247.05 for an adult in 2026. The cost depends on the type of passport application, the additional services you select, and the application method.
This guide provides an in-depth look at the costs of U.S. passport applications and renewals.
In this Guide
- Current Passport Costs
- What Are the Fees for Renewing a Passport?
- Optional Passport Service Fees
- How to Pay for Passport Fees
- Are There Mailing Fees for Passport Delivery?
- Are the Costs the Same for Online Passport Renewals?
- What is the Difference Between a Passport Book and a Passport Card?
U.S. Passport Costs 2026
Passport costs in 2026 vary based on the applicant’s age, the type of passport requested (renewal or new passport), processing speed and delivery methods. An adult passport book costs $130 + shipping when renewed by mail and $130 + $35 execution fee when applying for a first-time passport. Online renewals of eligible adult passports are $130 with the option for 1 to 2 day shipping at an additional $22.05.
Minors under 16 cannot renew a passport and must apply for a passport in person. The cost of a minor passport without expedited services is $100 + $35 execution fee.
Source: U.S. Department of State Travel.State.Gov
What Are the General Costs for Passport Applications?
Here’s an overview of the standard fees for passport applications:
Standard Passport Costs
| Applicant Type | Passport Book Fee | Passport Card Fee | Combined Fee |
| Adults (First-time) | $130 + $35 execution | $30 + $35 execution |
$160 + $35 execution
|
| Adults (Renewal) | $130 | $30 | $160 |
| Minors (Under 16) | $100 + $35 execution | $15 + $35 execution |
$115 + $35 execution
|
What Are the Costs for Renewing a Passport?
Renewal fees are the same as first-time application fees but do not include an execution fee when submitted by mail or online:
- Passport Book: $130
- Passport Card: $30
When you are in a rush and need to get your passport ASAP, learn more in our guide How to Get Your Passport in Two Weeks or Less.
Are There Mailing Fees for Passport Delivery?
There are no fees for passport delivery when using the standard application service. After processing, your passport is delivered via USPS Priority Mail at no additional cost. An optional $22.05 fee is available for 1-2 day delivery of your passport book. Passport cards are always sent via USPS First Class Mail.
When you mail your passport to the Department of State for renewal, you need to cover the shipping cost to the acceptance facility.
Are the Costs the Same for Online Passport Renewals?
The costs for online passport renewals are $130 for the passport book and $30 for the passport card, exactly the same as mail-in renewals. Standard USPS Priority Mail is included in the price and 1-2 day delivery is available for an additional $22.05. Expedited processing is not available for online renewals except in rare cases.
Learn more in our guide on the online passport renewal process.
Optional Passport Service Costs
Additional services, such as expedited processing and 1-2 day delivery of your passport book, incur extra fees. These should be paid alongside the application fee to the U.S. Department of State by check or money order.
Optional Costs and Their Purposes
| Fee Type | Cost | Description |
| Expedite Fee | $60 | Reduces processing time from 4–6 weeks to 2–3 weeks when eligible. |
| 1-2 Day Delivery | $22.05 | 1-2 day delivery of an issued passport book within the U.S. |
| File Search Fee | $150 | Pay only when you cannot submit your prior U.S. passport/CRBA as evidence and your record was issued before 1994. |
Learn more: Expedited Passport Services: Fast-Tracking Your Travel Documents
How to Pay for Passport Fees
To pay for your new passport there are two types of fees, application fees and execution fees. Application fees are paid to the U.S. Department of State via a check or money order. The execution fee, or acceptance fee, is paid to the passport acceptance facility. Here are more details on the fees and payment methods:
What is the Difference Between an Application Fee and an Execution Fee?
- Application Fee: The application fee is paid to the U.S. Department of State and is required for all passport applications. This application fee covers the cost of processing your passport application.
- Execution Fee: The execution fee is also known as the acceptance fee. This fee covers the costs of accepting your passport at one of the acceptance facilities.
When you apply for a passport for the first time or for a child, you must pay both an application and an execution fee. For adult passport renewals, only the application fee is required, as these can typically be submitted by mail or online when meeting the requirements, bypassing the need for an execution fee.
Payment Methods Based on Application Submission Location
- Applying at a Passport Acceptance Facility:
- Application Fee: Must be paid via a check or money order made out to “U.S. Department of State.”
- Execution Fee: Each facility has its own policies regarding acceptable payment methods. Commonly accepted payments include personal checks, money orders, and some locations accept credit cards and exact cash. It’s advisable to contact the acceptance facility ahead of time to confirm their accepted payment methods.
- Renewing by Mail:
- Application Fee: Send a check or money order payable to “U.S. Department of State.” Ensure not to cancel your check or money order after submission to avoid additional fees. When renewing from Canada, payments must be in U.S. dollars through a U.S. bank.
- Renewing Online
- When renewing a passport online the application fee is paid via the pay.gov website. The primary method of payment is credit or debit card, but ACH (Automated Clearing House) payments from your bank are accepted with additional processing delays.
- Applying or Renewing at a Passport Agency:
- Application and execution fees can be paid together.
- Accepted forms of payment include credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover), debit cards, digital wallet payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay), checks, and money orders. Cash payments must be exact as agencies do not provide change.
Learn more about the different locations you can apply for a passport.
What is the Difference Between a Passport Book and a Passport Card?
The main difference between a passport book and a passport card is that they have different costs and travel validity. In general, a passport book is more expensive and can be used for any type of travel or identity verification, while a passport card has more limitations.
A passport card is a wallet-sized document that cannot be used for international air travel but is valid for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. Additionally, it is an accepted REAL ID-compliant document and can be used as identification for domestic U.S. flights. Read our guide on deciding on which of the two passport documents you need.
In the case that you already have a passport book, you can apply for a passport card by mail as a “renewal,” even when it’s your first card, and vice versa. Online renewals require that you have already received a passport card to renew a passport card and a passport book to renew the passport book.
Learn more: Where Can I Travel When I Don’t Have A U.S. Passport?
