Don’t Let US Passport Fees Surprise You: A Guide

Passports are essential documents for citizens travelling abroad. In the United States, obtaining a passport involves paying fees that vary depending on a range of factors. As such, it is important to understand these fees to avoid surprises. This article provides a guide to US passport fees, including how they are structured and what applicants need to consider before applying.

Types of Passports

The United States issues three different types of passports, including regular, official, and diplomatic. The fees for these passports vary from each other. The current fees for the different types of US passports are:

Standard adult passport renewal: $110
First-time adult passport: $145
Child passport: $80

Processing Time

The US passport processing time can take up to six weeks. However, for those who require their passport in a shorter timeframe, expedited service is also available. The expedited service can take up to three weeks and involves an additional fee of $60. In urgent cases, an expedited service is also available for a 24-hour turnaround time, but this incurs additional costs.

Service Type

In the US, there are different types of services available when applying for a passport. By default, all US passport applications are submitted via standard mail, and the fees are already included in the standard passport fee. However, expedited services are available and attract additional fees, which are $60 or $170, depending on the processing time required. Additionally, there is a $35 fee for those who require expedited services for the 24-hour turnaround time.

Additional Fees

In some cases, there are additional fees that applicants may need to consider. For example, if an applicant wants to add extra pages to their existing passport (which is obsolete as of 2016), there is a fee of $110. There is also a fee of $25 for those who need their passport photo taken at a passport agency.

Avoiding Surprises

To avoid any unexpected fees, it is important for applicants to know what type of passport they need and the timeframe they require it in. Moreover, it is important to know which services they may require and which additional fees apply to specific situations, like adding extra pages or needing a passport photo taken. By planning ahead, applicants can avoid any surprise fees.

Final Thoughts

Obtaining a US passport is necessary for international travel. As such, understanding the fees involved in obtaining or renewing a passport is essential. By knowing the different types of passports, processing times, and service types, applicants can plan ahead and have a clear idea of the total cost of obtaining or renewing a passport.

In order for a United States citizen to obtain a passport, required for international travel, he/she must pay US passport fees. US passport fees vary depending upon the type of passport an individual requires. An individual will need to pay both an application fee and an execution fee. If an individual requires an adult passport book for international air travel, he/she must pay an application fee of $110 and an execution fee of $25.

Therefore, the total cost of an initial adult passport is $135. If an adult needs to obtain a passport card for travel by car or by boat, he/she must pay an application fee of $30 and an execution fee of $25, making his/her total passport cost $55. To acquire both a passport book and a passport card, an individual will pay a total of $165, with $140 satisfying the application fee, and the additional $25 for the execution fee.

US passport fees for child passports are less expensive than those required to obtain an adult passport. In order to obtain an initial child passport, an individual will be require to pay as $80 application fee and a $25 execution fee. Therefore, the total cost of obtaining a child passport is $105.

If an individual needs to obtain a minor passport card, it will cost an individual $15 to satisfy the application fee and an addition $25 for the execution fee, making the total $40. To obtain both a minor passport book and a minor passport card, it will cost an individual $120. An individual will also be required to pay US passport fees if he/she must renew an adult passport or a minor passport.