What is the passport fee?
Choose who is applying and what they need. The page adds the State Department fees, the acceptance fee, and any extra services, for one person or the whole family.
- Total fees
- $165.00
Your passport fees come to $165.00 in all: $130.00 to the Department of State and $35.00 to the acceptance facility.
- Paid to the Department of State
- $130.00
- Acceptance fee
- $35.00
- Per applicant
- $165.00
Total fees: $165.00. Your passport fees come to $165.00 in all: $130.00 to the Department of State and $35.00 to the acceptance facility.
Where does the money go?
How to calculate
Adds up US passport fees for 2026: the application fee for a book, card, or both, the acceptance fee, and expedited service, faster delivery, and file search.
Example with the default inputs (Applicant Adult, first or in person, Passport Book, Number of applicants 1, Expedited service No, 1-3 day return delivery No, File search No): Your passport fees come to $165.00 in all: $130.00 to the Department of State and $35.00 to the acceptance facility.
Method: Per applicant: application fee (book, card, or both) + $60 if expedited + $26.87 for 1-3 day delivery (books) + $150 for a file search + the $35 acceptance fee for a first or in-person application. Total = per applicant × number of applicants.
- Fees from the U.S. Department of State fee chart, last updated March 19, 2026.
- A renewal by mail or online pays no acceptance fee. Applicants 16 and 17 apply as adults (DS-11) and pay adult fees.
- Not included: passport photos, postage to send your application, and private expediting services.
Worked examples
Each example is checked against the calculator on every build.
- Applicant Adult, first or in person, Passport Book gives Paid to the Department of State $130.00, Acceptance fee $35.00, Total fees $165.00.Source: U.S. Department of State, Passport fees, https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/help/fees.html
- Applicant Adult renewal, Passport Book, Expedited service yes, 1-3 day return delivery yes gives Total fees $216.87, Acceptance fee $0.00.Source: U.S. Department of State, Passport fees, https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/help/fees.html
- Applicant Under 16, Passport Book and card, Number of applicants 2 gives Per applicant $150.00, Total fees $300.00.Source: U.S. Department of State, Passport fees, https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/help/fees.html
- Applicant Adult, first or in person, Passport Card, 1-3 day return delivery yes gives Total fees $65.00.Source: U.S. Department of State, Passport fees, https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/help/fees.html
How it works
Fees per application (2026):
| Applicant | Book | Card | Book and card | Acceptance fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult, first passport or in person (DS-11, 16 and older) | $130 | $30 | $160 | $35 |
| Adult renewal by mail or online (DS-82) | $130 | $30 | $160 | none |
| Child under 16 (DS-11) | $100 | $15 | $115 | $35 |
Optional services, per application: expedited service $60; 1-3 day return delivery $26.87 (for a book; a card alone is not sent this way, so the fee is left out for a card); file search $150.
- Paid to the Department of State = application fee + chosen services, times the number of applicants.
- Acceptance fee = the acceptance fee times the number of applicants.
- Total = the two added. Per applicant = the total for one person.
The arithmetic is exact. Not included: photos, postage to send the application, and private expediting companies.
When the data is out of date
The fees are from the Department of State chart last updated March 19, 2026. After December 31, 2026 the page keeps using them and says so above the result.
Worked examples by hand
An adult's first passport book. $130 + $35 = $165.
An adult renewal with expedited service and 1-3 day delivery. $130 + $60 + $26.87 = $216.87, no acceptance fee.
Two children under 16, each with a book and card. ($115 + $35) × 2 = $300.
An adult's first passport card, with delivery ticked. Delivery applies to books only: $30 + $35 = $65.
Other questions people ask
How much does a US passport cost in 2026?
A first adult passport book costs $165: a $130 application fee to the Department of State and a $35 acceptance fee. A renewal by mail or online costs $130. A book for a child under 16 costs $135 ($100 + $35).
How much is a passport card?
A card alone costs $30 for adults ($65 with the acceptance fee for a first card) and $15 for children under 16 ($50 with acceptance). A book and card together cost $160 for adults and $115 for children, plus $35 acceptance when you apply in person.
How much does it cost to expedite a passport?
Expedited service is $60 more per application. Faster 1-3 day return delivery of the book is another $26.87. An adult renewal with both is $216.87.
Why are there two payments?
When you apply in person on form DS-11, the application fee goes to the U.S. Department of State and the $35 acceptance fee goes to the facility (a post office, library or clerk's office), usually as a separate payment.
Do I pay the acceptance fee to renew?
No. Adults who renew by mail or online with form DS-82 pay no acceptance fee. You must apply in person, and pay it, if your old passport was issued before you were 16, more than 15 years ago, or was lost or damaged.
What is the file search fee?
A $150 fee for the Department of State to search passport records to confirm your citizenship, when you cannot submit proof of it with your application.