# What is the passport fee?

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.

- Page: https://www.acalculator.org/everyday-life/passport-fee-calculator
- JSON spec: https://www.acalculator.org/everyday-life/passport-fee-calculator.json
- Version: 247aef36feb6

## Default answer

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.

## Inputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| who | Applicant | First passport or in person at 16 or older (DS-11), adult renewal (DS-82), or a child under 16. |
| type | Passport | A passport book (all international travel), a card (land and sea to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Bermuda), or both. |
| n | Number of applicants | How many people of this kind are applying. |
| exp | Expedited service | Faster processing for $60 per application. |
| ship | 1-3 day return delivery | Faster return of a passport book for $26.87 per application (books only). |
| search | File search | A $150 search of passport records, when you cannot show proof of US citizenship. |

## Outputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| total | Total fees | Everything you pay for all applicants. |
| stateFee | Paid to the Department of State | Application fees and service fees, for all applicants. |
| acceptance | Acceptance fee | Paid separately to the acceptance facility for in-person applications. |
| perPerson | Per applicant | The total for one applicant. |

## 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.

## Assumptions

- 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

1. who = adult, type = book gives stateFee = $130.00, acceptance = $35.00, total = $165.00. Source: U.S. Department of State, Passport fees, https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/help/fees.html.
2. who = renewal, type = book, exp = yes, ship = yes gives total = $216.87, acceptance = $0.00. Source: U.S. Department of State, Passport fees, https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/help/fees.html.
3. who = minor, type = both, n = 2 gives perPerson = $150.00, total = $300.00. Source: U.S. Department of State, Passport fees, https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/help/fees.html.
4. who = adult, type = card, ship = yes gives total = $65.00. Source: U.S. Department of State, Passport fees, https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/help/fees.html.

## FAQ

### 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.

## Sources

- U.S. Department of State, Passport fees (last updated March 19, 2026; retrieved 2026-10-05). https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/help/fees.html