How much does a US passport cost in 2026?

A first-time adult application is $160, which includes the $130 application fee and the $30 execution fee. A renewal by mail is $130. Neither includes the passport photo, which runs $15-$25 at pharmacies and shipping stores or $10-$12 taken at home. Children under 16 pay the same application fee but the passport is valid for only five years rather than ten.

What is the cheapest way to renew a US passport?

Renew online at travel.state.gov if your previous passport is undamaged, was issued within the last 15 years, was issued when you were 16 or older, and is in your current legal name. Online renewal costs the same $130 as mail but is faster and requires no appointment. Renewing by mail is still the cheapest route; going in person to an acceptance facility adds a fee.

Do I need an appointment to apply for a passport?

For a first-time application, an adult, or a renewal that does not qualify for mail or online processing, yes — nearly every acceptance facility now requires an appointment. Two-hour appointments are harder to get and more expensive; most people book a routine 15-30 minute slot. Passport agencies offering urgent travel service do not require appointments and take walk-ins, but you must show travel within 14 days.

How much does an expedited passport cost?

The expedite fee is $60 on top of the base fee, and it cuts processing from 4-8 weeks to 2-3 weeks. There is a separate urgent-travel service at $1,000 for appointments within 14 days at a passport agency, and a same-day option costing $1,000 that only exists at passport agency offices with appointment availability. Neither is refundable if the underlying application has a problem.

How long does a US passport take to arrive?

Routine processing is currently 4-8 weeks for first-time applications and roughly 4-6 weeks for renewals by mail. Expedited processing is 2-3 weeks. Neither window includes mailing time, and processing pauses for holidays and for mailed applications that fail a photo check. Applying three to six months before travel is the safe margin.

Do I need a second passport copy?

You should keep one at home, not applied for. If you lose a passport abroad, a replacement is far harder to obtain than a copy. Photocopy the photo page and keep it with your other important documents, and store a scan of the full passport in cloud storage. A second full passport is only worth applying for if you have exhausted a visa country already.

How Much Does a Passport Cost in 2026 (First + Renewal)

At a glance
First-time adult passport: $160 ($130 application + $30 execution).
Renewal by mail or online: $130, no execution fee.
Add a photo at $15-$25 (pharmacy) or $10-$12 (taken at home).
Expedite is +$60 for 2-3 weeks. Urgent travel service is $1,000.
Allow 4-8 weeks routine. Apply three to six months before travel.

Fees last verified October 2026. The State Department raises passport fees periodically — confirm current amounts on travel.state.gov before applying.

The four fees, and which one applies to you

US passport fees separate into components that apply on different routes, and the confusion between them accounts for most people overpaying at a pharmacy counter.

The application fee is the base cost paid to the government. The execution fee is charged only for first-time applications, applicants under 16, and anyone whose previous passport was issued when they were under 16 — it covers the acceptance agent's work. Renewals by mail and by online process pay neither the execution fee nor an acceptance facility fee.

Situation	Application fee	Execution fee	Total government fee	Extra costs you may face
First-time adult	$130	$30	$160	Photo $15-$25, urgent acceptance facility fee
Renewal by mail	$130	None	$130	Photo $15-$25, postage
Renewal online	$130	None	$130	Photo $15-$25, must meet eligibility rules
Child under 16	$130	$30	$160	Both parents present, photo, birth certificate
Adult renewal, previous issued under 16	$130	$30	$160	In-person, first adult passport rules apply
Lost or stolen	$130	$30	$160	In person, additional DS-64 statement
Second copy for frequent travel	$130	$30	$160	In person, plus a statement explaining why
Replace for visa stamps already used	$130	$30	$160	In person, plus an explanatory letter

Route	Government fee	Photo	Acceptance facility	Shipping	Total realistic
Online renewal, self-taken photo	$130	$10-$12	$0	$0 (online)	$140-$142
Online renewal, pharmacy photo	$130	$17-$22	$0	$0	$147-$152
Mail renewal, self-taken photo	$130	$10-$12	$0	$3-$5	$143-$147
In-person first-time, pharmacy photo	$160	$17-$22	$35-$45	$0	$212-$227
In-person first-time, urgent appointment	$160	$17-$22	$75-$100+	$0	$252-$282
Any route, expedited	+$60	—	—	—	+$60
Passport agency, travel within 14 days	$160	$17-$22	+$1,000	—	$1,177-$1,182
Passport agency, same-day	$160	$17-$22	+$1,000 (2 appointments)	—	~$2,177

Online renewal requires all four: your most recent passport can be submitted, it is undamaged, it was issued within the last 15 years, and it was issued when you were 16 or older. Your name must match the current one exactly or you must have the legal documents proving the change.
Mail renewal requires the first three conditions above but allows a name change if you include the supporting documents. It is slower than online but works for everyone who does not qualify online.
In-person first-time is required for anyone applying for the first time, for anyone under 16, and for anyone whose previous passport was issued before they turned 16. Bring your citizenship evidence and a photocopy of the identity document.
Passport agency handles urgent travel. You must show travel booked within 14 days, and the appointment is genuinely walk-in. Appointments in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami frequently reach capacity, and you may have to travel to a smaller city.
Renewal for a minor is not possible. A child applying for their second passport must appear in person, because the validity and identity rules are different.

What gets a passport application rejected

Roughly one in three mailed applications is returned for a fixable defect, which adds four to eight weeks. The defects are almost entirely in the photo and the paperwork, and they are entirely preventable.

Defect	Why it fails	How to avoid it
Photo has a white or off-white background	Must be pure white or off-white	Use the passport photo tool at the provider; print on standard photo paper
Photo includes eyeglasses	Glasses removed from requirements since 2016	Take the photo without glasses; sunglasses are also prohibited
Photo taken in the last 6 months	Must reflect current appearance	Take it on the day you apply
Photo dimensions wrong	Exactly 2x2 inches	Do not crop by eye; use the printed template
Unsigned application	DS-11 must be signed in front of the agent	Do not sign before the appointment for DS-11 forms
Missing original citizenship document	Certified birth certificate or naturalisation certificate required	Bring the original plus a photocopy; hospital certificates are rejected
Photocopy missing	Every supporting document needs a photocopy	Photocopy the front and back of everything you bring
Name does not match evidence	Legal name consistency is required	Bring marriage certificate or name-change documentation
Payment wrong form	Money orders and cashier cheques are not accepted	Pay by check drawn on a US bank, or by card at an acceptance facility
Damaged or cracked card	Loss of integrity is disqualifying	Renew rather than attempt a repair

Tips that actually reduce the cost and the wait

Tip	Saving or time saved	Notes
Renew online rather than in person	$30-$45 and an appointment	Requires all four eligibility conditions; check before you start
Take the photo at home	$7-$13 per passport	Use a white or off-white background and the official 2x2 template
Apply at a public library	$5-$15 versus a shipping store	Many libraries are acceptance facilities and charge less for the execution service
Apply at a courthouse or post office	$0-$10	Post offices do not charge the acceptance fee at all in many states
Check the photo against the tool	Avoids a 4-8 week rejection	The State Department has an online photo check tool; use it
Apply during off-peak months	Faster processing	Late summer, November, and January are quieter than June
Mail with tracking	Reduces delivery uncertainty	The State Department recommends a trackable service
Skip expedited unless needed	$60	Routine processing still meets most travel timelines

One warning on the expedited fee: it does not fix a rejected application, and it does not apply to urgent travel service. Many people pay $60 to expedite an application that is then rejected for a photo defect, adding four weeks of delay to a six-week application. Getting the photo right is worth more than any expedite fee.

The validity question

Adult passports issued since 2007 are valid for ten years, and children under 16 receive five-year passports. Some countries will not admit a traveller whose passport expires within six months of arrival, and a few require three blank pages — check your destination's rules rather than assuming.

Passport situation	Validity remaining	Travel risk	Action
More than 6 months validity	Fine	None	No action
3-6 months validity	Many countries refuse entry	High	Renew before booking
Under 3 months validity	Most countries refuse entry	Certain refusal	Renew immediately
Damaged passport	Any	Treated as invalid	Replace, do not repair
No blank pages	Some countries refuse visas	Medium to high	Renew before long trips
Child passport, 5-year validity	Expires at age 21	Easy to overlook	Calendar the renewal in year 4

The short version

Budget $140-$150 for an online or mail renewal with a home-taken photo, and $210-$230 for a first-time application at an acceptance facility. Do not pay the $60 expedite fee unless your travel is genuinely within six weeks. Apply three to six months ahead, use the State Department's online photo check tool before mailing, and keep a photocopy plus a cloud scan of the photo page so losing it abroad is not a crisis.

How Much Does a Passport Cost in 2026 (First + Renewal)

The four fees, and which one applies to you

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