US Passport Cost 2026 New Renewal and Expedited Fees

At a glance

• New adult US passport book: $130 application fee plus $35 execution fee, for a $165 total in 2026.
• Passport renewal by mail: $130 with no execution fee, when the prior passport is undamaged and was issued within 15 years.
• Expedited processing: $60 extra per application, with current processing times of 5 to 7 weeks.
• Lost or damaged passport replacement: $130 application fee plus $20 lost-passport fee and the $35 execution fee, totaling $185.
• Second valid passport: $130 application fee plus $110 second-passport fee, for $240 total, valid 2 years.
• Child's passport (under 16): $100 application fee plus $35 execution fee, for $135 total, valid 5 years.

US passport fees in 2026 follow the structure set by the Department of State in the 2022 fee adjustment, with all categories broken into a base application fee and a separate execution fee that is only charged for first-time applicants and in-person renewals. The total cost of a US passport in 2026 depends on whether you are applying for the first time, renewing by mail, paying for expedited processing, or replacing a lost or damaged book.

This guide walks through each passport type with the 2026 fee, processing time, and payment method, plus the photo cost, the child passport fees, and the second-passport fee that frequent international travelers use when they need a visa in their passport while on the road. All fees listed here come from the State Department's official passport fees page at travel.state.gov, last verified October 2026.

New US passport cost in 2026

A new adult US passport book costs $165 in 2026: a $130 application fee paid to the US Department of State plus a $35 execution fee paid to the acceptance facility at the time of application.

The application fee covers the cost of processing the application and producing the passport book. The execution fee covers the cost of the acceptance facility (usually a post office, county clerk, or other approved location) reviewing your paperwork and administering the oath, per the State Department's official passport fees page.

First-time applicants must apply in person using Form DS-11, even if they have had a previous passport that expired more than 15 years ago. The acceptance facility will witness you signing the form and will mail the application to the State Department for processing. Standard processing in 2026 is 6 to 8 weeks, according to the State Department's current processing times page.

The new passport book is valid for 10 years for adults (16 and older) and 5 years for minors under 16. The cost is the same regardless of how many visa pages the book contains, although you can pay an extra $1 to $2 at the acceptance facility for a 52-page book instead of the standard 28-page book, depending on the facility.

Passport renewal cost by mail in 2026

Renewing a US passport by mail in 2026 costs $130, with no execution fee. This is the cheapest and fastest way to renew for adults who qualify, according to the State Department's renewal-by-mail page.

To qualify for mail renewal, you must meet all four conditions. Your most recent passport must be undamaged and can be submitted with your application. It must have been issued within the last 15 years. It must have been issued when you were 16 or older. And it must be in your current name, or you must be able to document a name change with a court order or marriage certificate.

The renewal form is DS-82, which is mailed with your most recent passport, a new passport photo, and a check or money order for $130 made out to the US Department of State. If you want expedited processing, add $60 and write EXPEDITE on the outer envelope. Standard mail renewal processing is 6 to 8 weeks, and expedited is 5 to 7 weeks, per the State Department's current processing times page.

You can renew by mail up to 1 year before the passport expires, and the State Department recommends renewing 9 months before any planned international travel, since some countries require 6 months of validity remaining on the passport at the time of entry.

Expedited passport processing and fees in 2026

The State Department charges $60 extra per application for expedited processing in 2026, on top of the standard application fee. Expedited processing cuts the standard 6 to 8 week timeline to 5 to 7 weeks, according to the State Department's current processing times page.

Expedited is the right option for travelers who need a passport within 2 months but do not have a life-or-death emergency. The $60 fee is paid per application, so a family of four applying together pays $240 in expedited fees in addition to the $520 in standard fees for four renewals.

For travel within 1 to 2 weeks, the State Department offers urgent or emergency appointments at one of the 26 regional passport agencies, with proof of upcoming travel required. The agency fee is the same $60 expedite plus the $35 execution fee for in-person applicants, and you must call 1-877-487-2778 to schedule, per the State Department's urgent travel page.

For faster delivery of a completed passport, add overnight shipping of about $19 to $30 each way through USPS Priority Mail Express, per USPS.com. The State Department recommends overnight shipping both ways for any applicant paying the expedite fee, since the standard return shipping is 1 to 2 weeks on its own.

Lost or damaged passport replacement cost

Replacing a lost, stolen, or damaged US passport costs $185 in 2026: a $130 application fee, a $20 lost-passport fee, and a $35 execution fee. All three fees apply because you cannot use the mail-renewal shortcut.

You must apply in person using Form DS-11 (the new-application form, not the renewal form), even if your previous passport was issued recently and is otherwise valid. You must also file Form DS-64, the statement of lost or stolen passport, before you apply, per the State Department's lost-or-stolen passport page.

The $20 lost-passport fee is a one-time charge added to the standard application fee to cover the cost of canceling the previous passport in the State Department's system. The fee is non-refundable even if your original passport is recovered after you apply for the replacement.

If your passport was damaged (for example, water damage, torn pages, or a broken chip), the State Department treats the replacement as a lost passport application. The $185 total applies, and you must apply in person. Some travel insurance policies cover the replacement cost if the damage occurred during a covered trip, but most do not cover loss due to negligence.

Second valid US passport cost

A second valid US passport costs $240 in 2026: a $130 application fee plus a $110 second-passport fee. The second passport is valid for 2 years instead of 10 and is issued to frequent international travelers who need a visa in their passport while traveling.

Common reasons to apply for a second passport include needing a visa stamp from a country that restricts entry based on a prior stamp (such as Israel for travelers going to Saudi Arabia, or India for travelers going to Pakistan), and needing a valid passport while the primary passport is held by an embassy for visa processing.

To qualify, you must show proof of frequent international travel, typically 3 or more trips per year, with copies of past itineraries or a letter from an employer confirming the travel pattern. The application is made in person using Form DS-11, and processing is the standard 6 to 8 weeks or 5 to 7 weeks expedited, per the State Department's second-passport page.

At the end of the 2-year validity, the second passport is renewed by mail using Form DS-82 at a reduced cost. The $110 second-passport fee is charged again on each 2-year renewal, since each issuance is treated as a new passport.

Child and minor passport fees in 2026

A child's US passport (under 16) costs $135 in 2026: a $100 application fee plus a $35 execution fee. Both parents or legal guardians must appear in person with the child at the acceptance facility, per the State Department's child passport page.

If only one parent can appear, the absent parent must provide a signed, notarized Form DS-3053 (Statement of Consent) plus a copy of their ID. This is the State Department's standard child-custody protection, and the form must be dated within 90 days of the application.

A minor aged 16 or 17 can apply with parental consent using the same Form DS-11, and the cost is the same as an adult passport: $165 for a new book, $130 for a renewal by mail (if eligible). Passports for children under 16 are valid 5 years instead of 10, and the State Department recommends renewing 6 months before any planned travel to avoid visa validity issues.

If both parents cannot appear and there is no court order waiving the requirement, the application will be rejected. In cases of sole custody, a court order granting sole custody must be presented at the time of application, along with the parent's government-issued ID.

Passport photo costs and where to get them in 2026

Passport photos cost $15 to $20 at retail locations in 2026, including CVS, Walgreens, AAA, and most major shipping stores. The State Department also offers free passport photos through the MyPassport mobile app, which produces a compliant digital photo that any retail location can print for under $1, per travel.state.gov.

Passport photos must meet specific State Department requirements: a white or off-white background, 2x2 inches in size, taken within the last 6 months, full face visible with a neutral expression, and no glasses (the State Department banned glasses in passport photos starting in 2016, with a 2021 update tightening the rule for new applicants).

For the MyPassport app, you take the photo on a white background at home using a smartphone, and the app crops and formats it to State Department specifications. The resulting image is then printed at CVS, Walgreens, or Walmart for $0.25 to $0.95 in most stores, and the total cost (app plus print) is essentially free.

For renewals by mail, the photo must be 2x2 inches with a white background and must be printed on photo-quality paper. Staples, Office Depot, and FedEx Office can also print the photo for $0.50 to $3.00 in addition to a passport photo service for $15 to $20, per the State Department's photo requirements page.

How to pay US passport fees in 2026

US passport application fees are paid by check or money order to the US Department of State, and the execution fee is paid separately to the acceptance facility. Credit and debit cards are accepted at most acceptance facilities for the execution fee, but not all facilities accept cards for the application fee, per the State Department's payment page.

For mail renewals, the $130 application fee is paid by check or money order made out to the US Department of State. Cash is not accepted for mail applications and will be returned with the application. Money orders can be purchased at any USPS post office, Walmart, or CVS for $1 to $5.

For in-person applications, the $130 application fee is paid by check, money order, or in some cases credit or debit card (depends on the facility). The $35 execution fee is paid separately, and most facilities accept cash, check, or card for the execution fee. Some facilities charge a small additional convenience fee for card payments, usually $1 to $3.

For urgent appointments at a regional passport agency, the application fee is paid at the time of appointment, and the agency accepts checks, money orders, and credit or debit cards. The $60 expedite fee is added to the application fee, and the $35 execution fee is paid separately at the agency, per the State Department's urgent travel page.

Bottom line

The total cost of a US passport in 2026 ranges from $130 for a mail renewal to $240 for a second valid passport. Most adults renewing by mail pay $130 with no execution fee, while first-time applicants pay $165 with the $35 execution fee added.

Add $60 for expedited processing if you need the passport in 5 to 7 weeks, and add $19 to $30 each way for overnight shipping through USPS Priority Mail Express if you need the passport in under 4 weeks. Lost or damaged replacement costs $185, and a child's passport costs $135 for a new book or $100 for a 16 or 17 year old's renewal.

Pay the application fee by check or money order to the US Department of State, and the execution fee separately to the acceptance facility. Use the State Department's MyPassport app for free passport photos, and renew 9 months before any planned international travel to avoid validity issues at your destination.

Photo: JoshuaWoroniecki, Pixabay Content License, via Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/photos/merry-christmas-boarding-pass-travel-5219496/)