How Much Does a U.S. Passport Cost in 2026? Adult, Child and Expedited Fees
A standard adult U.S. passport book costs $130, plus a $35 execution fee if you're applying in person for the first time (no execution fee for eligible mail-in or online renewals).
Quick Answer
A standard adult U.S. passport book costs $130, plus a $35 execution fee if you're applying in person for the first time (no execution fee for eligible mail-in or online renewals). A child passport book (under 16) costs $100 + $35. Add $60 for expedited processing and $22.05 for 1–3 day return shipping if you need it faster. All-in, most adults pay $130–$247.05 and most children pay $135–$217.05, depending on speed and delivery options. A passport photo (which you'll need regardless of application type) typically costs an extra $10–$20 at a pharmacy or shipping store — or a few dollars if you make one yourself with a tool like PhotoOmni.
Full 2026 U.S. Passport Fee Breakdown
| Item | Fee | Paid To |
|---|---|---|
| Adult passport book (16+) | $130 | U.S. Department of State |
| Adult passport card only | $30 | U.S. Department of State |
| Adult book + card | $160 | U.S. Department of State |
| Child passport book (under 16) | $100 | U.S. Department of State |
| Child passport card only | $15 | U.S. Department of State |
| Child book + card | $115 | U.S. Department of State |
| Execution (acceptance) fee | $35 | Acceptance facility (in-person applicants and all minors) |
| Expedite fee (optional) | $60 | U.S. Department of State |
| 1–3 day return shipping (optional) | $22.05 | U.S. Department of State |
| File search fee (only if applicable) | $150 | U.S. Department of State |
The execution fee applies to all first-time applicants and all minors under 16, since both groups must apply in person. It does not apply to adults who are eligible to renew by mail or online — for them, the $130 book fee is the only required charge unless they add expedited service or faster shipping.
Adult Passport: What You'll Actually Pay
- First-time adult applicant, standard speed: $130 + $35 execution fee = $165
- Adult renewal (mail or online), standard speed: $130 only
- Adult renewal, expedited + fast return shipping: $130 + $60 + $22.05 = $212.05
- First-time adult, expedited, in person at a passport agency: an additional $60 same-day expedite fee may apply on top of the above, which can push the total toward $247.05 in the fastest, most urgent scenarios
Child Passport: What You'll Actually Pay
Children under 16 cannot renew by mail — every application, first-time or renewal, requires an in-person visit and the $35 execution fee.
- Standard child passport book: $100 + $35 = $135
- Expedited child passport, with fast return shipping: $100 + $35 + $60 + $22.05 = $217.05
A Note on Timing: These Are the Current 2026 Rates
Passport fees were revised in February 2026, and the numbers in this guide reflect that update. If you've seen older figures floating around online — some guides still cite an adult passport book at $110 and a child's at $80 — those are outdated pre-2026 rates that no longer apply. Always cross-check any fee figure against the Department of State's current fee schedule before you pay, since a surprising number of older blog posts and even some official-looking PDFs online haven't been refreshed since the last fee change.
Don't Forget the Photo
Every application — adult or child — needs a compliant, recent passport photo, and it's a separate cost from the fees above. Pharmacies and shipping stores typically charge $10–$20 for a printed set, while doing it yourself with an AI tool like PhotoOmni costs a fraction of that: upload a selfie, get an automatically resized, background-corrected photo checked by a human expert, and download or print it in minutes — no appointment needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the passport photo fee included in the $130 application fee? No. The $130 (or $100 for children) application fee only covers processing your passport — the photo is a separate cost, whether you get it taken at a store or make one yourself.
Do I have to pay the $35 execution fee if I'm renewing? Only if you're renewing in person, or if you don't qualify for mail-in or online renewal (for example, if your passport is more than 15 years old, was issued before age 16, or your name has changed without documentation). Eligible renewals by mail or online skip this fee.
How much does expedited processing actually save in time? Expedited service ($60) generally cuts weeks off routine processing. If you're traveling within about two weeks, you'll likely need to book an appointment at a passport agency instead, which carries its own same-day expedite fee.
Can I pay all these fees in one payment? The $130/$100 application fee (paid to the Department of State) and the $35 execution fee (paid to the acceptance facility, like a post office) are usually two separate payments, often by different methods — check with your specific acceptance facility for accepted payment types.
Is a passport card cheaper than a passport book? Yes — a passport card alone is $30 for adults and $15 for children, but it's only valid for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean, not international air travel.
Get Your Passport Photo Sorted First
Before you head to the post office or submit online, take care of the one cost you can control: your photo. Try PhotoOmni — upload a selfie, let the AI crop and correct it to the exact 2×2" U.S. passport standard, and get it reviewed by a human expert in minutes, for less than most in-store options.