*The passport fees have recently changed. As of April 2nd, 2018, the passport acceptance fee has gone up from $25 to $35.
Are you considering getting a passport? You’ll save a significant amount of money of money if you get your application in before July 13. That’s the day that the US Department of State’s proposed passport fee increases will go into effect. The new fee structure will increase fees for getting a passport and for passport renewals, as well as adding a hefty price tag to currently free services like adding passport pages.
Here’s a breakdown of the proposed changes:
New passports (for first-time applicants or people who are not eligible to renew by mail)
The current application fee of $75 will increase to $110. The acceptance fee of $25 will stay the same, for a total price of $135.
Passport Renewals
The current application fee of $75 will increase to $110. When you renew by mail, there is no acceptance fee, so $110 would be the total price.
Child Passports
Passport fees for minors are increasing from $60 to $80. The $25 acceptance fee remains the same, for a total cost of $105.
Passport Cards
For adults applying for a passport card, the fee will increase from $20 to $30. For children, the fee will go from $10 to $15. Add a $25 acceptance fee if you are submitting your application in person ( required for minors and for adults who don’t have a current passport and aren’t eligible to renew by mail).
Adding Pages
Adding pages is currently free, but come July 13th, it will cost $82 to have pages added to the back.
File Search Fee
A file search fee allows the Department of State to search for records of previous passports or Consular Reports of Birth Abroad for those who are unable to include proof of citizenship with their applications. As of July 13, file search fees will go up from $60 to $150.
Expedited Service
The fee for expedited service will stay the same, at $60 plus the cost of overnight delivery. However, bear in mind that this expedited service will only cut processing time from 6 weeks to approximately 3 weeks. If you need your passport more quickly, you will need to make an appointment at a passport agency office or use a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport.
Although using an expediting company to submit your application does cost more money, for many people it is worth it because it is so much more convenient. There’s no need to make an appointment or wait in line, and no need to take off work and spend time and money traveling to a passport agency office. Plus, you get help from a professional passport specialist to help you avoid mistakes that could cause your application to be rejected.
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