ALERT: Passport Fee Increase Coming in April!

Premise

This article in Conde Nast Traveler alerted me that the passport fee (“execution fee”) will increase on April 2nd, from $25 to $35, a 40% increase. According to the State Department, it is due to the “increased cost of processing applications” and “is in line with cost increases for both the [State] Department and USPS. The last fee change was in 2008, when the cost was lowered from $30 to $25. Perhaps back then it was during a recession in which people were hurting financially.

Details

This passport fee increase is only for the processing/execution, and applies to the following situations

• First time passport filers
• in-person filers (such as people under 16)
• Reapplications for those who had their previous passport lost or stolen.

Note, this is separate from the passport itself (still $135 for adults, or $55 for a passport card). Also, it does not affect those who currenlty have passports or passport cards. Those who renew by mail will not be affected.

Other Options

You have plenty of other places to get a passport, other than the post office, such as in front of state or local government officials, or travel industry events. How interesting – I did not know that.

More Pertinent Information

The below comes direct from State, detailing their intentions.

Effective April 2, 2018, the passport execution fee will increase from $25 to $35.  The $10 execution fee increase only applies to U.S. passport applicants using the DS-11 form, such as first-time applicants over 16, children under 16, and applicants who re-apply after reporting their previous passport lost or stolen.

The $10 fee increase does not apply to adults eligible to renew their passport by mail using the DS-82 form.  Renewal customers can mail their application and supporting documentation to the Department of State and should not apply at a passport acceptance facility or pay an execution fee. To learn more about renewing your passport, visit our Renew page.

Customers applying with the DS-11 form pay two separate fees: an application fee to the U.S. Department of State and the execution fee to the passport acceptance facility. Passport acceptance facilities such as post offices, clerks of court, or public libraries are designated to accept passport applications on behalf of the U.S. Department of State.  With more than 7,600 acceptance facility locations, customers applying for the first time can find a convenient location to apply for their passport. Some acceptance facilities are open nights and weekends and take passport photos on-site.  Find a location near you using our Acceptance Facility Search Tool.

 

Conclusion

Although this fee increase sucks, it won’t affect me as I’m not a first time filer. I’m looking forward to my international trips this year, currently only scheduled for Taiwan. Hopefully more travel is in the cards for me, and you as well! Get it quick – follow these tips!