US Passport Fees Will Increase July 13

If you have plans to travel outside of the United States soon, it would be wise to apply for a passport in the next few days. As of Tuesday, July 13, passport fees will increase substantially.

The US State Department proposed the new prices months ago, but only announced the passport fees increase this past week .

By How Much Will Passport Fees Increase?

At the end of March, the State Department was responsible for organizing Passport Day in the USA — a Saturday set aside for people to visit passport agencies and affiliate offices that would normally be closed. The State Department had advised that passport fees may increase in the near future, but no date had yet been set.

The passport fee increases vary depending on what product or service you require (a passport book, card or renewal) and your age (the price increases once you are 16 or older).

• US passport book for adults (age 16 and over) will be $135 (currently $100)
• US passport book renewal (age 16 and over only) will be $110 (currently $75)
• US passport book for minors (under age 16) will be $105 (currently $85)
• US passport card for adults (age 16 and over) will be $55 (currently $45)
• US passport card for adults (age 16 and over) who currently hold a valid US passport will be $30 (currently $20)
• US passport card for minors (under age 16) will be $40 (currently $35)
• Additional pages for entry stamps or visas will be $82 (currently free)

Why Are Passport Fees Increasing?

The US State Department says that the increase in passport fees will cover the costs of new high-tech passports.

New passports have more security features, making them harder to duplicate or alter.

While travelers are certainly upset at the increase of passport fees, elected officials and US representatives are also upset by the changes.

Said New York Congressman Brian Higgins in a statement: “We need to literally and figuratively build bridges that encourage cross border tourism, commerce and economic opportunity and this move would do just the opposite.”

How Will Passport Fee Increases Affect Travelers?

Now that people are discovering that passport fees will increase in less than a week, many people are scrambling to apply for passports before Tuesday, July 13. Any applications filed or postmarked before Tuesday will be subject to the lower fees.

While a single traveler may not consider the increase in passport fees to be a big deal, families may be shocked by how much the passport fee increases may affect them.

A family of four who applies for passports on or after July 13 will have to pay $520. However, if the same family applies before Tuesday, they will only pay $410. The price difference of $110 could certainly be more helpful going toward airfare or other travel expenses.

Is There Still Time to Apply for a Passport Before the Fees Increase?

Many passport application facilities are encouraging anyone with future international travel plans to apply for a passport before the fees increase.

Facilities across the country are doing their best to accommodate all the anxious travelers, with many offices extending their hours, staying open over the weekend or even opening new temporary application facilities.

County clerks, most post offices and even some town halls, public libraries and DMVs are accepting passport applications at this time. Find out where passport applications are being accepted in your city and file before the fees increase!