passport costs

passport costs let's keep the ball rolling

08/14/2006

Are you thinking of taking a trip outside the US? While not every country requires legal documentation (whether a VISA or passport) to allow entry, carrying at least a passport is a safe thing to do.

This article was written to answer many of the most frequently asked questions on this topic. I hope you find all of this information helpful.

Some countries like Canada and Mexico can allow a US citizen entry with just a birth certificate and another form of legal ID. However, a passport is recommended if you want a quicker and easier process. A birth certificate can be challenged for a few different reasons and after so much time and money invested by the time of arrival, the last thing you want to hear is that there’s a problem. Passport costs are a small price to pay for total peace of mind on the other hand.

So what are passport costs? There are two different fees. First, there is the passport processing fee that is to be paid to the U.S. Department of State. It costs $40.00 for adults and $55.00 for children who are under 16 years of age. Next is the execution fee that is to be paid to the facility where you are applying for your passport. (Usually a local post office, though there are thousands of different application facilities in the country) The cost for the execution fee is $30.00 for both minors and legal adults. This makes the total passport costs between $70.00 and $85.00 depending on the person’s age. The passport processing fee can be paid with a check, money order or credit card, while the execution fee can sometimes be paid with cash in accepting locations in particular.

In order to qualify for a passport you must have your birth certificate with you when applying in person. If you do not have your birth certificate then several other hard-to-find records are required (including hospital records, high school records, etc) leading many people to simply reorder a copy of their birth certificate through mail. That request takes about $5.00 and requires a small waiting period. In addition, 2 photographs are required to create a valid passport, adding to your passport costs. These photographs should meet very specific requirements and are usually offered by drug stores with photo labs like Walgreens or Eckerd’s for less than $10.00 as a general rule.

After you submit your materials to the agency there is an additional waiting period and qualifying process. This can take anywhere from 2-3 months. Therefore, some Internet services offer expedited service within a matter of weeks or even days. Passport costs increase significantly for these services though. It’s not unusual for an extra $60.00 to $100.00 to be added on to the basic passport costs you are already required to pay if you need fast service of course.

Many countries throughout the world only require passports from US citizens rather than Visas. Why not play it safe and take care of your passport costs before going on that big summer vacation outside the homeland while this may be true.