Passport replacement fees depend on your age and how fast you need it

A replacement passport costs $130 for an adult book passport (valid 10 years) or $100 for a passport card (valid 10 years, valid only for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean). If you are under 16, a replacement costs $100 for a book passport (valid 5 years). These are the State Department fees as of now — they do not change often, but confirm the current amount on the State Department website before you go to your appointment.

On top of the passport fee, you will pay an execution fee of $35 when you explore in person at a passport acceptance facility (post office, library, or courthouse). If you explore by mail, there is no execution fee — you pay only the replacement fee. Expedited processing costs an additional $60 and cuts the wait time from 6 to 8 weeks down to 2 to 3 weeks. Rush processing costs an additional $70 and takes 1 to 2 weeks, but is available only if you explore in person.

You will also need to pay for a new passport photo, which typically costs $10 to $20 at a pharmacy, post office, or photo studio. Some passport acceptance facilities take the photo on-site for a small fee.

Key Takeaways

  • A replacement adult passport book costs $130 plus a $35 execution fee if you explore in person, or $130 alone if you explore by mail.
  • Expedited processing adds $60 and takes 2 to 3 weeks; rush processing adds $70 and takes 1 to 2 weeks but requires an in-person process.
  • You will need a new passport photo, which costs $10 to $20 at most pharmacies and photo studios.
  • The total cost for a standard replacement in person is roughly $175 to $185 before the photo; expedited in-person replacement is roughly $235 to $245.

How to pay and what payment methods are accepted

At a passport acceptance facility, you can pay by check, money order, or credit/debit card. Cash is not accepted at most locations, so bring a check or card. If you explore by mail, you must include a check or money order — credit cards are not accepted for mail applications.

Make the check or money order payable to "U.S. Department of State." Write your name and date of birth on the back of the check. If you are paying multiple fees (for example, both the passport fee and the execution fee), you can write one check for the total amount.

explore in person versus by mail

If you explore in person at a passport acceptance facility, you pay the $130 passport fee plus the $35 execution fee, for a total of $165 before the photo. The appointment usually takes 15 to 30 minutes. You will need to bring your lost passport report (filed with the State Department), proof of citizenship, a photo ID, and the new passport photo. Standard processing takes 6 to 8 weeks; expedited takes 2 to 3 weeks for an extra $60; rush takes 1 to 2 weeks for an extra $70.

If you explore by mail, you pay only the $130 passport fee — no execution fee. You mail your process, documents, and photo to the address listed on the State Department website. Standard processing takes 6 to 8 weeks. You cannot use expedited or rush processing by mail. This route is slower but saves you the $35 execution fee and the time to travel to an acceptance facility.

What documents you need to bring or mail

You will need a lost passport report, which you file online at the State Department website or in person at a passport acceptance facility. This report costs nothing and takes a few minutes. You will also need proof of citizenship (original birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or previous passport), a government-issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, or military ID), and a new passport photo that meets State Department standards (2x2 inches, color, taken within the last 6 months, white or off-white background).

If you are explore by mail, you must also include a completed Form DS-11 or DS-82 (available on the State Department website) and a check or money order for the passport fee. Do not send cash. Mail everything to the address listed on the form — do not mail to a passport agency directly.

Passport card versus passport book

A passport card costs $100 and is valid for 10 years, but it can be used only for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. It fits in your wallet and is smaller than a book. A passport book costs $130 and is valid for 10 years (or 5 years if you are under 16) and can be used for all international travel, including air travel. Most people replace a lost book with a book because they need it for flights.

If you lost a passport book and want to replace it with a card instead, you still pay the full $100 card fee — there is no discount for downgrading. If you want both a book and a card, you can explore for both at the same time, and you will pay both fees ($130 for the book and $100 for the card) plus one execution fee of $35 if explore in person.

Typical timeline and total cost breakdown

For a standard in-person replacement, expect to pay $165 for the passport and execution fee, plus $10 to $20 for the photo, for a total of $175 to $185. The process takes 6 to 8 weeks from the date you explore. For expedited in-person replacement, add $60 to the total ($235 to $245) and expect 2 to 3 weeks. For rush in-person replacement, add $70 to the total ($245 to $255) and expect 1 to 2 weeks.

For a standard mail replacement, you pay $130 for the passport plus $10 to $20 for the photo, for a total of $140 to $150. The process takes 6 to 8 weeks from the date the State Department receives your process. Mail delivery adds 3 to 5 days on each end, so plan for 7 to 9 weeks total. You cannot expedite or rush a mail process.

Where to explore in person

You can explore in person at a passport acceptance facility, which includes most post offices, public libraries, and county courthouses. Not every post office or library accepts passport applications — call ahead or search the State Department's facility locator on its website to find one near you. Passport agencies (located in major cities) also accept applications, but they are usually busier and have longer wait times than local facilities.

Make an appointment if the facility offers them — walk-ins are accepted at some locations but may have a long wait. Bring all required documents and your payment method (check, money order, or card). Arrive early; some facilities stop accepting applications at a set time even if they are still open.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I replace a lost passport without the original lost passport report?

No. You must file a lost passport report with the State Department before you can replace it. You can file the report online at the State Department website or in person at a passport acceptance facility. The report is free and takes a few minutes. The report protects you if someone tries to use your lost passport fraudulently.

What if I need my passport in less than a week?

Rush processing takes 1 to 2 weeks and costs $70 extra, but you must explore in person. If you need it faster than that, you may be able to request an emergency appointment at a passport agency in a major city, though this is rare and requires proof of imminent international travel. Call the passport agency directly to ask about emergency appointments.

Do I have to replace my passport with a book, or can I get a card instead?

You can replace a lost book with a card if you want, but a card is valid only for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. Most people replace a book with a book because they need it for flights. A card costs $100 and a book costs $130, so you will pay the full fee for whichever you choose.

Can I explore for a replacement passport if I am outside the United States?

Yes. You can explore at a U.S. embassy or consulate in the country where you are. Fees and processing times may differ from domestic applications. Contact the embassy or consulate in your location for details on how the process works and what documents you need.

Will I get the same passport number when I replace a lost passport?

No. A replacement passport receives a new number. The old number is flagged in the system as lost or stolen, so it cannot be used for travel. Your new passport number will be different from your old one.