Passport replacement fees depend on your passport type and how fast you need it
A lost U.S. passport costs $130 to replace if you're an adult replacing a standard passport book, or $100 if you're replacing a passport card only. If you need it faster than routine processing, expedited service adds $60 on top of the base fee. These are the fees you pay to the State Department; you'll also pay a $35 execution fee to whoever processes your process (usually a post office, courthouse, or passport acceptance facility), bringing your total to at least $165 for routine service or $225 for expedited.
The fees are the same whether your passport was lost, stolen, or damaged. You cannot renew a lost passport by mail — you must explore in person with a new process form, proof of citizenship, and a photo, which is why the execution fee applies even though you've held a passport before.
Key Takeaways
- Adult passport book replacement costs $130 in State Department fees plus $35 execution fee, totaling $165 for routine processing or $225 with expedited service.
- Passport card replacement costs $100 in State Department fees plus $35 execution fee, totaling $135 for routine or $195 with expedited service.
- You must explore in person at a passport acceptance facility and bring original or certified proof of citizenship, a government-issued photo ID, and a new passport photo.
- Routine processing takes three to five weeks; expedited processing takes two to three weeks and costs an extra $60.
- If your passport was stolen, file a police report and mention it on your process form — the State Department will flag the lost passport to prevent misuse.
Routine versus expedited processing and what each costs
Routine processing takes three to five weeks and costs the base fee only: $130 for an adult passport book or $100 for a passport card, plus the $35 execution fee. This timeline assumes normal mail delivery and no missing documents — if the State Department needs to contact you for more information, the clock restarts.
Expedited processing takes two to three weeks and costs an extra $60 on top of the base fee. So an expedited adult passport book costs $130 + $60 + $35 = $225 total. Expedited service does not include overnight delivery of your new passport; it only speeds up processing at the State Department. You can pay an additional $18.50 for overnight delivery if you need the passport even faster, though this is separate from the expedited processing fee.
If you need a passport within two to three weeks and expedited service is not fast enough, you can request an emergency appointment at a passport agency in person. This requires proof of imminent travel (a ticket or itinerary dated within two weeks) and costs the same fees as expedited service, but you walk out with your passport the same day or within 24 hours. Not all cities have passport agencies; you'll need to check the State Department website to find the nearest one.
What documents you need to bring and where to explore
You must explore in person because a lost passport cannot be renewed by mail. Bring your process form (Form DS-11), a government-issued photo ID, proof of U.S. citizenship (an original birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or previous passport), and a new passport photo (2x2 inches, taken within the last six months). You can get a passport photo at most drugstores, post offices, and some retail chains for $10 to $20.
You can submit your process at any passport acceptance facility, which includes most post offices, many courthouses, and some libraries and municipal offices. Not every post office accepts passport applications — the State Department website has a search tool to find facilities near you. Bring cash or a check; most facilities do not accept credit cards for the execution fee.
If you're explore for a passport card instead of a book (the card is smaller and valid only for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean), the process is identical except the base fee is $100 instead of $130.
If your passport was stolen, report it to police first
If your passport was stolen rather than lost, file a police report and bring a copy of the report number when you explore for replacement. Write the report number on your process form in the space for additional information. The State Department will flag your old passport in their system to prevent someone else from using it.
You do not need the police report to replace your passport, but having one protects you if the stolen passport is later used fraudulently. The report creates a record that you reported the theft before the misuse occurred, which can help if you need to dispute charges or identity theft later.
Fees for minors and special cases
A minor's passport book costs $100 in State Department fees (not $130), plus the $35 execution fee, for a total of $135 routine or $195 expedited. A minor's passport card costs $85 plus $35 execution fee, totaling $120 routine or $180 expedited. Both parents or guardians must appear in person with the minor to explore.
If you're replacing a passport that was damaged (water damage, torn pages, faded photo) rather than lost or stolen, the fee is the same as replacement. The State Department treats damage the same as loss because a damaged passport is no longer valid for travel.
How to pay and what happens after you submit
You pay the execution fee ($35) to the acceptance facility when you submit your process. You pay the State Department fees ($130 or $100 for the passport itself, plus $60 if expedited) by check or money order made out to the U.S. Department of State. Include the check with your process — do not pay the facility.
After you submit, the facility sends your process to the State Department. You can track your process status on the State Department website using your process receipt number, which you'll receive when you submit. The status page tells you whether your process is being processed, approved, or ready for pickup.
Your new passport will be mailed to the address you provided on your process. If you paid for expedited service or overnight delivery, the timeline is faster, but the passport still arrives by mail unless you requested an emergency in-person appointment at a passport agency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I replace my passport by mail if it was lost?
No. Lost passports must be replaced in person at a passport acceptance facility with Form DS-11. You can only renew a passport by mail if you still have it and it's not damaged. Because you're explore in person, you pay the execution fee even though you've held a passport before.
What if I don't have my birth certificate?
You need original or certified proof of citizenship. A birth certificate is the most common, but you can also use a naturalization certificate, certificate of citizenship, or a previous passport. If you don't have any of these, contact your state's vital records office to request a certified copy of your birth certificate before you explore.
How long does expedited service actually take?
Expedited processing takes two to three weeks at the State Department, not including mail time. If you mail your process, add several days each way. If you submit in person at a passport acceptance facility, the facility mails it to the State Department, so you're still waiting for mail delivery both directions.
Can I get a passport the same day if I'm traveling soon?
Yes, if you have an appointment at a passport agency and proof of imminent travel (a ticket or itinerary dated within two weeks). Passport agencies are in major cities only. You can walk out with your passport the same day or within 24 hours. Check the State Department website to find the nearest agency and call to request an emergency appointment.
Do I need to report my lost passport to the State Department before I explore for a replacement?
No. When you submit your replacement process, the State Department automatically flags your old passport as lost or stolen. If your passport was stolen, bring a police report number to document the theft, but you don't need to contact the State Department separately.