Passport Fee History: How Costs Have Changed Since 2000
Last updated: September 1, 2026
Adult first-time book + execution fee by year
Fee history table (adult first-time book + execution)
| Year | Book fee | Execution | First-time total | Expedite | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | $60.00 | $0.00 | $60.00 | $60.00 | Execution fee added at acceptance facilities later in the decade. |
| 2005 | $67.00 | $25.00 | $92.00 | $60.00 | Book fee and execution fee split for in-person applications. |
| 2008 | $75.00 | $25.00 | $100.00 | $60.00 | Passport demand surge after Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. |
| 2010 | $110.00 | $25.00 | $135.00 | $60.00 | Major increase to cover enhanced security features. |
| 2014 | $110.00 | $25.00 | $135.00 | $60.00 | Fees stable; processing backlogs drove expedite demand. |
| 2018 | $110.00 | $35.00 | $145.00 | $60.00 | Execution fee rose to $35 at post offices and clerks. |
| 2022 | $130.00 | $35.00 | $165.00 | $60.00 | First book fee increase in over a decade. |
| 2024 | $130.00 | $35.00 | $165.00 | $60.00 | Fees unchanged; routine times stretched during peak season. |
| 2026 | $130.00 | $35.00 | $165.00 | $60.00 | Current schedule in our fee config; confirm on travel.state.gov. |
How this tool works
The bar chart plots adult first-time totals: book application fee plus execution at acceptance for each year in our dataset. Hover for exact dollars. The table below lists the same numbers in crawlable HTML with short notes about why fees shifted that year. A chat panel lets you ask follow-ups such as how 2010 compared to 2018 or when execution rose to $35.00.
Data comes from published Federal Register notices, archived travel.state.gov fee pages, and our live fee config for the current year row. We round to whole dollars for readability. Historical expedite fees appear in the table even though expedite is optional on each application.
The chat uses the same JSON dataset as the chart, not guessed inflation rates. It can compare processing time trends when you ask, though this page focuses on dollars. Answers include reminders to verify today's schedule before you mail a check written for an old amount.
Nothing here predicts future increases. Fee bills require rulemaking and public notice. Use the history for context when you read news about passport backlogs or security upgrades, not as investment advice.
Currency is USD throughout. Foreign consulates that accept US passports for visa applications charge their own visa fees unrelated to this history table.
Minor passport fees rose on a different schedule than adult books. Compare child totals on our fee schedule when you budget family applications. This chart stays on adult first-time book plus execution for apples-to-apples decade comparisons.
What you'll learn
When the big jumps happened. The 2010 book fee increase landed during enhanced security feature rollouts. The 2022 increase ended a long flat period near $110.00 for the book alone. Execution climbed on its own schedule, reaching $35.00 at many acceptance facilities in 2018.
Why application and execution split. Before widespread in-person acceptance, travelers often paid a single combined amount. Today the State Department keeps the application fee while post offices and clerks keep execution for witnessing DS-11 submissions.
How renewal differs from first-time totals in every year. Mail renewal on DS-82 pays only the book column, not execution. Child fees follow the minor book row on our fee schedule page, not the adult history totals in this chart.
Where to act on today's prices. Model your scenario in the passport calculator, read analysis on our blog, and compare current lines on travel.state.gov before you apply.
Congress occasionally debates passport fee offsets in appropriations bills. Until rules publish in the Federal Register, posted prices stay in effect. Our current year row tracks the live config rather than rumored increases.
Inflation calculators explain spending power but not why Congress authorized each increase. Use this table alongside official notices when you write about policy, not as a standalone economic index.
Download the table as reference, but cite travel.state.gov when publishing formal reports. Our notes column summarizes public context, not legal text.
FAQ
Why did fees rise in 2022?
The State Department published a book fee increase to $130.00 after years without change. Official notices cite processing and security costs. Our table row for 2022 captures that shift.
Did expedite fees change over time?
Expedite stayed at $60.00 in our dataset for many years while routine processing times swung with demand. Expedite shortens queues but does not guarantee a fixed day count.
Is the 2000 total comparable to today?
Inflation matters, but the table shows nominal dollars travelers paid that year. First-time total rose from $60.00 to $165.00 in the adult book plus execution columns.
Do these numbers include photos?
No. Photo vendor prices are private estimates around $15.00 today and were never a State Department fee.
Can I cite this table in a school paper?
Yes with attribution and a link. Verify critical years against primary sources on travel.state.gov or Federal Register archives.
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