What are the current fees for a U.S. passport card and how are they paid?
Executive summary
A U.S. passport card’s direct government charge is $30 for adults (age 16 and over) and $15 for minors (under 16) when handled as the Department of State application fee, and a separate $35 acceptance (“execution”) fee is typically charged at acceptance facilities for first-time applicants — producing a commonly quoted total of $65 for an adult applying in person for the first time (application $30 + $35 acceptance) [1] [2]. How that money is paid depends on where and how the application is submitted: the Department of State application fee is generally paid by check or money order (or via pay.gov for eligible online/renewal transactions), while the acceptance fee and in-person facility charges may accept credit/debit cards, exact cash, contactless payments, or checks — and regional passport agencies accept cards and cash [2] [3] [4] [5].
1. What the “passport card” costs in 2026: the headline numbers
For adults renewing or applying where the application fee is charged directly to the Department of State, the passport card application fee is $30; minors under 16 have a lower Department of State fee of $15 for the card [1] [6]. Those seeking both a passport book and card will pay the combined application amounts (the card is an add‑on or separate line item depending on form and circumstance), and first-time applicants who apply using Form DS‑11 will also pay the acceptance fee — commonly $35 at acceptance facilities — leading to the often‑cited $65 total for an adult first‑time card applicant [2] [7].
2. Two separate payments: who gets paid and how
The passport process usually splits into two charges: the Department of State application fee (covers the passport card/book production and is payable to the U.S. Department of State) and an acceptance or execution fee collected by the facility that processes and verifies the applicant’s identity (post office or clerk) [2] [7]. The Department of State portion must typically be remitted by check or money order payable to “U.S. Department of State” for mail‑in or DS‑11 submissions, although online renewals and certain overseas payments go through pay.gov where credit/debit card payments are accepted [3] [4] [2].
3. How acceptance facilities want to be paid — more flexible but variable
Acceptance facilities (USPS, county clerks, etc.) that collect the separate $35 acceptance fee usually accept a wider mix of payment methods — credit and debit cards, exact cash, personal checks, money orders, and increasingly contactless or digital wallet options — but acceptance policies vary by location, so applicants are advised to confirm with the facility before arriving [2] [3] [5]. Regional passport agencies, which handle urgent appointments, accept credit/debit cards, checks, money orders, and exact cash, making them more flexible than many rural acceptance sites [3].
4. Renewals, pay.gov, and special cases (overseas, urgent travel)
Renewals that qualify for online or pay.gov processing let applicants pay the Department of State fee electronically (credit/debit card) through the government’s payment portal; U.S. embassies and consulates overseas often list the passport card fee (adult $30, minor $15) and point visitors to pay.gov when applicable [4] [1]. Expedited processing rules differ: expedited fees and some delivery charges apply to passport books but the passport card often cannot be accelerated in the same way, so applicants should not assume the same expedited options are available for cards [3] [6].
5. Conflicting guides and best practices to avoid delays
Secondary sources and guides vary slightly in phrasing and totals (some list the adult first‑time card total as $65 while others emphasize the $30 Department fee plus facility fees), but the consistent elements across official and secondary reporting are the $30 adult / $15 minor Department of State charge for the card and the common $35 acceptance fee at in‑person facilities; payment methods vary by submission route, with checks/money orders required for many mail‑in applications and pay.gov or agency card options available in some circumstances — applicants should consult travel.state.gov or their local acceptance facility to confirm the current method accepted to avoid rejected or delayed applications [1] [2] [8] [3].