How Much Does It Cost to Expedite a U.S. Passport?

Last updated August 25, 2026 by the ExpediteGov editorial team.

A clear breakdown of U.S. passport costs: government application fees, the expedite fee, shipping, photos, and what a concierge service charges on top.

Passport costs confuse people because the money goes to two different places, and only one of them is optional.

1. Government fees — paid to the U.S. Department of State

These are set by the government and paid directly by check or money order. No private service collects them, and no private service can reduce them. They vary based on:

• Whether you're renewing by mail or applying in person
• Whether you're an adult or applying for a child under 16
• Whether you want a passport book, a card, or both
• Whether you request expedited processing
• Whether you pay for 1–2 day return delivery
• The acceptance facility execution fee, when you apply in person

Applying in person means two payments: one check to the Department of State, and a separate execution fee paid to the acceptance facility.

2. Service fees — optional, paid to a concierge service

ExpediteGov's fee starts at $97. That covers preparing your packet: selecting the right form for your case, filling it in completely, reviewing your photo against the 2x2 standard, building your personalized document checklist, generating a fee sheet with the exact amount and memo line, and giving you a real person to call.

What it does not buy is government speed. Nobody can sell you that. The value is in not having your application returned.

3. Small costs people forget

• Passport photos: usually a few dollars at a pharmacy or shipping counter
• Certified copies of a birth certificate or marriage certificate, if you need to order one
• Overnight shipping to the agency
• Notarization for Form DS-3053, when one parent can't attend a child's application

Is expediting worth paying for?

Ask one question: how close is your travel date?

• More than 3 months out — routine is fine. Don't pay for speed.
• 4 to 10 weeks out — pay for expedited processing and fast return shipping.
• Inside 14 days — expediting by mail won't save you. Get an urgent travel appointment.

Always double-check the payment

The check must be for the exact total, made out to "U.S. Department of State", with the applicant's full name and date of birth in the memo. A wrong check is one of the most common reasons a packet comes back. Your ExpediteGov fee sheet prints all of it for you.

ExpediteGov is a private concierge service and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State. Government forms are free at travel.state.gov.

Start a passport application with ExpediteGov — concierge packet preparation from $97.