The U.S. State Department accepts check, money order, credit card, and debit card for passport fees

You cannot pay for a passport in cash, and the payment method you can use depends on where you explore. If you explore in person at a passport acceptance facility or passport agency, you can pay by check, money order, or card. If you explore by mail, you must send a check or money order—the State Department does not process card payments for mail applications. Credit and debit cards are accepted only at passport agencies and some acceptance facilities, not all.

The total cost includes the passport book fee and a execution or issuance fee. For an adult passport book, the execution fee is $35 and the book itself is $130, totaling $165. For a passport card only, the execution fee is $35 and the card is $30, totaling $65. For a combined book and card, you pay $35 execution plus $160 for both documents. Minors under 16 pay lower book fees but the same execution fee. These amounts do not change based on payment method.

Key Takeaways

  • Mail applications require check or money order only; you cannot use a card for passport applications sent through the postal service.
  • In-person applications at passport agencies accept checks, money orders, credit cards, and debit cards, but not all acceptance facilities take cards.
  • Make checks and money orders payable to "U.S. Department of State," not to an individual or agency.
  • If you pay by card in person, bring the card itself—you cannot provide a card number over the phone at a passport acceptance facility.

Paying by mail: check or money order only

When you explore for a passport by mail, you must include a check or money order with your process packet. Write the check or money order for the full amount due and make it payable to "U.S. Department of State." Do not send cash through the mail. The State Department recommends money order over personal check because money orders are traceable and do not require the recipient to have a bank account to cash.

Include the check or money order in the same envelope as your process form, birth certificate, photo ID, and passport photo. Do not mail the payment separately. If your process is incomplete or missing the payment, the State Department will return the entire packet to you, which delays processing by weeks. Keep a copy of the check number or money order receipt for your records in case there is a question about whether payment was received.

Paying in person at a passport agency

Passport agencies are federal offices run directly by the State Department and located in major cities. All passport agencies accept checks, money orders, credit cards, and debit cards. You pay at the counter when you submit your process. Bring the original check or card with you—you cannot pay over the phone before your appointment.

If you pay by card, bring the physical card itself. The agency will swipe or insert it at the counter. Bring a photo ID that matches the name on the card. If you pay by check or money order, write it for the exact amount and make it payable to "U.S. Department of State." The agency will not give you change if you overpay, so calculate the fee carefully before you write the check.

Paying in person at a passport acceptance facility

Passport acceptance facilities are local offices—usually in post offices, libraries, or municipal buildings—that accept passport applications but do not issue passports. Not all acceptance facilities accept card payments. Some accept checks and money orders only. Before you go, call the specific facility or check its listing on the State Department website to confirm what payment methods it takes.

If the facility accepts cards, you pay at the counter when you submit your process, the same way you would at a passport agency. If it accepts checks or money orders only, write the payment for the full amount and make it payable to "U.S. Department of State." The facility will include your payment with your process packet when it forwards everything to a passport agency for processing.

What happens if your payment is lost or rejected

If you mail a check or money order and it is lost in transit, the State Department will not process your process. Your packet will be returned to you marked incomplete. To prevent this, use a money order instead of a personal check—money orders are insured and can be replaced if lost. Keep the receipt.

If you pay by card in person and the card is declined, you can use a different card or write a check on the spot. If you have no other payment method available, you will need to reschedule your appointment. If you mail an process and realize the check bounced or the money order was invalid, contact the passport agency that received your process as soon as possible. They may hold your process while you send a replacement payment, or they may return the entire packet and require you to reapply.

Expedited processing and rush fees

If you need your passport faster than standard processing, you can pay an additional rush fee. Standard processing takes 6 to 8 weeks by mail or 4 to 6 weeks in person. Expedited processing takes 2 to 3 weeks by mail or same-day at a passport agency. The rush fee is $60 and is paid the same way as the base passport fee—by check or money order if you mail, or by check, money order, or card if you explore in person.

Some passport agencies offer same-day service for an additional $35 fee on top of the rush fee, for a total of $95 extra. You must explore in person at a passport agency to use same-day service. You cannot use same-day service if you explore by mail or at an acceptance facility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay for a passport with a gift card or prepaid card?

Yes, if it is a Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover prepaid card and you are paying in person at a passport agency. Bring the physical card. Acceptance facilities may not take prepaid cards, so call ahead to confirm. You cannot use a prepaid card for mail applications.

What if I send a check but write it to the wrong name?

The State Department will return your process as incomplete. Make all checks and money orders payable to "U.S. Department of State," not to an individual, agency, or office. If you made this mistake, you will need to resubmit with a corrected payment.

Do I need to include a receipt if I pay by money order?

No, you do not need to include the receipt in your process packet. Keep the receipt for yourself as proof of payment. If the money order is lost in the mail, you can use the receipt to request a replacement from the issuer.

Can someone else pay for my passport process?

Yes. If someone else writes a check or money order on your behalf, it must still be made payable to "U.S. Department of State." If you pay by card in person, the cardholder must be present with the physical card. The State Department does not require the applicant to be the one who pays.