Passports are Expensive. Here are 4 Affordable Ways to Get One

Q: What are the basic passport fees for first-time adult applicants?

First-time adult applicants typically pay a $110 application fee plus a $25 execution (processing) fee, totaling $135 for a passport book.

Q: Is there a cheaper alternative to the full passport book?

Yes. A U.S. passport card is a lower-cost option, with a smaller application fee (around $30) and is valid for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean.

Q: Who is eligible for a passport fee waiver?

Fee waivers are limited and usually apply to government officials traveling on official business, certain military service members, immediate family of deceased military personnel traveling for a funeral, or others the State Department authorizes.

Q: Can my employer pay for my passport fees?

Many employers will cover passport costs if international travel is job-related. If they decline, keep receipts — some expenses may be deductible or reimbursable depending on circumstances.

Q: Where can I find help if I can’t afford passport fees?

Consider community organizations, advocacy groups, university scholarships, veterans groups, or nonprofit efforts that provide financial assistance for passport fees and related document updates.

Published by

Clara

Dec 26

Passports used to be something only globe-trotters reached for when heading overseas.

Because of a law rolling out in phases, a significant number of U.S. residents may be required to have a passport even if they don’t plan to leave the country.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is tightening ID requirements at security checkpoints nationwide.

Starting Jan. 22, 2018, many states will insist on a U.S. passport, U.S. passport card, U.S. military ID or other TSA-approved identification to board commercial flights inside the United States.

Some states are prepared to implement the new rule immediately, while others have been granted extra time to comply.

Check the Department of Homeland Security’s site to see your state’s status and which documents you’ll need for air travel.

Even if your state isn’t yet enforcing additional ID requirements, it’s smart to organize your passport documents now.

Per the Department of Homeland Security, “Starting October 1, 2020, every air traveler will need a REAL ID-compliant license, or another acceptable form of identification, for domestic air travel.”

What Is the REAL ID Law?

To combat counterfeit identifications, Congress passed a law requiring domestic flyers to present a secondary form of ID beyond a driver’s license or state ID card.

This rule might feel sudden, but Congress actually approved the REAL ID Act back in 2005. Government timelines — slow and steady, right?

What this translates to is: if you lack an extra official form of ID (for example, a military ID), you’ll need to obtain one within the upcoming months. Your most practical option is likely applying for a passport.

How Much Will a Passport Set You Back?

Passport costs for first-time adult applicants aren’t inexpensive.

The application fee is a hefty $110. The execution fee (a somewhat blunt term for the processing charge) adds another $25.

Renewals don’t drop the price much. You save $25 by skipping the execution fee, but the application fee stays at $110.

On the bright side, passports are valid for a long stretch — 10 years, to be precise. That comes out to a little over $13 per year, which isn’t bad for a document that grants access to much of the globe.

Are Any People Exempt From Passport Charges?

There are only a handful of circumstances that might exempt you from passport fees.

If you fit one of those categories you’re probably already aware, but here’s a quick summary just in case.

The State Department will waive passport costs if you are:

Traveling on official U.S. government business
A U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, or other officially designated service member in the Armed Forces
An immediate family member of a deceased military service member traveling to an overseas funeral
Someone else the State Department authorizes for a fee waiver

What If a Passport Is Beyond Your Budget?

If applying for or renewing a passport stretches your finances, there are several options to consider.

1. Opt for a passport card.

If you don’t foresee flying across oceans, a passport card might suffice in place of the traditional passport book.

Cards are equally official, but the $30 application fee makes them a much more affordable alternative.

One key caveat: passport cards are valid only at certain sea and land border crossings:

Mexico
Canada
Bermuda
The Caribbean

2. Ask your employer for help.

If international travel is part of your job, request that your employer cover passport and application costs.

If your boss declines, keep your receipts — you may at least be able to deduct the expense on your taxes.

3. Reach out to advocacy and community organizations.

Thanks to grassroots efforts on social platforms, transgender individuals can request financial assistance for passport fees from nonprofit groups like Trans Law Help.

The organization has raised thousands in donations to help transgender people cover costs related to updating passports after legal name changes.

Consider which formal or informal groups you belong to that might provide support. Churches, cultural associations and veterans groups in your area could be sources of help paying passport fees.

4. See if your university offers assistance.

Some colleges provide help covering passport expenses. Temple University’s passport scholarship offers first-year and transfer students up to $135 to offset application costs.

Be sure to check if your school has a comparable program.

Also, for information on changing passport-related costs and regulations, review resources on passport fees changing.

Marissa Grant is a Staff Writer for Savinly. She’s an avid traveler who keeps her passport handy because she never knows when a spontaneous trip will pop up.