How to Pay for Your US Passport Fees: Methods & Exact Costs

The Official Guide to Paying Your US Passport Fees Correctly

The Quick Answer: Acceptable Payment Methods for US Passport Fees

The most common mistake applicants make is treating their passport fees as a single transaction. To ensure your application is accepted on the first attempt, you must be prepared to make two separate and distinct payments. The first payment covers the application and book/card cost, and it must be made out to the “U.S. Department of State”—this typically requires a personal check or money order. The second payment is the $35 execution fee, which goes directly to the acceptance facility (like a Post Office or library), and this facility usually offers more flexible options, such as accepting credit cards, debit cards, cash, or a separate check.

Why Proper Payment is Critical for Timely Passport Processing

Understanding the two-payment rule is not just a technicality; it is the single most important factor in avoiding delays. According to the State Department, incorrect payment is the number one reason applications are put on hold and delayed, often requiring applicants to mail in a new, correct payment which can add weeks to the process. This guide provides the exact, officially sanctioned methods you need to follow to make sure your payment is correct, ensuring your application moves immediately into processing.

Understanding the Two Essential Passport Fees: Application vs. Acceptance

The complexity of paying for your US passport application often stems from one simple fact: you are required to make two separate payments to two different entities. Misunderstanding this is the single biggest cause of application rejection and subsequent travel delays. To successfully navigate the process, you must know what each fee covers and to whom it must be paid.

The Passport Application Fee (Paid to the State Department)

This is the largest and most critical fee. The Passport Application Fee—which is, for example, $$$130 for a new adult passport book—must be paid directly to the U.S. Department of State. This payment covers the actual cost of processing and issuing your travel document.

For first-time applicants submitting Form DS-11 in person, or for those renewing by mail with Form DS-82, this payment must be in the form of a check or money order. It must be made payable exactly to the “U.S. Department of State.” They will not accept cash or credit card payments for this fee during a standard in-person or mail-in application, making the check or money order rule non-negotiable for most applicants.

The Execution/Acceptance Facility Fee (Paid to the Local Facility)

The second, separate charge is the Execution/Acceptance Fee, which is a fixed $$$35. This fee is paid directly to the local acceptance facility—such as a Post Office, library, or Clerk of Court—where you submit your DS-11 form and take your oath. This payment covers the facility’s administrative costs, including verifying your identity, witnessing your signature, and shipping your documents to the State Department.

Crucially, the payment rules for this $$$35 fee are set locally. While the State Department only accepts checks/money orders, your local acceptance facility will often accept cash, a credit card, or a separate check payable to that specific facility.

This separation of funds is confirmed by the official guidance from the Department of State. The official website, travel.state.gov, clearly states: “You must pay the application fee and the execution fee separately.” Failing to follow this directive by submitting a single payment for both fees will guarantee a lengthy delay as your application is returned for correction.

Payment Methods for the US Department of State Fee (The Application Fee)

This is the most critical payment and the one that causes the majority of application rejections. The Application Fee (e.g., $130 for an adult passport book, $190 for the book and card combo) is paid directly to the U.S. Department of State for the issuance of your passport. For a DS-11 application submitted in person (for first-time applicants, minors, or those replacing a lost passport), this fee must be paid by check or money order only. Getting this step right is a core component of demonstrating that your application is handled with authority and accuracy, ensuring the quickest possible turnaround time.

Rules for Personal Checks and Money Orders

When submitting your application, your payment to the U.S. Department of State must be a personal check, certified check, cashier’s check, or money order. The Department will not accept cash or credit/debit cards for this fee at the acceptance facility. Furthermore, to avoid an immediate application rejection and significant delays, you must never submit a starter check or one that has been altered, corrected, or post-dated. The payment must be crisp, legible, and accurate.

What to Write in the Memo Line to Prevent Rejection

Properly filling out the memo line on your check or money order is non-negotiable for smooth processing. To ensure your payment is tracked correctly, you must include the applicant’s full name and date of birth in the memo line. This detail acts as a key identifier, allowing the payment processing center to link your funds to your specific application form immediately. For example, for an applicant named Jane Doe born on January 1, 1990, the memo line should read: “Jane Doe, DOB 01/01/1990.”

A common user error that can delay an entire family’s application is trying to pay for multiple family members on a single check. Expertise gathered from years of processing documentation confirms that each individual application should be accompanied by its own separate check or money order made payable to the U.S. Department of State. While the total amount might be the same, using individual checks is the best practice to prevent the entire batch of applications from being returned if one document is flagged for review.

When Can You Use a Credit Card for the Application Fee?

The rules are different for specific types of applications. Currently, you can only use a credit or debit card for the Application Fee in limited circumstances. Online payment via credit/debit card, often facilitated through the government’s Pay.gov portal, is primarily available for DS-82 renewals submitted by mail and for specific DS-11 applications submitted by U.S. citizens residing overseas. For the vast majority of first-time applicants submitting a DS-11 in the United States, the fee must be paid by check or money order.

Payment Methods for the Acceptance Facility Fee (The $35 Execution Fee)

While the U.S. Department of State mandates strict payment rules for the main application fee, the separate $35 Execution/Acceptance Facility Fee offers significantly more flexibility. This fee is paid directly to the local facility—which could be a U.S. Post Office, a public library, or a county clerk’s office—in exchange for them verifying your identity and witnessing your signature on the DS-11 application.

Because the facility itself, and not the State Department, is the recipient of this $35 fee, they set their own local payment policies. This is a crucial detail that applicants must verify to prevent delays.

Credit Card and Debit Card Acceptance at Local Facilities

One of the most common questions from first-time applicants is whether they can use plastic. Unlike the main application fee, credit and debit cards are often accepted for the $35 Execution Fee. This is a significant convenience and one of the reasons many applicants prefer to pay this fee separately using a card.

However, card acceptance is not universal. Post Office locations, which process a high volume of applications, generally accept major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover). In contrast, smaller county clerk or library facilities may operate on a cash or check-only basis for all their services, including passport processing.

Acceptance of Cash, Checks, and Money Orders

In situations where a credit card is not accepted, or if you prefer a tangible record of your payment, cash, checks, and money orders are almost universally acceptable for the $35 fee.

Cash: Ensure you have the exact amount of $35, as some facilities may not be able to make change.
Checks/Money Orders: These should be made payable to the local acceptance facility itself (e.g., “Clark County Clerk” or “USPS”) and not the “U.S. Department of State.” This is a key distinction that demonstrates the applicant has a deep understanding of the two-payment requirement, ensuring a smooth process.

Special Rules for Post Office vs. Clerk of Court Facilities

The single most important step you can take to ensure your application is processed efficiently is to call your specific acceptance facility ahead of time. The local payment rules for the $35 fee can vary significantly based on the type of facility:

U.S. Post Office Locations: These typically offer the most options, including credit cards and money orders purchased on-site.
Clerk of Court or Library Facilities: These often have more restrictive rules, sometimes requiring only cash or a local check for the Execution Fee.

For authoritative guidance, use the official USPS Passport Acceptance Facility locator. When you find your intended location, check the facility’s specific listing for any notes on payment methods or call the number provided to verify their most current policy, thereby avoiding unnecessary payment errors and establishing full compliance with submission requirements.

Paying for Expedited Passport Processing and Delivery

When a tight travel deadline requires faster processing, the U.S. Department of State offers an expedited service, but this comes with its own specific payment requirements. Getting this step right is critical to cutting down the processing time, which, as of recent data from the Department of State, is significantly shorter for those who successfully follow all rules.

How to Pay the Mandatory $60 Expedite Fee

The mandatory $$60$ Expedited Service Fee must be included in the single check or money order you make payable to the U.S. Department of State. This payment must be combined with the standard passport application fee (e.g., $$130$ for an adult passport book). It is crucial that the $$60$ fee is not paid separately. The State Department has a strict policy regarding the acceptance of combined funds for the application, and any deviation—such as sending two checks to the State Department—can be flagged as an incorrect payment, causing immediate delays. Ensure your payment reflects the application fee plus the $$60$ expedite fee as a single total sum.

Adding the 1-2 Day Return Delivery Fee Correctly

If your travel date is imminent, you will also want to pay for 1-2 day return delivery. The fee for this service is $$22.05$ and it must also be added to the single check or money order made out to the U.S. Department of State. This optional fee covers the expedited shipping of the completed passport document back to you once processing is finished.

The Critical Distinction: Expediting Application vs. Shipping

A common point of confusion is mistaking the $$60$ expedite fee for the $$22.05$ return delivery fee. They serve two entirely different purposes, and both are required for the fastest possible turnaround. The $$60$ fee expedites the processing of your application within the Department of State’s facilities. The $$22.05$ fee expedites the mailing of your finished document back to your address. You must clearly understand that paying the $$60$ expedite fee does not automatically include 1-2 day return delivery. Both must be included in your check to the State Department for maximum speed.

For a first-time adult applicant (using Form DS-11) requesting both expedited processing and 1-2 day return delivery, here is a sample breakdown of the combined amount that must be on your check or money order payable to the “U.S. Department of State”:

Fee Type	Amount	Notes
Adult Passport Book Application Fee	$$130.00$	Standard fee
Mandatory Expedited Service Fee	$$60.00$	Speeds up processing
1-2 Day Return Delivery Fee	$$22.05$	Speeds up shipping to applicant
Total Check Amount	$$212.05$	Payable to U.S. Department of State

Remember, this $$212.05$ is for the Department of State only and does not include the separate $$35$ Execution Fee, which must be paid to the local acceptance facility.

Troubleshooting: Common Payment Errors That Cause Delays

Ensuring your passport application is processed quickly hinges on precise payment. Even small errors can lead to a formal rejection and add weeks to your waiting time. Given the high demand and recent surge in applications, the Department of State has maintained strict processing times—currently 8-11 weeks for routine service—and any delay due to payment errors can be extremely impactful. It is crucial to get these details right on the first attempt, as missteps are the single most common cause of application suspension.

Error 1: Combining the Two Required Payments

The most frequent and critical error applicants make is attempting to submit a single payment for the total passport cost. This will invariably result in a payment rejection and application suspension. The law mandates that the funds for the application fee and the execution fee must be separate because they are paid to two different entities.

Submitting a single check for the full amount (e.g., $165 for a first-time adult book and execution fee) means the State Department receives funds that are legally intended for the local acceptance facility (the Post Office, library, or clerk). They cannot legally accept, process, or redirect these funds. Therefore, you must provide two distinct payments:

Payment 1: Check or Money Order payable to “U.S. Department of State” for the application and optional expedite/delivery fees.
Payment 2: Separate payment (check, cash, or card) payable to the acceptance facility for the $35 execution fee.

Error 2: Incorrect Payee or Missing Applicant Information

Accuracy in the check or money order details is paramount. The State Department processes hundreds of thousands of payments, and any deviation from the required payee name or missing applicant details can cause a rejection due to an inability to correctly track the payment.

The payee line for the application fee payment must exactly read: U.S. Department of State. Do not use abbreviations like “USDOS,” “State Dept,” or “Department of State,” as these are often rejected.

Furthermore, every check or money order sent to the U.S. Department of State must include two pieces of identifying information on the memo line: the applicant’s full name and date of birth. This simple step connects the funds directly to the physical application, preventing processing delays related to missing or mismatched payments. If you are submitting multiple applications from the same family in one envelope, each person must have their own separate check to the State Department with their name and birth date in the memo.

Error 3: Submitting an Expired or Foreign-Currency Payment

The U.S. Department of State has strict financial requirements for the instrument of payment. All checks and money orders submitted for the application fee must be:

Drawn on a U.S. bank: This means the funds must be verified and drawn from an account held at a bank within the United States.
Payable in U.S. dollars: No foreign currency payments are accepted.

This becomes a particularly common rejection reason for applicants renewing from overseas who may attempt to submit a check drawn on a foreign bank or a check that has been converted from a foreign currency but is not issued by a U.S. institution. The application will be immediately put on hold until a compliant payment is received. Applicants submitting from outside the country must ensure their check or money order meets these specific U.S. banking standards to avoid weeks of application stagnation.

Your Top Questions About Passport Payment Answered

Q1. Can I pay for my passport with a credit card?

Payment options depend entirely on which of the two required fees you are paying. For the $35 Execution Fee paid to the local acceptance facility (e.g., Post Office or library), a credit card is usually accepted. This is because the local facility has more flexible payment rules. However, for the much larger Application Fee (e.g., $130 for an adult book), which is paid to the U.S. Department of State, credit card payments are generally not accepted for most first-time or in-person renewals (DS-11 form). The Department of State typically requires a check or money order for these applications.

Q2. Do I need one check or two for a new passport application (DS-11)?

You must provide two separate payments when applying for a new passport using Form DS-11. Combining the amounts into one check is a guaranteed error that will lead to processing delays. The first payment is made via check or money order, payable to the “U.S. Department of State” for the application fee and any expedited services. The second payment is made directly to the acceptance facility (like a Post Office or Clerk of Court) for the $35 execution fee, and this can usually be paid with cash, a separate check, or a credit card.

Q3. Are passport fees refundable if my application is rejected?

No, passport application and execution fees are generally non-refundable. The official policy of the U.S. Department of State states that fees are retained even if your passport is not issued. This means that if your application is withdrawn, denied for not meeting requirements, or rejected due to an easily preventable error like an incorrect payment method, you will lose the money paid and must start the process (and pay the fees) over again. This makes accuracy in your initial application and payment method absolutely paramount.

Final Takeaways: Mastering Passport Payment and Securing Your Travel Document

Your 3-Point Payment Checklist for Success

Achieving a successful, delay-free passport application comes down to mastering the payment process. The most critical step is internalizing the two-payment rule: one check or money order, made payable to the U.S. Department of State, covers the Application Fee and any optional expedited fees; and a second, separate payment goes to the local acceptance facility for the $35 Execution Fee. This distinction is the single biggest factor in preventing payment-related rejection. Before your appointment, meticulously review both your payment methods and all required documents (DS-11 form, proof of citizenship, photo ID) to eliminate the top cause of processing delays.

What to Do Next: Submitting Your Error-Free Application

With your two payments correctly prepared and your documentation in order, you are ready for your appointment. Secure your appointment with your chosen acceptance facility—whether it’s a Post Office or a local Clerk of Court—and print any payment confirmations or appointment receipts you have. Presenting an organized, error-free application and payment package will significantly streamline the final submission process, ensuring your application gets accepted on the first attempt and is forwarded for processing without delay.