The United States Department of State has announced that the fee for obtaining or renewing a US passport will increase starting next month. The current US passport fee is set to rise from $145 to $160 for adults and from $115 to $130 for minors under the age of 16. This change is set to take effect on April 2, 2022, and is the first fee increase for US passports in over a decade.
The fee increase comes as the Department of State looks to cover the rising costs of processing passport applications and providing consular services to US citizens abroad. According to the Department of State, the fee increase is necessary to ensure that the agency can continue to provide high-quality services to Americans traveling internationally.
The current fee for a US passport includes both the application fee and the execution fee. The application fee covers the cost of processing the passport application, while the execution fee covers the cost of verifying the applicant’s identity and collecting biometric data, such as fingerprints and a photograph.
In addition to the fee increase for adult and minor passports, the Department of State has also announced an increase in the fee for adding additional visa pages to a passport. The fee for adding visa pages will increase from $60 to $65, effective April 2, 2022.
The fee increase for US passports has been met with mixed reactions from the public. Some travelers have expressed frustration at the higher cost of obtaining or renewing a passport, especially given the economic challenges many individuals and families are facing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Others have acknowledged the need for the fee increase in order to ensure the continued provision of passport services.
The Department of State has emphasized that the fee increase is necessary to cover the costs associated with processing passport applications, providing consular services, and maintaining the security of the passport issuance process. The agency has also noted that the fee increase is in line with the fees charged by other countries for passport services.
In addition to the fee increase for US passports, the Department of State has announced that it will be implementing new security features in passports to enhance their authenticity and security. These new features are part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to combat passport fraud and ensure the integrity of the US passport issuance process.
Overall, the fee increase for US passports reflects the Department of State’s commitment to providing high-quality passport services to American citizens. While the higher cost of obtaining or renewing a passport may be a concern for some travelers, the fee increase is necessary to support the continued operation of the passport issuance process and to maintain the security and integrity of US passports.
