How Much Does It Cost to Renew an Expired Passport? Fees by Processing Speed

Renewing an expired US passport book costs $130 by mail for most adults, $190 expedited, and around $212 if you add 1 to 2 day return delivery. Those are government fees only, with no service markup. Bold the totals because they are what readers came for.

Here is the misconception that costs people the most time: expired does not mean starting over. If your passport was issued within the last 15 years, when you were 16 or older, and you still have it undamaged, you renew by mail on Form DS-82, not as a brand new application. Knowing that before you start means getting your passport photo and paperwork right is the only real hurdle.

How Much Does It Cost to Renew a Passport in 2026?

Most pages scatter these numbers across separate fee, eligibility, and timeline screens. Here is every common scenario with the all-in total in one place.

Passport Book Renewal Fees

The standard adult passport book renewal by mail (Form DS-82) is $130. There is no separate execution fee when you renew by mail, because you are not applying in person.

Passport Card Renewal Fees

A passport card alone renews for $30 by mail on DS-82. The card works for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda, but not for international air travel.

Passport Book and Card Renewal Fees

Renewing both together is $160 ($130 + $30) on a single DS-82, often the best value if you cross land borders and also fly internationally.

Expedited Passport Renewal Costs

Expedited service adds a flat $60, bringing an expedited book to $190. Add 1 to 2 day return delivery for roughly $22 more, for a total around $212. The $60 is the same whether you do it yourself or pay a service, which is worth remembering before the next section.

Passport Renewal Fee Comparison Table

Can You Renew an Expired Passport, or Do You Have to Start Over?

This is the question that decides your cost and your method. You can renew by mail on DS-82 only if you can check every box below. Fail any one and it becomes a new application in person on DS-11, with an added $35 execution fee.

• Issued within the last 15 years
• Issued when you were age 16 or older
• Undamaged and in your possession
• Issued in your current name, or you can document the name change with a certified document
• Not lost or stolen

When You Can Renew an Expired Passport

If you meet all five conditions, the passport being expired does not matter. You mail in DS-82 with your old book and pay the $130 (book) renewal fee. No interview, no execution fee.

When You Must Apply for a New Passport

You must use DS-11 in person if the passport is damaged, lost, stolen, was issued before you turned 16, or was issued more than 15 years ago. That path adds the $35 execution fee and a trip to an acceptance facility.

What Happens if Your Passport Expired More Than 15 Years Ago?

The age of the passport, not how long it has been expired, is what counts. A passport issued more than 15 years ago cannot be renewed by mail. You apply as a new applicant on DS-11 in person and pay $130 plus the $35 execution fee.

How Fast Is Each Processing Speed, and What Does the Speed Cost?

Speeds and prices are usually listed separately. The useful question is what each step buys you in time saved. Expedited is $60 to cut the wait roughly in half.

Routine Processing

The no-cost default. Submit DS-82 by mail or online and wait the standard window. Fine if you have no trip booked in the near future.

Expedited Processing

Pay the $60 expedite fee and your application moves to the front of the queue, roughly halving the wait. Mark “EXPEDITE” on the envelope if mailing.

Urgent Travel Processing

For international travel within 14 days (or within 28 days if you also need a foreign visa), you can book an in-person appointment at a passport agency or center. You will need proof of travel, such as a booked itinerary. Life-or-death emergencies have a separate, faster path.

What if You Travel Within Two Weeks?

Do not rely on the mail. Book a passport agency appointment, bring proof of imminent travel, and budget for the $60 expedite fee. Appointments are limited and go fast, so call as soon as your trip is confirmed.

What Extra Costs Should You Budget For?

The fee is not the whole bill. Plan for these so nothing surprises you at submission.

• Passport photos: about $10 to $20 for a compliant 2×2 photo. Rejected photos are a top cause of delay.
• Trackable mailing, both ways: secure outbound mailing of your old passport, plus the optional ~$22 faster return delivery.
• Check or money order fees: the fee is paid by check or money order, which may carry a small purchase cost.
• Private expediting services: $100 to $400 on top of government fees. Optional, and clearly not required.

A third-party expediter only makes sense when you cannot get a passport agency appointment and your travel is genuinely time-critical. For most renewals, the DIY $60 expedite fee does the same job for a fraction of the price. Photos must meet State Department specifications, which is the one step worth getting done right the first time.

How to Renew an Expired Passport and Avoid Delays

Most passport renewal delays are preventable. Before submitting your application, make sure you have the right documents, use the correct submission method, and double-check your paperwork for common errors.

Documents You Need

Your expired passport book, a completed DS-82 (or the online equivalent), one compliant 2×2 photo, payment by check or money order, and a certified name change document if your name differs from the passport.

Where to Submit Your Renewal Application

Eligible renewals go by mail to the address on the DS-82 instructions, or online through the State Department’s renewal system where available. Only DS-11 new applications and minors go in person at an acceptance facility.

What Can Delay Passport Renewal

Non-compliant photos, unsigned forms, wrong fee amounts, forgetting to enclose the old passport, and undocumented name changes. Each one sends the application back, costing weeks. Clean document preparation up front prevents nearly all of them.

Is It Cheaper to Renew a Passport Before It Expires?

The fee is identical whether you renew early or after expiration, so there is no penalty for an expired book as long as it still qualifies for DS-82. The real cost of waiting is time and risk: renewing before a trip avoids rush fees, agency appointments, and the chance that your passport ages out of mail-renewal eligibility.

FAQ

How much does it cost to renew an expired U.S. passport?

A standard adult passport book renewal is $130 by mail on Form DS-82, the same fee whether or not it has expired. Expedited service adds $60, for $190, and 1 to 2 day return delivery adds about $22. A passport card alone is $30.

Is there an extra fee if my passport has already expired?

No. There is no penalty fee for an expired passport. As long as it qualifies for mail renewal, issued within 15 years, when you were 16 or older, undamaged, the fee is the standard $130 for a book. Expiration alone does not add cost.

Can I renew a passport that expired 20 years ago?

Not by mail. What matters is the issue date, not the expiration. A passport issued more than 15 years ago cannot use DS-82. You must apply in person on DS-11 as a new applicant and pay $130 plus the $35 execution fee.

How much does expedited passport renewal cost?

Expedited service is a flat $60 added to the base fee, so an expedited book is $190. Adding 1 to 2 day return delivery costs about $22 more, bringing the total to roughly $212. The $60 is the same whether you do it yourself or use a service.

Can I renew my passport online?

Yes, for many eligible adult renewals, the State Department offers online renewal at the same $130 fee. Eligibility and availability can change, so confirm on travel.state.gov before you start. If you do not qualify, the standard DS-82 mail renewal is the route.

How quickly can I get a renewed passport?

It depends on the speed you pay for. Routine processing takes the standard published window, expedited (for $60) cuts that roughly in half, and a passport agency appointment can deliver within days for urgent travel. Always check the live processing times before relying on a date.

Do I need a new passport photo for renewal?

Yes. Every renewal requires one recent, compliant 2×2 photo that meets State Department specifications. You cannot reuse the photo from your old passport. A rejected photo is one of the most common reasons a renewal gets sent back, so get it right the first time.

What happens if I need a passport for travel in less than two weeks?

Do not mail it. Book an in-person appointment at a passport agency or center, bring proof of travel within 14 days, and pay the $60 expedite fee. For life-or-death emergencies, a separate faster path exists. Appointments are limited, so act immediately.