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What You Will Actually Pay for an Expired U.S. Passport
By Aina Rahman ·
Last verified August 6, 2026, against U.S. government fee and eligibility guidance.
The short answer: expired U.S. passport renewal fees
This guide covers U.S. passports. Fees, forms, and renewal rules are country-specific, so do not apply these amounts to a passport issued by another country.
If you are an adult who remains eligible to renew, expiration does not create a separate late fee. The base government fee depends on whether you want a passport book, a passport card, or both. As of August 6, 2026, the U.S. Department of State passport fee schedule lists these fees:
| Eligible adult renewal | Government application fee |
|---|---|
| Passport book | $130 |
| Passport card | $30 |
| Passport book and card | $160 |
Therefore, the simplest answer to “How much does it cost to renew an expired passport?” is $130 for an eligible adult passport-book renewal. That is the same application fee charged when an eligible adult renews before expiration.
These are government application fees, not all-inclusive estimates. Your actual out-of-pocket cost may also include:
- A compliant passport photo
- Postage for a mail-renewal package
- Faster outbound mailing
- Optional expedited processing
- Optional faster return delivery
- Facility or payment-related charges
- Fees from a private passport-expediting company
The condition and history of the old passport determine whether the renewal price applies. If you cannot renew and must submit an in-person Form DS-11 application, you will also owe the facility acceptance fee associated with that application route.
Passport charges can change. Confirm your form, application route, and exact payment immediately before applying.
First determine whether the expired passport can be renewed
Do not calculate your total from the expiration date alone. First establish whether the document qualifies for renewal.
For a standard adult renewal by mail, you should be able to answer yes to every question below:
- Do you have the passport in your possession?
- Is it undamaged beyond ordinary wear?
- Was it issued when you were age 16 or older?
- Was it issued within the last 15 years?
- Does it show your current name, or can you provide acceptable legal documentation of your name change?
Eligibility depends on the passport’s issue date, condition, possession, age at issuance, and name information. A passport issued more than 15 years ago—or one that is damaged, lost, stolen, issued before the holder’s 16th birthday, or in a former name without supporting documentation—cannot use the standard adult renewal process. The applicant must instead apply for a new passport in person using Form DS-11, according to the USAGov adult passport-renewal eligibility guidance.
Why people often hear “five years after expiration”
A standard adult passport is commonly valid for 10 years. Because mail renewal generally requires a passport issued within the last 15 years, a typical 10-year passport may remain eligible for approximately five years after it expires:
- It was issued 15 years ago.
- It was valid for 10 years.
- It expired approximately five years ago.
That is where the “renewable for five years after expiration” shorthand comes from. It is not a universal guarantee. A passport with an atypical validity period may not fit that calculation, and a lost, seriously damaged, or otherwise disqualified passport cannot be renewed merely because it expired fewer than five years ago.
Use the issue date printed in the passport rather than estimating from the expiration year. If the document was issued within the last 15 years and satisfies every other mail-renewal condition, it may qualify for renewal even when it does not qualify for the narrower online process.
What happens if one answer is no?
If you fail any renewal condition, do not send Form DS-82 simply because you still have an old passport. You generally need to apply in person using Form DS-11.
The additional acceptance fee associated with DS-11 is not a penalty for allowing a passport to expire. It results from the in-person application and acceptance process required when renewal is unavailable.
Online, by mail, or in person: choose the correct route
Once you establish that the passport is eligible for renewal, choose between online and mail submission. Adults who cannot renew generally apply in person using Form DS-11.
Online renewal has narrower requirements than mail renewal. Failing an online condition does not necessarily mean you must apply in person; you may still qualify to renew by mail.
Renew online if you meet every online condition
Online renewal may be available when all of the following apply:
- You are at least 25 years old.
- The passport was valid for 10 years.
- It will expire within one year or expired less than five years ago.
- You possess the passport.
- It is undamaged and has not been reported lost or stolen.
- You are not changing personal information such as your name or sex.
- You are in a U.S. state or territory when submitting the application.
- You do not plan to travel for at least six weeks after submission.
- You want routine rather than expedited service.
The only authorized online U.S. passport-renewal portal is opr.travel.state.gov. Commercial sites are not the authorized government portal, may charge separate service fees, and cannot replace official eligibility or application requirements. Review the Department of State’s online passport-renewal requirements and portal warning before submitting personal or payment information.
Online renewal fees are paid by credit or debit card. Online renewal provides routine service only and cannot be expedited. If you want the Department of State’s expedited service and otherwise qualify to renew, use the permitted mail route.
Renew by mail if you qualify under the mail rules
Mail renewal is generally the appropriate alternative when you meet the broader renewal conditions but not every online restriction. Examples include:
- You qualify for renewal but are younger than 25.
- The passport did not have the 10-year validity required for online renewal.
- You need to document an acceptable legal name change.
- You want expedited processing.
- The passport was issued within the last 15 years but falls outside the online expiration window.
A mail renewal normally uses Form DS-82. The package typically includes the completed form, your most recent passport, a compliant photograph, payment, and name-change documentation when applicable.
Mail-renewal fees are generally paid by check or money order. Follow the current form instructions carefully because the payment recipient, mailing address, and packaging requirements are part of a valid submission.
Eligible applicants must renew by mail or online rather than treating renewal as an in-person transaction. Post Office passport appointments are primarily for first-time applications, minor applications, other DS-11 cases, and photo services, as explained in the USPS passport appointment and renewal guidance.
Apply in person if you cannot renew
Use Form DS-11 and apply in person when the old passport does not meet the renewal requirements. Common reasons include:
- It was issued before your 16th birthday.
- It was issued more than 15 years ago.
- It has been lost or stolen.
- It is seriously damaged.
- It is in a former name and you cannot provide acceptable legal name-change documentation.
Do not choose a route merely because it appears more convenient. The correct form follows from eligibility: the authorized online system or Form DS-82 for an eligible renewal, and Form DS-11 when renewal is unavailable.
Calculate the total with expedited service and return delivery
Calculate your government-fee total in three steps:
- Choose the document: book, card, or both.
- Add expedited processing if it is available and needed.
- Add faster return delivery if it is available and needed.
Expedited processing and return delivery are separate services. The expedited fee pays for faster handling of the application, while the return-delivery charge concerns delivery of the completed passport book. Selecting one does not automatically include the other.
The following calculations reflect the fees available through the official Department of State passport fee calculator:
| Eligible adult renewal scenario | Calculation | Government-fee total |
|---|---|---|
| Routine passport book | $130 | $130 |
| Expedited passport book by mail | $130 + $60 | $190 |
| Expedited book with 1–3 day return delivery | $130 + $60 + $23.36 | $213.36 |
| Routine passport card | $30 | $30 |
| Routine passport book and card | $160 | $160 |
The optional $23.36 return-delivery service is unavailable for a passport-card-only application.
Example 1: Routine passport-book renewal
You qualify for renewal, need only a passport book, and select no optional government services:
$130 application fee = $130 government total
A photo and outbound postage may still cost extra if you renew by mail.
Example 2: Expedited renewal by mail
You qualify for renewal and want faster application processing:
$130 application fee + $60 expedited service = $190 government total
Because online renewal cannot be expedited, an eligible applicant selecting this service must use the permitted mail route.
Example 3: Expedited processing and faster return delivery
You qualify for a passport-book renewal and select both optional services:
$130 + $60 + $23.36 = $213.36 government total
This excludes your photo, outbound mailing, and any private service charge.
Example 4: Passport card only
You qualify to renew a passport card and select routine service:
$30 application fee = $30 government total
Do not add the faster return-delivery charge to a card-only application because that service is unavailable for passport cards.
Example 5: Passport book and card together
You renew both documents using routine service:
$160 application fee = $160 government total
Optional services are not included in that base amount. Add them only when they are available and selected.
Why some applicants pay the additional $35 acceptance fee
The $35 acceptance fee does not apply to an eligible adult renewal submitted online or by mail. It applies when an applicant uses Form DS-11 and submits the application through an authorized acceptance facility.
For adults who are not eligible to renew, the standard calculations are:
| Adult Form DS-11 application | Application fee | Acceptance fee | Standard total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passport book | $130 | $35 | $165 |
| Passport card | $30 | $35 | $65 |
| Passport book and card | $160 | $35 | $195 |
The key comparison is $130 for an eligible routine adult passport-book renewal versus $165 for a standard adult passport-book application using Form DS-11. Passport application and acceptance fees are generally non-refundable even if a passport is not issued, so verify the correct form and amount before paying. These amounts and the non-refundability policy are stated in the Department of State fee guidance.
An acceptance facility may display a $35 charge because it processes DS-11 applications. Do not automatically add that charge to a mail or online renewal.
The $35 is not an expiration penalty
A recently expired passport may still qualify for the standard renewal fee if every eligibility condition is met. A passport that is too old or otherwise ineligible requires the DS-11 route and its acceptance fee.
The difference in price results from the required application route, not from a universal late-renewal surcharge.
Be certain of the amount before paying
Before preparing payment, confirm:
- You have selected the correct form.
- The old passport is eligible for renewal.
- The payment is for the exact required amount.
- Separate payments are prepared when the instructions require them.
- Optional fees are included only when you have selected the corresponding services.
Photo, copying, mailing, or payment services offered by an acceptance facility may carry separate charges. Those costs are not part of the facility acceptance fee.
Special cases that cannot use standard renewal
An expired document is not automatically renewable. Age at issuance, possession, condition, name history, and application location can all change the required process.
Passports issued to minors
A passport issued before the holder’s 16th birthday cannot be renewed through the standard adult process. After it expires, the applicant must submit a new in-person application.
This remains true even if the passport holder is now an adult. The relevant question is how old the holder was when the old passport was issued, not merely the applicant’s current age.
Do not calculate this situation as an adult renewal. Check the current new-application fees and documentation requirements for the applicant’s circumstances.
Lost or stolen passports
A passport that is no longer in your possession cannot meet the normal renewal requirement. Lost and stolen passports also involve reporting and replacement procedures, so they should not be handled as ordinary expired-passport renewals.
Follow the applicable reporting and new-application instructions rather than sending Form DS-82 without the old passport.
Seriously damaged passports
Ordinary wear is not necessarily serious damage, but a substantially damaged passport generally cannot use standard renewal.
Do not alter or attempt to conceal damage. Follow the government instructions for applying with a damaged passport and prepare for an in-person application if renewal is unavailable.
A passport in a former name
A passport in a former name may remain eligible for mail renewal if you can provide acceptable legal documentation connecting the old and current names.
Without acceptable name-change documentation, standard renewal is unavailable. Changing personal information also prevents online renewal, even when the change can be documented through the mail process.
The rules for minor, lost, stolen, damaged, and former-name passports are summarized in the official USAGov renewal guidance.
Applicants outside the United States
Do not assume domestic mailing instructions, payment methods, fees, or optional services apply unchanged overseas. U.S. citizens applying from another country should obtain instructions from the relevant U.S. embassy or consulate.
The correct form, payment procedure, appointment requirements, and document-delivery arrangements may depend on the applicant’s location and circumstances.
Budget for costs that are not included in the application fee
The advertised renewal price is a government application fee, not a complete estimate of every expense involved in preparing and submitting the application.
Separate your budget into three categories.
Mandatory government fees
For an eligible adult renewal, the mandatory application fee depends on whether you select a passport book, a passport card, or both. If you cannot renew and must apply using Form DS-11, the facility acceptance fee also applies.
Use the tables above rather than automatically adding every listed charge. The required amount follows from your eligibility, form, and document choice.
Optional government services
Optional government services include expedited processing, where permitted, and faster return delivery for an eligible passport book.
These services address different parts of the process:
- Expedited processing affects how the application is handled.
- Faster return delivery affects how the completed passport book is sent to you.
Return delivery should not be confused with outbound postage. When renewing by mail, you are responsible for sending the application package to the designated address. The optional return service concerns the completed passport coming back to you.
Incidental and private costs
Depending on how you prepare and submit the application, other expenses may include:
- Passport photo: A retailer, photographer, acceptance facility, or other provider may charge for a compliant image.
- Outbound postage: A mail-renewal package must be sent to the designated processing address.
- Faster outbound mailing: Tracking or faster delivery may cost more than basic postage.
- Facility services: Some locations charge separately for photos, copies, or mailing assistance.
- Payment charges: A facility may impose a surcharge for certain payment methods on amounts payable to that facility.
- Private expeditor fees: A commercial passport company may charge its own service fee in addition to government fees.
A private company does not replace the Department of State’s eligibility, form, identification, documentation, or payment requirements. Paying a commercial service also does not make an otherwise ineligible passport eligible for renewal.
A practical prepayment checklist
Before paying, work through this sequence:
- Confirm that the document is a U.S. passport. If another country issued it, use that country’s rules and fee schedule.
- Test renewal eligibility. Check possession, condition, age at issuance, issue date, and name documentation.
- Choose the correct route. Use online or mail renewal only if eligible; otherwise follow the in-person Form DS-11 process.
- Choose the document. Decide whether you need a passport book, a passport card, or both.
- Choose the service level. Select routine service or expedited mail service where available.
- Decide on return delivery. Add it only if it is available for your application and useful to you.
- Add incidental expenses. Account for the photo, outbound postage, facility services, and any private-company charge.
- Verify the final payment. Check the form and exact amount with the Department of State passport fee calculator immediately before applying.
Frequently asked questions
Does an expired passport cost more to renew than one that has not expired?
No. Expiration alone does not create a late fee for an otherwise eligible adult U.S. passport renewal.
The cost changes when the passport no longer qualifies for renewal. In that case, the applicant generally uses Form DS-11 and pays the acceptance fee associated with an in-person application.
Can I renew a U.S. passport that expired more than five years ago?
Possibly by mail, but not online under the stated online-renewal window.
Mail eligibility depends on whether the passport was issued within the last 15 years, along with the other renewal conditions. For a typical 10-year adult passport, that may translate to approximately five years after expiration, but the issue date—not the shorthand—controls.
Can I expedite an online passport renewal?
No. Online renewal provides routine service only. An eligible applicant seeking the Department of State’s expedited renewal service must use the permitted mail route. The online renewal instructions also require applicants to have no planned travel for at least six weeks after submission.
Can a child’s expired passport be renewed?
No. A passport issued before the holder’s 16th birthday cannot use standard adult renewal. After expiration, the applicant must submit a new in-person application with the required documentation.
This rule depends on the holder’s age when the old passport was issued. A person who is now an adult cannot renew a passport issued before their 16th birthday.
How do I pay for a passport renewal online or by mail?
Online renewal fees are paid by credit or debit card through the authorized government portal. Mail-renewal fees are generally paid by check or money order according to the current Form DS-82 instructions.
Confirm the correct route and form before paying, and include only the document and optional services you have selected.
The bottom line
Start by confirming that the document is a U.S. adult passport. Then test renewal eligibility using its issue date, condition, possession status, age at issuance, and name information.
If you qualify, choose online or mail renewal according to the applicable restrictions. Add expedited processing or faster return delivery only when the service is available and necessary, and budget separately for photos, outbound postage, or private assistance.
The most useful comparison is straightforward: $130 for an eligible routine adult passport-book renewal versus $165 for a standard adult passport-book application using Form DS-11 when renewal is not permitted. Verify the final form and fee with the Department of State immediately before submitting payment.