Emergency Passport – How Much Does It Cost To Get A Passport Fast

The cost of emergency passport processing may vary according to several different factors. It is important to take into consideration all relevant factors so that you can better determine the true cost of getting a passport in a hurry. This article will explain the potential costs involved in applying for an emergeny passport.

Emergency Passport Fees

Application Fee – The application fee is paid to the U.S. government to cover the expense of processing your application. The application fee for new passport book or a renewal for an adult is currently $75. The fee for a new passport book for a minor is $70. The passport card is less expensive but limited to air and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. The fee for the card is $20 for adults and $10 for children age 15 and under. There is no application fee for adding visa pages, changing a name in a passport issued less than a year earlier or correcting errors in a passport.

Execution Fee – The execution fee is only paid by U.S. citizens who submit application form DS-11. Applicants who are obligated to submit this form must take an oath and have an agent witness the signing of the application. The execution fee covers this service.

Expedited Service Fee – This fee is applied to all applications in which the applicant requests to have the process expedited. This is optional for those who apply by mail. It is mandatory for those who apply at a regional passport agency. Requesting expedited service for an application sent by mail means the process will be completed in 2-3 weeks. Applications submitted at a regional agency are usually processed the same day or, at times, the next day.

Professional Expediting Fees – Travelers who need a passport quickly but are unable to visit a regional agency themselves can still get emergency passports by authorizing a professional expediter to submit their applications. Fees for this service vary depending on the expediter you choose and how fast you want to get your passport.

A request to receive your passport in 10-14 days may mean paying a fee of approximately $65 while same day service can be more than $300. While this may seem very expensive, it is important to evaluate other expenses that you may have when applying for an emergency passport so that you have an idea of the true cost.

Additional Expenses for Emergency Passports

An honest comparison of the cost of emergency passport services must take into consideration the additional expenses that an applicant might have in the process. First, let’s look at possible expenses for American citizens who want to submit the application themselves at a regional agency.

Time - This is included at the top of the list because it is one that is often not considered but, at the same time, can be very costly. How much is your time worth? You may have to spend a long time on the phone just to get through to the automated appointment system for the regional agencies. Then there is the time consumed traveling to the agency. Finally, you will probably have to wait in long lines for quite a while. Since the agencies are closed on weekends, you will have to go on a weekday. Does this mean losing a day of work? How much will that cost you?

Transportation – Whether you go by car, bus, train, subway, plane, taxi or a combination of these, you could end up spending a lot of money just to get to the regional agency, especially if you live far away. If you go by car, you will also have to pay for parking. Since agencies are located in major cities, this expense can be a lot, too.

Food – Unless you live near the agency and are going at a time of the year when the deman is low, you will probably spend several hours to a day or more outside of your home. More than likely, you will have to purchase a meal or two. Don’t forget to include this in your calculations.

Lodging – Applicants who live great distances away from the nearest regional agency may find it necessary to stay overnight in the city where the agency is located. It is difficult to find a descent hotel for less than $100.

The expenses listed above are those that you may have if you decide to apply yourself. But what additional expenses are there for those who decide to apply through a professional expediting service?

Postage – Once you complete the expediter’s online application, you need to mail your completed passport form and supporting documents. To accelerate the process you should use a two-way overnight delivery method. There are several different options but the cost should be between $40 and $80. You are encouraged to choose a traceable method of mailing your documents.

As you can tell from the information above, the cost of emergency passport processing can vary greatly. The mandatory costs include the expedited service fee, application fee and the execution fee (in the case of a new passport). The cost that you have beyond this will depend on whether you decide to submit the application yourself or get an expediter to submit it for you.

Before you rule out a professional expediting service, be sure to carefully calculate the expenses you will have if you decide to visit the regional agency yourself. You just may find that the cost of emergency passport processing through an expediter is actually less after everything is added up.