Passport

US passport guide

Renewal timelines, costs, emergency appointments, and what to know about the 6-month validity rule — for US citizens.

Adult book valid

10 years

Issued at age 16+

Child book valid

5 years

Under age 16

Passport card

10 / 5 yrs

Land/sea only — no air travel

Renew when

9–12 mo left

Earlier is safer

The 6-month validity rule. Many countries — including most of Europe, all of Southeast Asia, and large parts of the Middle East — require your passport to be valid for at least 6 months beyond your entry date. Airlines enforce this before you board. If your passport has less than 6 months remaining, renew before you travel internationally — regardless of how long your trip actually is.

Costs

Item	Fee	Notes
Passport book (adult)	$130	10-year validity · includes application fee
Passport card (adult)	$30	Land & sea border crossings only · not valid for air travel
Book + card together (adult)	$160	Applying for both together saves $35 in acceptance fees vs. two separate in-person visits
Passport book (minor)	$100	Under age 16 · 5-year validity · includes application fee
Passport card (minor)	$15	Under age 16 · land & sea border crossings only
Book + card together (minor)	$115	Under age 16 · same total as applying separately — saves $35 in acceptance fees vs. two visits
Execution / acceptance fee	$35	In-person applicants only · paid directly to acceptance facility · not required for mail-in or online renewal
Expedited service	+$60	Cuts agency time to 2–3 weeks · added on top of book/card fee
1–3 day return delivery	+$23.36	Optional — speeds up final delivery after processing · not valid for passport cards
Passport photo	$10–$20	CVS, Walgreens, UPS Store, or print at home from the app

Processing Times

Service level	Agency time	Total door-to-door
Routine Mail-in or online renewal · no add-on fee	4–6 weeks	8–10 weeks (add ~2 weeks mailing each way)
Expedited Mail-in with +$60 fee · or in-person at passport agency	2–3 weeks	6–7 weeks with mailing
Urgent (travel within 14 days) In-person appointment at passport agency required	1–5 days	Same day to 5 days · appointment required
Life-or-death emergency Death or life-threatening illness of immediate family member abroad	2–3 days	Call 877-487-2778 to qualify — not available for vacations

How to Apply / Renew

Online Renewal

Fastest and easiest — no post office visit

WhoAge 25+ with a 10-year book, expiring within 1 yr or expired <5 yrs ago; not traveling within 6 weeks of applying

ServiceRoutine only (no expedited option online yet)

Apply attravel.state.gov → Online Passport Renewal

Mail-In Renewal

Most common renewal method

WhoAdults whose last passport was issued at 16+ and issued within 15 yrs

FormsDS-82 · mail with old passport, photo, and check/MO

Apply attravel.state.gov → Renew by Mail

In-Person (New / First-Time)

Required for first passports and children

WhoFirst-time applicants; children under 16 (both parents required)

WherePost office, library, or clerk of court accepting passport applications

FormsDS-11 · photo ID · proof of citizenship · photo

Passport Agency (Urgent)

Travel within 14 days or visa needed within 28 days

ApptCall 877-487-2778 or book at travel.state.gov — by appointment only

BringProof of travel (flight itinerary), complete DS-82 or DS-11, all fees

HoursM–F 8am–10pm ET · Sat–Sun 10am–3pm ET for calls

Key Things to Know

Apply 9–12 months before your next international trip. Routine processing runs 8–10 weeks door-to-door. Don't wait until 6 months out — if demand spikes, you may not make it in time without paying expedited fees.

The 6-month rule catches people off guard. Your passport may technically be valid, but if it has less than 6 months remaining after your return date, many countries will turn you away at the border — and airlines will deny boarding.

Child passports expire in 5 years. Both parents (or legal guardians) must appear in person to apply. If one parent can't attend, they must provide a notarized Form DS-3053 Statement of Consent.

Count your blank pages before every trip. Many countries require at least 2–4 blank pages. If you're running low and don't want a new passport, you can't add pages anymore — that program was discontinued. Renew instead.

Some visas require a full blank page. Countries like India, Brazil, and South Africa require a full blank page just for their visa stamp. Factor this in before trips that need visas stamped in-person.

Make a copy before every trip. Store a photo of your passport data page in your email or cloud storage. If your passport is stolen abroad, having the number and issue date speeds up emergency replacement at the nearest US embassy.

Register with STEP before every international trip. The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program at step.state.gov lets the US Embassy contact you in an emergency and notifies family if something happens abroad. Free and takes 2 minutes.

Third-party appointment services are not the State Dept. Any site charging a fee to "book your passport appointment" is a third party. Appointments are free at travel.state.gov and by calling 877-487-2778 directly.

No AI-edited or digitally altered photos. The State Department actively screens all submissions for AI-generated and edited images. Submit an original, unedited photo taken within the last 6 months — no filters, no software retouching, no AI tools. Altered photos are rejected.

Official source: travel.state.gov/passports · Check current processing times before applying — they vary by season and demand.

PASSPORT