You’re staring at a flight confirmation for a trip that leaves in three weeks. Then you look at your passport. It expired four months ago. Your stomach drops. Honestly, we’ve all been there—or at least lived in that specific flavor of panic.
The good news is that you aren't stuck. The bad news? Your wallet is about to take a hit. Everyone wants to know how much does it cost to get a passport expedited, but the answer isn't just one flat number you can Venmo to the government. It’s a mix of government fees, shipping costs, and potentially "convenience" fees that can scale from "pricey dinner" to "car payment" levels.
In 2026, the baseline for speeding things up remains a standardized surcharge, but the delivery landscape has changed. If you’re rushing, you aren't just paying for the book; you're paying for the priority in the pile.
The Basic Math of a Rushed Passport
Let's break down the core numbers first. If you’re an adult (16 or older) doing a standard renewal, the Department of State charges a $130 application fee for the passport book.
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To jump the line, you add the $60 expedited service fee.
That brings your subtotal to $190.
But wait. That $190 only covers the processing time at the agency, which currently sits at roughly 2 to 3 weeks. It doesn't include the time it takes for your application to mail to them or for the new book to mail back to you. If you’re actually in a hurry, you basically have to pay for the 1-2 Day Delivery service for another $22.05.
So, for a door-to-door experience that doesn't take two months, you’re looking at $212.05 minimum.
- Adult Renewal (Book): $130 (Base) + $60 (Expedite) + $22.05 (Fast Shipping) = $212.05
- First-Time Adult: $130 (Base) + $35 (Execution Fee) + $60 (Expedite) + $22.05 (Shipping) = $247.05
- Minor (Under 16): $100 (Base) + $35 (Execution Fee) + $60 (Expedite) + $22.05 (Shipping) = $217.05
Why how much does it cost to get a passport expedited varies so much
Not all "expedited" services are created equal. There’s a massive difference between "I'm going to Italy next month" and "My flight is in 48 hours."
The Post Office Route
Most people go to the USPS. You’ll pay that $60 government fee, but you’ll also likely pay for Priority Mail Express to send your application to the State Department. That’s usually around $27 to $30 depending on your location. It’s the most common way to do it, but it’s also the slowest "fast" version.
The Regional Agency (The "Urgent Travel" Hack)
If you have proof of international travel within 14 calendar days, you can try to snag an appointment at one of the 26 regional passport agencies across the U.S.
The fee is the same—$60 on top of the base cost—but you often get your passport the same day or within 72 hours. The "cost" here is more about your time and travel. If you live in Boise, you’re flying or driving to Seattle or San Francisco. When you factor in gas, a hotel, and the day off work, that $60 expedite fee is suddenly the cheapest part of the trip.
Private Expeditors (The Expensive Road)
You’ve seen the websites. "Get your passport in 24 hours!" These are private couriers. They don't have secret backdoors, but they do have slots at the agencies.
They charge the government fees ($190+) PLUS their own service fees. These service fees are where things get wild. I’ve seen them range from $100 for "standard" expedited service to $500 or even $800 for "emergency" 24-hour turnarounds.
Honestly? Most people don't need this. Unless you literally cannot travel to a regional agency yourself or you’re a high-level executive whose time is worth $1,000 an hour, it's usually better to handle it through the official channels.
Hidden Costs You Might Forget
It's never just the fee on the form. There are those "annoyance" costs that add up.
- Photos: Most drugstores or post offices charge $15 for two 2x2 photos. Pro tip: Use a smartphone app and print them at a kiosk for cents, but if you mess up the lighting, the State Department will reject your application. That rejection adds weeks to your timeline.
- Money Orders: You cannot pay the State Department fee with a credit card if you're mailing it in. You need a check or a money order. Money orders have small fees, usually a couple of dollars.
- Parking: If you have to go to a regional agency in a city like New York or D.C., you might spend $40 just on a parking garage for the three hours you're sitting in the waiting room.
The 2026 Processing Reality
Currently, routine service is taking 4 to 6 weeks. Expedited is 2 to 3 weeks.
One thing people get wrong: these times start the day the agency receives your application, not the day you drop it in a blue mailbox. That’s why that $22.05 return shipping fee is basically mandatory if you’re stressed. Without it, your "expedited" passport might sit in a USPS sorting facility for five days after it's already been printed.
Actionable Steps to Save Money and Time
If you need that passport fast but don't want to get fleeced by a third-party site, follow this sequence:
- Check for Regional Appointments first: Go to travel.state.gov and look for "Urgent Travel" appointments. They are free to make (never pay someone for an appointment).
- Use the right envelope: If mailing, write "EXPEDITE" in big, bold letters on the outside. It sounds silly, but it helps the mailroom sorters route it to the right pile.
- Pay the return shipping: Don't skip the $22.05. It’s the best ROI in the entire process.
- Double-check your signature: The #1 reason for delays is a missing signature or an "incorrect" fee amount on the check. If you send $180 instead of $190, they will mail the whole thing back to you, and you’ll have to start over.
Calculate your departure date, subtract four days for "safety," and if that date is less than six weeks away, pay the $60. It’s better than the alternative of standing at the check-in counter with a voided document and a broken heart.