Passport Fees to Increase - 402

Photo by bryansblogBy this time next week travelers will be paying more for passports. According to a report from CNN.com, fees to obtain and renew a U.S. passport will be increasing on July 13, 2010. While these fees may not seem like much when you evaluate the overall cost of international travel, they aren’t exactly minor increases either.

First time applicants will be paying 35% more as the price for a passport book increases from $100 to $135. Travelers will now be charged $110 instead of $75 to renew a current passport. Likely the most difficult change to accept for many regular travelers, however, is adding additional passport pages. The free service will soon cost $82 under the new fee schedule.

The announcement has been met with many concerns. Seventy percent of the over 1,700 comments the U.S. Department of State has received have been concerns about how the changes will affect travel and travelers. Many express worries about how these changes will influence international travel overall.

Officials state that the price increases were necessary. A recent study revealed that under the current fee system the government’s costs for services were not being covered. In addition, new technology is necessary for passport books and cards to increase security and protect against fraud. The fees also help to support a U.S. presence abroad to assist citizens during travel.  

You can check out the fee chart from the U.S. Department of State to learn more about the pricing changes and what to expect the next time you need a passport service.

Lori Rice is a freelance health and travel writer, and Galavanting travel news and reviews correspondent. You can follow her adventures at 3 Star Traveler or explore her thoughts as a nutritionist, wellness advocate and foodie traveler at Fake Food Free.