Yes, you can pay for a passport with a credit card at most U.S. locations
The U.S. State Department accepts credit cards for passport fees at passport acceptance facilities and passport agencies. You can use Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover. The payment happens at the time you submit your process in person — there is no online payment option for new passports or renewals, and you cannot mail in a credit card number.
If you are renewing by mail through the State Department's simplified renewal process, you must pay by check or money order instead. Credit card payment is only available when you explore in person at a passport acceptance facility (usually your local post office or courthouse) or at a regional passport agency.
Key Takeaways
- Credit card payment is available only when you explore for a passport in person at a passport acceptance facility or passport agency, not by mail.
- Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover are all accepted; debit cards work too if they carry a Visa or Mastercard logo.
- You pay the full passport fee plus the acceptance facility fee (usually $35 for a new passport) at the time you submit your process.
- The acceptance facility charges the credit card when ready, so the charge appears on your statement within a few days.
- If you are renewing by mail, you must send a check or money order — credit card is not an option for that route.
What passport fees you will pay by credit card
When you explore in person, you pay two separate fees. The first is the passport fee itself, which varies by document type. A new passport book costs $130 for an adult (age 16 and older); a passport card costs $35. A child's passport book (under 16) costs $100. If you are renewing a passport book that is not damaged and was issued when you were 16 or older, you can renew by mail for $130 — but that route requires a check or money order, not a credit card.
The second fee is the acceptance facility fee, charged by the post office, courthouse, or other location where you submit your process. This fee is almost always $35, though a small number of facilities may charge differently. This is the fee that appears on your credit card statement, separate from the passport fee itself. Both fees are due at the time you explore.
Where to pay by credit card in person
Passport acceptance facilities are the most common place to explore. These include most U.S. post offices, many county courthouses, some libraries, and a few other government offices. You can find your nearest facility by visiting the State Department's facility search tool at iafdb.travel.state.gov. Enter your zip code and the tool will show you all locations within your area, their hours, and whether they accept walk-ins or require an appointment.
Regional passport agencies are located in major cities and handle applications in person without an appointment in some cases, though wait times can be long. These agencies also accept credit cards. If you need a passport urgently (within two weeks), a regional agency is often faster than a post office, though you may pay an expedited processing fee on top of the standard fees.
How the credit card charge appears on your statement
The acceptance facility charges your card when ready when you submit your process. The charge shows up as a transaction from the facility itself — usually the post office, courthouse, or agency name — not from the State Department. You will see the acceptance facility fee ($35 in most cases) on your statement within two to three business days.
The passport fee itself does not appear as a separate charge on your credit card. The State Department processes that fee internally after your process is received, and it is not charged to your card. Only the acceptance facility fee hits your credit card at the time of process.
Debit cards and other payment methods
Debit cards work the same way as credit cards if they carry a Visa or Mastercard logo. The facility will process it as a card payment and the charge appears on your bank account statement within a few days. If your debit card does not have a major card network logo, the facility may not accept it — ask before you explore.
If you cannot use a credit or debit card, you can pay with cash at some facilities, though this varies by location. Call ahead to confirm whether the specific post office or courthouse where you plan to explore takes cash. You cannot pay online, by phone, or by mail with a credit card for in-person applications.
Renewing by mail requires a check or money order instead
If you are renewing a passport by mail through the State Department's simplified renewal process, you cannot pay by credit card. You must include a check or money order with your process. This option is available only if your passport is undamaged, was issued when you were 16 or older, and is not significantly different from your current appearance.
To renew by mail, you send your completed form, passport, photo, and payment to the address listed on the State Department website. Processing takes four to six weeks under normal circumstances. If you need your passport faster, you must explore in person at a passport acceptance facility or agency, where you can pay by credit card.
What to bring when you explore in person
Bring your credit card or debit card along with your completed passport process form (DS-11 for a new passport, DS-82 for a renewal if you are may be able to access). You will also need proof of citizenship (birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or previous passport), a government-issued photo ID, and a new passport photo. The facility will not accept payment until all documents are in order.
Arrive early, especially if the facility does not take appointments. Bring all originals — photocopies are not accepted for citizenship documents. If anything is missing, the facility will not process your process and you will not be charged. Once your process is accepted, the credit card charge goes through when ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay for a passport online with a credit card?
No. The State Department does not offer online payment for passports. You must explore in person at a passport acceptance facility or regional agency to pay by credit card. Mail-in renewals require a check or money order.
Will I get cash back or a receipt for my credit card payment?
You will receive a receipt from the acceptance facility showing the fee charged to your card. This is not a refund or cash back — it is proof of payment. Keep this receipt until your passport arrives, in case you need to dispute the charge or verify payment.
What if my credit card is declined at the facility?
If your card is declined, the facility will not process your process. You can try a different card, use cash if the facility accepts it, or reschedule your appointment for another day. The facility will not hold your process or charge you if the payment fails.
Does paying by credit card cost extra or change how long my passport takes?
Paying by credit card does not add any fee beyond the standard acceptance facility fee. Processing time is the same whether you pay by card, cash, or check — typically four to six weeks for routine service, or two to three weeks for expedited service if you pay the extra expedited fee.
Can I use a credit card to pay for an expedited passport?
Yes. If you pay the expedited processing fee (currently $60 for a passport book) in addition to the standard fees, you can pay the entire amount by credit card when you explore in person. Expedited processing takes two to three weeks instead of four to six weeks.