Chances are, the word inflation already gives you the willies.
For one, it’s all over the media.
Two, it’s why a gallon of milk now costs $4.38, and gas is up 59.9% compared to 2021.
But—
Did you know that US passport fees have also increased quite a bit over the past 2+ decades?
Scroll on to find out just how much.
A Glimpse Into the Past: How Prices Have Changed Over the Years
Now—
To see how much of a change there has been, we’ve examined publicly available data on the application and execution fees for first-time adult passport books between 2000 and 2022.
We then used an inflation calculator to give you the equivalent price of getting a passport in a given year in today’s money.
See our findings below:
| Year | Application and Executions Fees (First-Time Adult Passport Book) | In Today’s Dollars |
| 2022 | $165 | $165 |
| 2021 | $145 | $143 |
| 2020 | $145 | $149 |
| 2019 | $145 | $151 |
| 2018 | $135 | $143 |
| 2017 | $135 | $147 |
| 2016 | $135 | $150 |
| 2015 | $135 | $152 |
| 2014 | $135 | $152 |
| 2013 | $135 | $154 |
| 2012 | $135 | $156 |
| 2011 | $135 | $160 |
| 2010 | $100 | $122 |
| 2009 | $100 | $124 |
| 2008 | $100 | $124 |
| 2007 | $97 | $124 |
| 2006 | $97 | $128 |
| 2005 | $97 | $132 |
| 2004 | $85 | $120 |
| 2003 | $85 | $123 |
| 2002 | $60 | $89 |
| 2001 | $60 | $90 |
| 2000 | $60 | $93 |
Here’s also a neat chart to help you visualize the change:
As you can see, application and execution fees for a first-time adult passport book in the United States have increased by 77% compared to the year 2000 after the inflation adjustment. Interestingly, the biggest fee change was between 2010 and 2011 when the prices went up by a record $35: from $100 to $135.
The State Department’s explanation for continually increasing passport fees is that it’s a necessary measure “to ensure we continue to produce one of the most secure travel and identity documents in the world.”
On the upside, the US passport remains one of the most powerful in the world, which means you can visit 186 destinations visa-free. And with the COVID-19 pandemic receding into the background, it might be the perfect moment to hit the road.
Like this article and want to know more? Check these out:
- Is Domestic Tourism in the US on the Rise? [2022 Study]
- The Ultimate List of 152+ Travel Statistics and Facts [2023]
- Cruise Industry: 100+ Statistics, Facts, and Trends [2023]
- Sex on Vacation: 40+ Statistics & Facts [2023]
- America’s Biggest Hotel Pet Peeves [2022 Study]
- The Biggest Travel Nightmares [2022 Study]
- Airbnb: 60+ Statistics, Trends, and Facts [2023]
Stacking It All Up
There you have it!
A comprehensive look at how US passport fees have changed over the last 2+ decades.
Now—what do you think of these fee changes? Are they growing too heavy on travelers’ wallets?
Let us know in the comment section below.
Fair Use Statement
Did you like our findings? If so, feel free to share it with your audience. Just remember to mention the source and link back to this page.
Max Woolf is a writer and travel lover at Passport Photo Online. His insights, advice, and commentary have been featured in Forbes, Inc., Business Insider, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, BBC, MSN, NBC, Yahoo, USA Today, Fox News, AOL, The Ladders, TechRepublic, Reader’s Digest, Glassdoor, Stanford, G2, and 300+ other outlets.
