How did the Department decide on the cost of the Passport Card?
Consular Fees reflect the cost of providing passport services to the American public. Per regulation, the Department of State employs an independent consultant to conduct periodic and regular cost of service studies to determine the cost of providing consular services. The cost of service study indicated that the Department could issue a card for $20 for an adult and $10 for a child. With the execution fee of $25, the total cost for an adult is $45, or 37.5 cents per month over a ten year period.
