Why is there an execution fee for the passport book?
First-time applicants, applicants under the age of 16, and those seeking to replace a lost or stolen passport must appear in person before a person authorized by the Secretary of State to give oaths to verify their passport applications. The execution fee is collected in order to cover the costs of providing this service. In order to offer American citizens convenient locations to apply for a passport, the Department of State authorizes Passport Acceptance Agents to accept passport applications on its behalf. The execution fee is to reimburse the acceptance facilities for the cost of the service, which provides an incentive for them to act on behalf of the Department of State. Effective February 1, 2008, the execution fee per application was reduced from $30 to $25. Applicants applying for both the passport book and card simultaneously will pay only one execution fee.
