That $165 is for the basic book—the one that gets you on planes to Belgium or Bali. If you want the passport card too (useful for driving to Canada like a normal person), add another $30 to the total. Most first-timers just go for the book, because let’s be honest: when are you really taking a land trip to Mexico that doesn’t involve a shady timeshare pitch?
But wait—there’s more! You’ll also need to factor in the cost of photos. Those two little squares of indignity run about $15 at a pharmacy or shipping store. You’ll look like a startled owl who just got caught napping, but that’s a universal experience. I still have my first passport photo from 2008, and I swear I look like I’m trying to remember if I locked my front door.
The Hidden Expenses That Sneak Up on You
Then there’s the expedited service fee, if you’re the type of person who procrastinates until the flight is a week away. That’s an extra $60, because the government knows you panic. I once had a friend who paid $225 total just because she lost her birth certificate three days before a trip. She compared it to paying a “stupidity tax,” but honestly, it’s more like a “life-happens fee.”
Where Can I Apply For A First Time Passport - Dibujos Cute Para Imprimir
And don’t forget the cost of your time. You have to gather documents—birth certificate, old ID, maybe a marriage license if you changed your name. That’s like a scavenger hunt where the prize is a very expensive stamp. I spent two hours digging through a box labeled “Important Papers (Don’t Touch)” to find my certified birth certificate. It was in a ziplock bag with a 2012 grocery receipt.
