Passport fees will go up on Aug. 19
Advertiser Staff
Current Aug. 19 Adults (16 and older) $60 $85 Adult renewals $40 $55 Children (under 15) $40 $70 Expedited service $35 $60 Source: U.S. State Department
Fees for U.S. passports will increase Aug. 19 to cover costs of providing passport-related services to Americans, the U.S. State Department announced yesterday.
Passport fees rising
It is the first passport fee increase since 1991, said Howard Josephs, the local customer service manager with the State Department. Fee increases range from 38 to 75 percent.
"We really want to get the word out early because, if possible, we would prefer people to be able to save some money and come in and do it early, rather than later on," Josephs said.
Passports are valid for 10 years for anyone age 16 or older, and valid for five years for anyone under age 16, Josephs said.
About 70,000 passports are processed annually in the region that includes Hawai'i, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Taiwan, Koror, Kolonia, Majuro, Kwajalein and Johnston Island, Josephs said.
The additional fees will be used to pay for costs of services for Americans at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad as well as passport applications processed in the United States, the department said.
The Honolulu Passport Agency is in Suite 1-330 of the Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Federal Building at 300 Ala Moana. For information, call 522-8283.
