A first-time adult passport book in Louisiana costs $165: a $130 application fee that goes to the U.S. Department of State plus a $35 acceptance fee paid to the facility that processes your paperwork.1U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees Passport fees are set federally, so the price is the same in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, or anywhere else in the state. What changes your out-of-pocket total is whether you want a book, a card, or both; whether you’re renewing or applying for the first time; whether you need it fast; and a couple of small extras most people forget to budget for.
First-Time Adult Fees
If you’re 16 or older and applying for the first time, you pay a State Department application fee plus the $35 acceptance fee charged by the post office, clerk of court, or library handling your appointment.1U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
- Passport book: $130 application fee + $35 acceptance fee = $165
- Passport card: $30 application fee + $35 acceptance fee = $65
- Both book and card: $160 application fee + $35 acceptance fee = $195
The book is valid for 10 years and works for any international travel.2U.S. Department of State. Passport FAQs The card is also good for 10 years but can only be used for land and sea travel to and from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and parts of the Caribbean. It is not valid for international air travel.3U.S. Department of State. Passport Card If you think you might ever need both, adding the card to a first-time book application costs only $30 more in federal fees. Buying them separately later means paying the $35 acceptance fee twice.
Children Under 16
Child passports cost less, but every child application has to be done in person, which means the $35 acceptance fee always applies.1U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
- Passport book: $100 + $35 = $135
- Passport card: $15 + $35 = $50
- Both: $115 + $35 = $150
A child’s passport is valid for five years rather than ten.2U.S. Department of State. Passport FAQs At least one parent or guardian must appear at the appointment; if only one parent can be there, a signed statement of consent from the absent parent is generally required.4USA.gov. Get a Passport for Your Child
Renewal Costs
Renewing is cheaper than applying for the first time because there’s no acceptance fee. You can renew by mail or online if your current book is undamaged, was issued when you were 16 or older, and was issued within the last 15 years.1U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
- Passport book renewal: $130
- Passport card renewal: $30
- Both book and card: $160
Online renewals take a credit or debit card. Mail renewals take a check or money order payable to “U.S. Department of State.” Children’s passports cannot be renewed by mail or online, so every child’s second passport means another in-person appointment and another $35 acceptance fee.
If You Need It Faster
Standard processing currently runs four to six weeks. Two paid upgrades can shorten that, and you can use both at once.5U.S. Department of State. Processing Times
- Expedited processing: $60. Cuts processing to two to three weeks. Added on top of your application fee.
- 1-to-3-day delivery: $22.05. Faster shipping of the finished book after it’s printed. Books only; cards always ship by regular First Class Mail.
A first-time adult book with both rush options works out to $130 + $35 + $60 + $22.05, or $247.05.1U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees For a true life-or-death emergency involving international travel, the New Orleans Passport Center handles in-person appointments and is the only passport agency in Louisiana.6U.S. Department of State. New Orleans Passport Center
Costs the Fee Schedule Doesn’t Show
Two expenses hit outside the State Department’s price list.
Passport photo. You need one 2-by-2-inch color photo on a white or off-white background, taken without glasses.7U.S. Department of State. Passport Photos USPS counters, pharmacies, and shipping stores take them for roughly $15, though pricing varies. You can shoot and print your own if you can meet the specs.
Birth certificate replacement. First-time applicants need an original or certified birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or previous U.S. passport. If you need to order a replacement birth certificate, state vital records offices typically charge between $20 and $45, with Louisiana on the lower end of that range. Ordering one can take several weeks, so start early if yours is missing.
Paying the Two Fees
The application fee and the acceptance fee go to two different parties and don’t always take the same payment types. The application fee, payable to the U.S. Department of State, is generally paid by check or money order at an in-person appointment; write “U.S. Department of State” on the payee line and include the applicant’s name and date of birth in the memo. Online renewals accept credit and debit cards.
The $35 acceptance fee goes to the facility itself. Many take cash, check, money order, and cards, but some smaller offices are more limited. Call ahead and confirm what your location accepts so you aren’t turned away for showing up with the wrong form of payment.
Realistic Totals
Once you factor in the acceptance fee and a photo, here’s what you’ll actually spend before any rush charges:1U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
- Adult book, first time: $130 + $35 + ~$15 photo ≈ $180
- Adult card, first time: $30 + $35 + ~$15 photo ≈ $80
- Adult book and card, first time: $160 + $35 + ~$15 photo ≈ $210
- Child book: $100 + $35 + ~$15 photo ≈ $150
- Adult book renewal by mail: $130 (no acceptance fee, and you can reuse a current photo if it still meets the specs)
Add $60 for expedited processing and $22.05 for 1-to-3-day delivery if you’re in a hurry. A family of four getting first-time passport books can run past $700 before anyone books a flight, which is reason enough to start the paperwork as early as your travel plans allow.