First passport fee up 35 percent, renewal and renounce fees jump too.
US PassportsBe prepared to pay up when it comes to getting out – of the country that is.
Beginning next Tuesday, adults applying for their first passport book will pay $135, a $35 increase from the current $100 price tag. The cost of wallet-sized passport cards that Americans can use on certain trips closer to the U.S. will also rise from $45 to $55.
If you want to add more visa pages to your passport, you’ll have to tack on an additional $82 under the new fee schedule.
Renewing your passport will also jump, going from $75 to $110.
In addition, there is a fee to formally renounce your U.S. citizenship. As of now it is free, but beginning Tuesday the price to renounce will be $450.
Many commenters expressed concerned with the fee increases during a public comment period, including AAA and United Airlines. AAA suggested not raising prices until there were more signs of a stable, recovering economy and United Airlines along with the U.S. Travel Association stated that the fee could halt international travel.
Here's what's being said about the hike in passport fees:
»CNN: Passport fees going up next week
»OC Register: Hurry! Passport fees are going up
»Huffington Post: Passport Fees Will Go Through The Roof With Next Week's Hikes (POLL)
Will you still travel internationally despite the fees? Leave your comments below.