How do I pay for my passport by mail?
For mail-in passport renewals, we only accept these payment methods (no cash):
- Cashier’s Check
Cashier’s check issued by a U.S. bank in dollars payable to “U.S. Department of State”
(Barscheck ausgestellt durch eine amerikanische Bank auf den Namen „U.S. Department of State“) - Bank Check or Counter Check
Bank check issued by a German bank in dollars drawn on a U.S. bank
(Bankscheck ausgestellt von einer deutschen Bank bezogen auf eine US-Bank in US-Dollar auf den Namen „U.S. Department of State“)
All checks must be machine-readable (i.e., have a coded line running along the bottom of the check) and must have been issued within 30 days of submitting your application.
If your bank asks you to add an identification number, please let them know that being a diplomatic entity and not a commercial company, a U.S. embassy or consulate has no “Handelsregister-Nr.” nor a “Steueridentifikations-Nr.”. If your bank cannot provide you with a money order, please review information under #7 to apply in person.
Mail-in applications without acceptable payment will be returned to the sender.
For in-person passport renewals, you have two additional options:
- Cash in U.S. dollars or euros
- Credit Cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover
We cannot accept these forms of payment:
- EC cards
- Personal checks
- Credit cards or cash for mail-in applications
How much does it cost to apply for a passport and how can I pay the fee?
The fees vary depending on the service you are applying for, and accepted payment methods will depend on whether you are applying in person or by mail. We do not, however, accept personal checks. Please refer to the individual instructions for your specific passport service.
Is payment in U.S. dollars or Euro?
If you are submitting your application in person at the U.S. Embassy Berlin, the U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt, or the U.S. Consulate General Munich, you may pay in Euro, other wise you must pay in U.S. dollars. The rate of exchange changes daily so we are unable to tell you exactly how much it will be in Euro until the day of your appointment.
If I am applying for more than one passport renewal, do I send you individual money orders for each application?
No. If you are enclosing more than one application fee, you should send only one money order for the total amount.
