The Best Book for a Gift – a Passport!

May is the month of graduations and transitions, and today I share an idea about the best gift…

The Best Book for a Gift – a Passport!

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” – Saint Augustine

As we move into the graduation season and folks are busy searching for the right present for their favorite graduate moving to the next phase of life, travel can be a very special gift. But my focus today is not on planning a particular trip as a gift, but to ensure folks on your list have the ability to travel when the opportunity presents itself.

A passport is the book that creates the ability to explore this amazing world, and is a fabulous gift for anyone, and particularly for a young person. Often a student may have gotten a passport for a mission trip during high school, but that passport may expire toward the end of their college days since a child’s passport is valid for only five years.

Consider the gift of a passport book, or a renewal of a passport, as a wonderful present of hope and joy for someone in your life. Obviously, the person has to complete their own application and documentation, but you can pay the costs of the passport process – write a check to the U.S. Department of State for the application fee and provide cash for the execution fee as that form of payment accepted changes depending on the passport acceptance facility.

Here’s a set of printable gift certificates with instructions – you can print the gift certificate to wrap and give along with the check and cash, and/or email the gift certificate so the recipient can use the links in the pdf to complete the process.

Gift Certificate for form DS-11     [First passport, previous passport issued when under age 16]

Gift Certificate for form DS-82     [Renewal]

 

New or renewal passport for a child under 16 years of age:

• Use form DS-11
• Must apply in person with two parents or guardians at a passport acceptance facility
• Passport will be valid for 5 years
• $100 Application Fee + $35 Execution Fee

 

New or renewal passport for 16-17 years of age/New passport for adult 18 and over:

• Use form DS-11
• Must apply in person at a passport acceptance facility
• Passport will be valid for 10 years
• $130 Application Fee + $35 Execution Fee

 

Renewal passport for adult 18 and over – as long as previous passport was issued after age 16 and you have the previous passport book issued within the last 15 years:

• Use form DS-82
• Mail application
• Passport will be valid for 10 years
• $130 Application Fee

 

Renewal passport for adult 18 and over – if your previous passport was issued prior to age 16 or more than 15 years ago, you don’t have the previous passport book, or you are changing you name:

• Use form DS-11
• Must apply in person at a passport acceptance facility
• Passport will be valid for 10 years
• $130 Application Fee + $35 Execution Fee

 

If you have a situation where you or someone you know needs a passport or renewal in a hurry for some immediate travel, you will pay a $60 expedite fee plus shipping in addition to the normal application fee. For more information on expedited passports, visit How to Get my U.S. Passport Fast (state.gov).