If you’re planning to travel internationally, you’ll need a passport. But can you pay for your passport with a credit card? The answer is, it depends. The U.S. Department of State accepts credit cards for passport applications and renewals, but there are some restrictions. We’ll explore those restrictions and give you some tips on how to pay for your passport with a credit card.
Table of Contents
- U.S. Department of State Credit Card Restrictions
- How to Pay for Your Passport With a Credit Card
- Other Ways to Pay for Your Passport
- Tips for Applying for or Renewing Your Passport
- Conclusion
U.S. Department of State Credit Card Restrictions
The U.S. Department of State does not allow you to pay for your passport with a credit card if the card has an annual fee.
You can use a credit card to pay for your passport application or renewal if it’s a card issued by the government, such as the Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency credit card or the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s HUD Mortgage Credit Card. If you have one of these government-issued credit cards, you can use it to pay your passport application fee.
You also cannot use a credit card to pay for your passport if you don’t have enough credit available to pay the card bill. If you don’t have the cash available to pay the passport application fee, you may not be able to use a credit card.
How to Pay for Your Passport With a Credit Card
To pay for your passport with a credit card, you’ll need to apply for the credit card and receive the card in the mail. Once you have the card, call the number on the back of the card to activate it. This gives you control of the credit line on the card.
The next step is to log into the U.S. Department of State’s passport application website. You’ll need to create an account if you don’t already have one.
Once logged in, you’ll be prompted to enter your credit card information. Once you’ve entered the appropriate information, you’ll have to print out a receipt for your credit card payment, sign the receipt and mail it to the address provided on the website.
Other Ways to Pay for Your Passport
If you don’t have a government-issued credit card, you can deposit money into your bank account and then pay the passport application fee with a debit card.
You can also set up a payment plan with the U.S. Department of State to pay for your passport. If you need to set up a payment plan, you’ll be required to pay 25 percent upfront and then set up a repayment schedule for the remainder of the fee.
You may have to make the payments by money order, cashier’s check or a debit card where you’ve deposited enough money to cover the cost of the payment.
Tips for Applying for or Renewing Your Passport
If you want to expedite the process, mail your application in person at a regional passport agency. If you want to speed up the process even more, you can use express mail.
You can also apply for your passport by going to an authorized passport acceptance facility, such as a post office. When you do this, you’ll be required to provide proof of travel. This can be either a plane ticket or a written statement that you’re traveling by car or boat.
Another tip to keep in mind when applying for or renewing your passport is to keep track of your application. You can do this by keeping a copy of your application or by marking the date you mailed your application on a calendar or with a sticky note.
Conclusion
You can pay for your passport with a credit card if you have enough money in your bank account to cover the cost of the passport application fee plus the cost of interest if you use a debit card. If you don’t have a credit card or enough money in your bank account, you can set up a payment plan. Once you’ve paid the fee, you’ll receive your passport by mail.