U.S. Department of State

U.S. Department of State
 
 

Diplomatic, Official, and Regular No-Fee Passports

The Special Issuance Agency, located in Washington, D.C., issues no-fee passports to citizens traveling abroad for the U.S. Government, their dependents (if permitted to accompany them), and certain others who are exempt by law from payment of the passport fee. The type of no-fee passport issued (diplomatic, official, or regular no-fee) depends upon the purpose of travel. The Special Issuance Agency will determine which type is to be issued based upon the purpose of travel.

Frequently Asked Questions
1. When do I use my no-fee passport?
2. May I hold both a No-Fee and Regular Fee Tourist Passport?
3. Can my dependents be included on my no-fee passport?
4. Where will my no-fee passport be delivered?
5. Why do I have to pay the $30.00 execution fee when I apply at a passport acceptance facility?
6. Where do I apply for a no-fee passport?

When Do I Use My No-Fee Passport?
You may use your no-fee passport ONLY when going overseas in discharge of your official duties. You must not use the no-fee passport when you leave the U.S. for personal travel. For personal travel, you need to use a regular fee (tourist/business) passport.

May I Hold Both a No-Fee and Regular Fee Tourist Passport?
You may have both a valid regular fee passport and a valid no-fee tourist passport at the same time. You may want to take both types of passports with you, especially if you plan to take personal travel while overseas. Please be sure that you have the appropriate visas in both your no-fee and tourist passports prior to your departure.

Can My Dependents Be Included On My No-Fee Passport?
No. If your dependents have been authorized to accompany you on your assignment, each one must obtain his or her own individual no-fee passport.

Where Will My No-Fee Passport Be Delivered?
Passport Services generally does not mail no-fee passports directly to the bearer. Instead, they are sent to, or picked up by the organization, government agency, or branch of service sponsoring the passport issuance. Please be sure to fill in the address of the sponsoring facility in the “Mailing Address” block of the application.

Why Do I Have to Pay the $30.00 Execution Fee When I Apply at a Passport Acceptance Facility?
The execution fee is the cost to have your signature witnessed by an authorized passport acceptance agent when you apply in person for your no-fee passport. You are not required to pay the passport fee for a no-fee passport, but if you are executing the application at a passport acceptance facility, they reserve the right to charge you the $30.00 passport execution fee.

Where do I apply for a No-Fee Passport?
The United States Government only issues these types of passports to individuals traveling abroad in connection with official employment. No fees are charged for the issuance of these passports. The type of passport issued is dependent on the purpose of travel or the Government Agency sponsoring the travel. Applicants for these types of passports should contact their respective travel offices for instructions on how to process these applications.
· Military applicants should contact their installation travel office.
· Federal Government Agency personnel should contact their Agency headquarters travel office.
· Peace Corps should contact their travel office.
· Department of State personnel should contact their Bureau Executive Office or Personnel Technician.