Where can I get a passport in San Diego, and what does it cost?
First-time adults pay $165: $130 to the State Department plus a $35 acceptance fee. In San Diego, apply by appointment at the City Clerk, the County Clerk or a post office. Traveling within 14 days? Book the downtown Passport Agency.
- First-time adult book
- $165
- Child under 16
- $135
- Expedite
- +$60
- Rush agency window
- 14 days
$130 application + $35 acceptance
$100 + $35, always in person
Per application
28 days if you need a visa
The short version
- A first-time adult passport book costs $165: $130 to the U.S. Department of State plus a $35 acceptance fee.
- The City Clerk at 202 C Street takes passport applications by appointment only, booked up to 10 days ahead, Monday–Friday.
- The County Clerk at 1600 Pacific Highway, Room 402, also takes appointments up to two weeks out; its photos cost $17.10.
- Post offices charge the same $35 acceptance fee but, unlike the city and county, take debit and credit cards for it.
- Leaving within 14 days? The San Diego Passport Agency at 401 West A Street sees urgent travelers by free appointment.
Two separate fees go into every first-time passport, and they're paid to different people. The application fee goes to the U.S. Department of State by check or money order; the $35 acceptance fee goes to whichever office takes your paperwork. San Diego has three kinds of acceptance office: the City Clerk, the County Clerk and post offices. All of them want an appointment.
| Who's applying | Application fee | Acceptance fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-time adult (16+), book | $130 | $35 | $165 |
| First-time adult, card only | $30 | $35 | $65 |
| Child under 16, book | $100 | $35 | $135 |
| Adult renewal by mail, book | $130 | None | $130 |
| Expedited service (any of the above) | +$60 | — | +$60 |
First-time adult (16+), book
- Application fee
- $130
- Acceptance fee
- $35
- Total
- $165
First-time adult, card only
- Application fee
- $30
- Acceptance fee
- $35
- Total
- $65
Child under 16, book
- Application fee
- $100
- Acceptance fee
- $35
- Total
- $135
Adult renewal by mail, book
- Application fee
- $130
- Acceptance fee
- None
- Total
- $130
Expedited service (any of the above)
- Application fee
- +$60
- Acceptance fee
- —
- Total
- +$60
State Department application fees from Newsweek (Apr 7, 2026) and VisaVerge (updated Oct 24, 2026); the $35 acceptance and $60 expedite fees match the City Clerk's and USPS's pages. Checked Nov 1, 2026.
Where to apply in San Diego
The three local options
| City Clerk | County Clerk | Post office | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where | City Administration Building lobby, 202 C St., downtown | County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific Hwy., Room 402 | Participating post offices countywide |
| Booking | Appointment only, up to 10 days ahead; no walk-ins | Appointment required, up to 2 weeks ahead | Online scheduler, lobby kiosk or counter; some offices have limited walk-in hours |
| Hours | Mon–Fri; last appointment 2:40 p.m. | Not listed on its passport page | Varies by office |
| Photo | $12.50 each | $17.10 | $15 |
| Paying the $35 | Cash, check or money order; no cards | Cash, check or money order; no cards | Check, money order, debit or credit card |
City Clerk
- Where
- City Administration Building lobby, 202 C St., downtown
- Booking
- Appointment only, up to 10 days ahead; no walk-ins
- Hours
- Mon–Fri; last appointment 2:40 p.m.
- Photo
- $12.50 each
- Paying the $35
- Cash, check or money order; no cards
County Clerk
- Where
- County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific Hwy., Room 402
- Booking
- Appointment required, up to 2 weeks ahead
- Hours
- Not listed on its passport page
- Photo
- $17.10
- Paying the $35
- Cash, check or money order; no cards
Post office
- Where
- Participating post offices countywide
- Booking
- Online scheduler, lobby kiosk or counter; some offices have limited walk-in hours
- Hours
- Varies by office
- Photo
- $15
- Paying the $35
- Check, money order, debit or credit card
Before your appointment
- 01
Fill in Form DS-11, but don't sign it
The acceptance agent has to watch you sign.
- 02
Bring proof of citizenship and ID
Plus a photocopy of the front and back of each document, as USPS asks.
- 03
No slots? Check back
The City Clerk offers appointments only up to 10 days ahead and says to check back for cancellations if none are showing.
How long it takes, and the rush option
In September 2026, VisaVerge, citing the State Department, put routine processing at 4 to 6 weeks and expedited at 2 to 3 weeks, not counting mail time each way. The State Department changes these windows with demand, so check its processing-times page before you book a nonrefundable trip.
Acceptance office
Urgent travel
Coordinates from OpenStreetMap.
See these on the full San Diego mapHeaded south of the border once it arrives? Read what you need to walk to Tijuana and back and how to cross back faster.
Is this still right?
We last checked this tip against its sources on November 1, 2026, and we re-research every tip on a schedule. Things in San Diego change, sometimes overnight.
Prices, fees, hours and rules change, often at the start of a year or season. Confirm with the official source linked below before you rely on a number.
This is general information, not legal, financial, tax, medical or safety advice.
KEEP READING
SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
- PrimaryPassport Services
City of San Diego, Office of the City Clerk · checked 2026-11-01
202 C St. lobby; appointment only, up to 10 days ahead; no walk-ins; last appointment 2:40 p.m.; $35 execution fee; $12.50 photos; no cards; $60 expedite; 619-533-4000.
City of San Diego · 2025
Walk-In Wednesday discontinued; appointment only; points eligible applicants to online renewal.
- PrimaryApply for a passport
County of San Diego, Clerk of the Board · checked 2026-11-01
1600 Pacific Hwy., Room 402; appointment required, up to two weeks ahead; photos $17.10; money orders $3.10; no cards.
U.S. Postal Service · checked 2026-11-01
$35 acceptance fee; $15 photo; card payment accepted for acceptance fee; scheduling methods; unsigned DS-11 and photocopies.
- PrimarySan Diego Passport Agency
U.S. Department of State · checked 2026-11-01
401 West A St., 10th floor; Mon–Fri 8–4; travel within 14 days or visa within 28; free booking; 877-487-2778.
Newsweek · 2026-04-07
$130 adult book, $30 card, $100 child book, $35 acceptance, $60 expedite.
VisaVerge · updated 2026-10-24
Fee totals by applicant type; no acceptance fee for adult renewals.
VisaVerge · 2026-09
Routine 4–6 weeks, expedited 2–3 weeks, excluding mailing.