The U.S. State Department raised fees for U.S. passports on Tuesday, July 13, in part to cover costs for 23 agencies providing new emergency passport services to the general public, three high-volume application processing centers and two large-scale document print centers.

The fee for an adult passport book will increase from $100 to $135 and the fee for an adult passport card will increase from $45 to $55. The passport book fee for minors will increase from $85 to $105 and the fee for a passport card for a minor will increase from $35 to $40.

The U.S. passport card can be used to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry and is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book. The passport card cannot be used for international travel by air.

The State Department said that passport fees help it keep up with technology and implement fraud prevention initiatives. Investing in new technology to prevent passport fraud is one of the department’s key priorities, according to a department news release.

Passport fees also cover the cost of providing emergency services for American citizens overseas in crisis situations, such as the earthquake disaster in Haiti, helping Americans who have been victims of crime while traveling or living abroad and providing support to the families of American citizens who have died overseas.

Over the past few years, the demand for passports has increased to an average of 15 million per year. In fiscal year 2005, the department issued 10.1 million passports and peaked at 18.4 million in fiscal year 2007. The department expects to issue more than 15 million in fiscal year 2010.

The U.S. passport is valid for 10 years. Passports for minors under age 16 are valid for five years.

2010 The Agio Press, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without expressed permission.