Passport fees will increase significantly next Tuesday.
The costs will go up between 14-50 percent for people getting passports for the first time or renewing them.
Passport fees cover the costs of emergency services to U.S. citizens traveling abroad, including people who die, are victims of crime or get caught in natural disasters, the U.S. Department of State says in an announcement about the fee increase.
The money also helps the department invest in technology and implement fraud prevention measures to keep the passport protected, the announcement says.
Under rules now in effect for more than a year now, U.S. and Canadian citizens must present a valid passport book, a passport card or one of four other approved travel documents when entering the U.S. by land and sea from Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda.
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U.S. citizens must have a passport book for any travel outside of the country by air. This rule went into effect in January 2007.
Contact reporter Brady McCombs at 573-4213 or bmccombs@azstarnet.com.
