[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 75 (Monday, April 20, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21070-21071]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07670]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 12997]


United States Passports Moving to Single-Sized Passport Book

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of State currently issues two passport 
book sizes--a 26-page book and a 50-page book. A determination was made 
to shift

[[Page 21071]]

the U.S. passport book to a single-sized, 38-page passport book, with 
the release of the next redesign.

DATES: Submit comments by June 22, 2026.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by the following method: Comment on 
this notice by going to www.Regulations.gov. You can search for the 
document by entering ``Docket Number: ``DOS-2026-0496'' in the Search 
field. Then click the ``Comment Now'' button and complete the comment 
form.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amber Long, Bureau of Consular 
Affairs, Passport Services, Modernization and Systems Liaison, tel.: 
(202) 485-6520, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Currently, the Next Generation Passport 
(NGP) is available in 26-page and 50-page book sizes. Previously, the 
legacy ePassport was available in a 28-page and 52-page book. The U.S 
passport Series B is being redesigned for an anticipated rollout in 
2028, and this will include a shift to a single-sized book with 38 
pages. All passport book types will change with the exception of the 
Emergency Passport, which will remain a 12-page book.
    In 2024, a feasibility study was conducted on the impacts of moving 
to a single sized passport book. The results of the study determined a 
38-page book would increase efficiencies and reduce waste within the 
production of the passport at the Government Publishing Office (GPO) 
and within the issuance process at the U.S. Department of State. On 
average, 92 percent of customers applying for a passport book request 
the 26-page book. Of the 8 percent of customers receiving the 50-page 
book, most do so due to a policy practice to issue 50-page books to 
special-issuance and overseas applicants. In other words, while some 
frequent international travelers, U.S. citizens residing abroad, and 
special-issuance passport holders will need to renew more frequently 
once the 50-page option becomes unavailable, the Department expects 
those applicants to make up a small percentage of all passport 
applicants. Switching to a single-sized, 38-page book will allow more 
visa pages for the majority of applicants. Planned enhancements to the 
Department's Online Passport Renewal (OPR) platform that will allow 
overseas applicants to renew their passports online are also expected 
to introduce new efficiencies for those customers and may mitigate this 
burden.
    The Department seeks input from stakeholders on the potential 
burdens of eliminating the 50-page book as an option. The Department 
appreciates and values all feedback and will give due consideration to 
the comments received. However, at this time, the Department does not 
plan to respond to the comments in the Federal Register.

Matthew D. Pierce,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Passport Services, Bureau of Consular 
Affairs, U.S. Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2026-07670 Filed 4-17-26; 8:45 am]
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