You can no longer get extra passport pages added to a US passport, because the State Department stopped the service on 1 January 2016, so a full passport must be replaced with a new one. The best fix today is to request the 52-page book, which costs the same as the standard book.
Travelers still search for extra passport pages because older advice, forums and travel blogs describe a service that no longer exists. The old option let you add a 24-page insert to a valid passport. It ended almost a decade ago, and anyone who offers it now is selling something that is not real. This guide explains what the service was, when and why it ended, what to do when your book is nearly full, how to choose the larger book, how to handle visas in an old passport, and how to avoid scams. The history comes from a law firm note published on 20 November 2015 and a university travel office page dated 10 December 2015, along with two commercial pages that repeat the same facts. The current options come from the State Department’s renewal page, last updated on 16 July 2026, and from recent passport page guides. These are mostly secondary sources, so confirm any fee or deadline on travel.state.gov. For the full overview, start with our US passport guide, and for page counts, read our passport pages guide.
Can You Still Get Extra Passport Pages?
No. The State Department ended the practice of adding pages to passports, and only new passport requests have been processed since 1 January 2016. Requests for extra pages were accepted through 31 December 2015.
The law firm note says the announcement came on Thursday, 19 November 2015, and says the State Department ended the practice for security reasons. It also says only new passport requests would be processed from 1 January 2016. The university page repeats the same effective date and says that anyone who needs more pages in a valid passport must obtain a new passport. It does not use the word renew, which is a small but useful hint: the new passport is a new document, not an edited old one. Nothing in the sources we reviewed suggests the service has returned.
What Was the Old Service?
It let a passport holder pay for a 24-page insert when a valid passport ran out of room for visas and entry or exit stamps. The sources do not give the price.
Two commercial pages and the university page all describe the same service: a 24-page visa insert added to a valid passport. The law firm note describes the purpose as providing more room for visas, entry and exit stamps. None of the pages we reviewed state the fee, how long it took or how many times a passport could receive an insert. A planetdepos page repeats the general idea but also does not give those details, and it reads as an outdated page, so we do not rely on it for specifics. If you meet an older traveler who mentions the insert, that is the service they mean. It is gone.
When and Why Did It End?
It ended on 1 January 2016, and the State Department gave security and international standards as the reasons. The two sources word the reason slightly differently.
| Date | Event | Source |
| 1 October 2014 | Applicants abroad start receiving the 52-page book at no extra cost | University page |
| 19 November 2015 | State Department announces the end of the practice | Law firm note |
| 31 December 2015 | Last day to request extra pages | Law firm note and university page |
| 1 January 2016 | Only new passport requests are processed | Law firm note |
The law firm note says the change was made for security reasons. The university page says it was made to enhance the security of the passport and to align with international passport standards. The international standard fits. The ICAO’s rules for passport booklets, covered in our passport book dimensions guide, say that no pages may be added after a booklet is issued. We could not confirm from official sources that this rule drove the US decision, so treat the link as context, not proof.
What Should You Do Now When Your Passport Is Nearly Full?
Apply for a new passport and request the 52-page book, ideally before fewer than two blank visa pages remain. That timing comes from a recent passport page guide.
The recent guide we used says to renew before fewer than two blank visa pages are left. The university page also tells you to obtain a new passport. Here is a simple path:
- Count your blank visa pages. See the method in our passport pages guide.
- Check whether you can renew online or by mail. See our renew passport online and passport renewal guides.
- Tick the large book box if the form offers it.
- If you cannot renew, apply in person. See our passport application guide.
- Choose your speed. See our expedited passport guide.
A traveler with a trip in a few weeks should not wait. Our how long does it take to get a passport guide gives timelines, and our passport office guide covers urgent appointments.
Who Can Renew Instead of Applying Again?
You can renew when your passport was issued within the last 15 years, when you were 16 or older at issue and when it was fully valid for 10 years. Other cases must apply in person.
The State Department’s renewal page says you cannot renew if you are renewing for a child under 16, if the passport was issued more than 15 years ago, or if the previous passport was not fully valid for 10 years. In those cases you apply again in person. A full book is not a reason by itself to skip the renewal rules. If you qualify, renewal is the simplest route to a fresh book with more room. If you do not, the in-person route works the same way as a first application. Our passport acceptance facility guide explains the visit.
Is the 52-Page Book Really Free?
Recent guides and the 2015 notices say yes: the large book costs the same as the standard one. The university page says applicants inside the US can choose a 28-page or 52-page book.
The university page says that since 1 October 2014, applicants outside the US receive a 52-page passport at no extra cost, and applicants inside the US can choose either size. A May 2024 article we reviewed says that renewing inside the US lets you tick a box for the larger book with no fee difference. That article is partly outdated and written as though the 2015 deadline was still ahead, so we rely on it only for the no-fee detail, which matches the university page. If you travel often, take the larger book. The only drawback we found is extra thickness, since the sources list no size change. Our passport book dimensions guide covers that point.
What About Visas in Your Old Passport?
A valid visa in the old passport usually stays valid, and you may need to carry both books. Check with the country that issued the visa.
A recent guide says the old passport comes back canceled and that valid visas in it still count, so you carry both books when you need that visa. That is a secondary source, and the rules depend on the issuing country. Ask the consulate before you travel, and do not assume a new passport carries the visa forward. If your trip depends on a visa in the old book, check how the State Department returns the old passport when you apply. Our visa documents checklist tool helps you track what each trip needs. For validity limits that can stop you at the border, read our passport 6 month rule guide.
What If You Are Abroad?
Applicants outside the US automatically receive the 52-page book, according to the 2015 notices. Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate to apply.
The university page and the law firm note both state that overseas applicants get 52 pages at no extra cost. The sources do not give embassy steps for a full passport, and they do not describe urgent options for a traveler who has no room left for a stamp. If that is your case, contact the embassy before your next border crossing and ask what is possible. Do not try to add pages yourself, and do not pay a stranger for an insert. Our report stolen passport guide covers a different overseas problem, a missing passport.
Did Passports With Existing Inserts Stay Valid?
The sources do not say, so check your own passport and the issuing rules before you travel. None of the pages we reviewed address passports that already had inserted pages.
The university page says nothing about how inserted pages are treated after the change, and the other pages do not either. If you hold an older passport with an insert, treat it like any other passport: check its expiry date, count the blank pages and confirm entry rules for your trip. If the book looks altered or damaged, read our mutilated passport guide before you travel.
How Do You Spot an Extra Passport Pages Scam?
Any site selling extra passport pages in 2026 is selling something that does not exist. The State Department ended the service in 2016.
Be careful when a website:
- Offers to add pages to your current passport for a fee.
- Sells loose visa pages or “stamped” pages.
- Claims the State Department still runs a page-insert program.
- Promises a passport with extra pages in a day.
- Asks for your passport number before you reach a government page.
One commercial service we reviewed offers expedited handling for new passports, which is a legitimate type of service, but it is not the government and it charges its own fees. Start at travel.state.gov. Our passport signature guide covers what to do once the new passport arrives.
What Mistakes Cause Problems?
Waiting for a service that no longer exists, skipping the large book box and renewing too late cause most problems. Check each point first.
- Looking for an insert service after 2016.
- Forgetting to tick the 52-page box.
- Waiting until the book is completely full.
- Assuming a passport card has visa pages.
- Leaving a needed visa in the old book at home.
- Paying a third party for pages.
- Counting cover and notice pages as usable.
- Ignoring blank page rules for your next destination.
When unsure, count your pages and plan the renewal early. For related topics, see our guides on passport name change and passport card vs book.
FAQs
Can I still get extra passport pages?
No. The State Department stopped adding pages on 1 January 2016, and only new passport requests are processed.
What was the old extra pages service?
It let holders pay for a 24-page visa insert when a valid passport ran out of room.
What should I do when my passport is full?
Apply for a new passport and request the 52-page book. Renew online or by mail if you qualify.
Does the 52-page book cost more?
No. Sources say it costs the same as the standard book, and overseas applicants receive it automatically.
Do my visas move to the new passport?
Not automatically. Valid visas in the old book usually still count, so you may carry both. Ask the issuing country.
When should I renew because of pages?
A recent guide suggests renewing before fewer than two blank visa pages remain.
Conclusion
Extra passport pages are no longer available, because the State Department ended the insert service on 1 January 2016. The fix is a new passport, ideally the 52-page book at the same cost, ordered before you run low on blank pages. Check whether you can renew online or by mail, keep valid visas safe in the old book, and ignore any site that sells pages. Plan early and count your pages before each trip.
