The Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs has prepared this publication to assist you in applying for your U.S. passport. This guide will give you information on where to apply, how to apply, and the best time to apply.
You can apply for a passport at many Federal and state courts, probate courts, and some post offices.
Over 2500 courts and 900 post offices in the United States accept passport applications. Courts and post offices are usually more convenient because they are near your home or your place of business. You save time and money by not having to travel to one of the 13 major U.S. cities where passport agencies are located.
You must always apply in person if you are 13 or older, and if you do not meet the requirements for applying by mail (see section "May I Apply for a Passport by Mail?").
Usually, for children under 13, only a parent or legal guardian need appear to execute a passport application.
Go to a courthouse or post office authorized to accept passport applications and complete the DSP-11 application form, but do not sign it until instructed to do so.
You must present:
1. PROOF OF U.S. CITIZENSHIPAlthough a Social Security number is not required for issuance of a passport, Section 603E of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 requires passport applicants to provide this information. Passport Services will provide this information to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) routinely. Any applicant who fails to provide the information is subject to a $500 penalty enforced by the IRS. All questions on this matter should be referred to the nearest IRS office.
Yes, if you already have a passport and that passport is your most recent passport, and it was issued within the past 12 years, and if you were over 18 years old at the time it was issued.
Ask the court, post office, or your travel agent for a DSP-82 "Application For Passport By Mail." Fill it out, sign it, and date it.
Attach to it:
If your name has been changed, enclose the Court Order, Adoption Decree or Marriage Certificate, or Divorce Decree specifying another name for you to use. (Photocopies will not be accepted.) If your name has changed by any other means, you must apply in person.
Mail the completed DSP-82 application and attachments to:
Your previous passport will be returned to you with your new passport.
If you need faster service, you can use an overnight delivery service. If the service of your choice will not deliver to a post office box, send it to:
Include the appropriate fee for overnight return of your passport.
Note: If the passport has been mutilated, altered or damaged in any manner, you cannot apply by mail. You must apply in person and use Form DSP-11, present evidence of U.S. citizenship, and acceptable identification.
Apply for your passport several months in advance of your planned departure. If you will need visas from foreign embassies, allow additional time.
If you apply at a passport acceptance facility, the day you apply your application will be forwarded to the passport agency that serves the acceptance office, or, in the case of mail-in applications, they are forwarded to the National Passport Center.
Applications are processed according to the departure date indicated on the application form. If you give no departure date, the passport agency will assume you are not planning any immediate travel. Your passport will be returned to you by mail at the address you provided on your application.
If your passport is lost or stolen in the U.S., report the loss or theft in writing to Passport Services, 1425 K Street, N.W., Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20522-1705, or to the nearest passport agency. If you are abroad, report the loss immediately to local police authorities and contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
All persons, including newborn infants, are required to obtain passports in their own name.
If you need to get a valid passport amended because of a name change, use Form DSP-19.
Before traveling abroad, make a copy of the identification page to make it easier to get a new one should it be necessary.
If you require additional visa pages before your passport expires, submit your passport with a signed request for extra pages to one of the passport agencies listed on the last page. (Please allow time for the processing of the request.) If you travel abroad frequently, you may request a 48-page passport at the time of application.
Some countries require that your passport be valid at least 6 months beyond the dates of your trip. If your passport is expiring in less than the required validity, you will need to get a new one. Check with the nearest embassy or consulate of the countries you plan to visit to find out their entry requirements.
In addition to foreign entry requirements, U.S. law must also be considered. With certain exceptions, it is against U.S. law to enter or leave the country without a valid passport. Generally for tourists, the exceptions refer to direct travel within U.S. territories or between North, South, or Central America (except Cuba).
Note: If you mutilate or alter your U.S. passport, you may render it invalid and expose yourself to possible prosecution under the law (Section 1543 of Title 22 of the U.S. Code).
Effective October 1, 1994, a surcharge of $30 per passport will be assessed for expedited service. The fee applies to expedited processing for all passport services, including issuance, amendment, extension of validity, and adding visa pages. Expedited passports will be processed within three business days of receipt by a Passport Agency, except when a passport must be denied or delayed. If the three-day processing deadline cannot be met, the expedite fee will be refunded. If desired, payment for overnight return of the issued passport should also be sent with the application.
REQUIREMENTS FOR EXPEDITED PASSPORT PROCESSING.Expedited processing is available only for travelers who are leaving in less than ten (10) days and can document their departure with plane tickets or confirmed reservations. Travelers who need to obtain foreign visas to depart within two to three weeks may also request expedited service. Expedited service is not available to travelers who cannot document their travel.
WHERE TO APPLY.Travelers with very short deadlines may wish to apply directly at a Passport Agency (located in Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Stamford (CT), and Washington, D.C.). However, many requests for expedited service can be handled by the more than 4,000 clerks of court and post offices which accept passport applications and forward them to Passport Services for issuance. If this option is selected, prepaid overnight delivery for each application is recommended both to and from the Passport Agency.
EXPEDITING PASSPORT RENEWALS BY MAIL.Expedited passport renewals by mail must include applicable passport fees, proof of imminent departure and $30 per passport. Mail applications to Passport Lockbox, P.O. Box 371971, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7971; clearly mark the envelope "EXPEDITE." Mailed applications will be processed within three days of receipt at the National Passport Center in Portsmouth, NH.
If you are leaving on an emergency trip within five working days, apply in person at the nearest passport agency and present your tickets or travel itinerary from an airline, as well as the other required items. Or, apply at a court or post office and have the application sent to the passport agency through an overnight delivery service of your choice (you should include a self-addressed, pre-paid envelope for the return of the passport). Be sure to include your dates of departure and travel plans on your application.
If you are applying by mail, see the section "May I Apply for My Passport by Mail?" for proper mailing addresses. If you have any questions about an application that was mailed, write or call: