How to apply for a U.S. passport

Who needs to apply in person

First-time applicants of any age must appear in person — no exceptions. The State Department also requires an in-person application when your most recent passport was issued more than 15 years ago, was issued before you turned 16, or was lost, stolen, or damaged.

One eligibility issue that surprises some applicants: if you owe more than $2,500 in past-due child support, federal law bars the State Department from issuing you a passport until the debt is resolved with your state child support agency. See our guide on child support and passport denial for the full process, including how the denial works and what steps lead to reinstatement.

Name changes can complicate eligibility. If your name has changed and you cannot document it with official records, an in-person application is required regardless of when your last passport was issued. Bring certified legal name change documentation whenever your current name differs from the one on your citizenship evidence.

One thing catches people off guard: if you renewed by mail previously, you may still need to apply in person again. Mail renewal requires that your last passport was issued at age 16 or older and within the past 15 years. Miss either condition and you are back to in-person. Confirm your eligibility at travel.state.gov before assuming mail renewal is an option.

Documents required for Form DS-11

Bring everything on this list. Acceptance agents cannot accept a partial application and collect the rest later — a missing document means a second appointment.

1. Proof of U.S. citizenship — A certified birth certificate with a raised or multicolored seal from a vital records office. Hospital-issued birth certificates are not accepted. Alternatives include a Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship, or a prior undamaged U.S. passport valid for a full term (10 years for adults; 5 years for passports issued under age 16). The CDC maintains a state-by-state directory of vital records offices at cdc.gov/nchs if you need to order a replacement.
2. Proof of identity — A fully valid (unexpired) driver's license, state ID, military ID, or current foreign passport. The document must show your name, date of birth, and photo. Bring a second photo ID if your primary ID was issued in a different state than where you are applying.
3. Photocopy of your identity document — The front and back of your photo ID copied onto a single side of one sheet of 8.5x11 paper. Do not staple it to the application.
4. Photocopy of your citizenship evidence — One copy on a single side of 8.5x11 paper. Bring the original as well; the acceptance agent returns it to you at the appointment, and you receive it again by mail with your finished passport.
5. Passport photo — 2x2 inches, color, white or off-white background, taken within the last 6 months. Do not attach or staple it to the form yourself; the acceptance agent handles that. Many USPS locations offer on-site photo services.
6. Completed Form DS-11 — Available at acceptance facilities and at travel.state.gov. Fill it out completely. Do not sign it before your appointment. The acceptance agent must witness your signature — signing early voids the form and requires starting over with a new one. This is the single most common reason DS-11 applications are rejected at the counter.
7. Fees — Two separate payments to two different recipients. The $130 application fee goes to the U.S. Department of State via personal check or money order (write the applicant's name and date of birth in the memo line). The $35 execution fee goes separately to the acceptance facility. Payment methods for the $35 vary by location — call ahead.

The application process, step by step

1. Complete Form DS-11 — Fill it out fully but do not sign it. Use the online Form Filler at pptform.state.gov and print on single-sided paper. Double-sided forms are rejected.
2. Gather all required documents and photocopies — Citizenship evidence (original plus one copy) and photo ID (original plus front-and-back copy on one sheet).
3. Get a passport photo — 2x2 inches, color, taken within the past 6 months. Do not attach it to the form.
4. Find an acceptance facility and schedule an appointment — Most USPS locations require appointments made at usps.com/passport. Libraries and county clerk offices vary; call ahead to confirm availability.
5. Appear in person — Bring originals and all photocopies. The agent verifies your identity and administers an oath.
6. Sign DS-11 when the agent directs you to — Not before. This step cannot be completed in advance.
7. Pay both fees separately — $130 by check to U.S. Department of State; $35 to the acceptance facility.
8. Keep your receipt — The facility gives you a receipt with the information you will need to track your application at passportstatus.state.gov.

After submitting your application

The acceptance facility forwards your application to a State Department processing center, typically within 1–2 business days. Processing time starts from when the State Department receives your application — not when you appeared at the facility. That transit time matters when you are planning around a travel date.

Routine processing currently runs 4–6 weeks from receipt. See current processing times for the latest figures; that page is updated when State Department estimates change.

Track your application at passportstatus.state.gov or call 1-877-487-2778. Your original citizenship document is returned separately by First Class Mail and may arrive up to 4 weeks after your new passport. If documents have not arrived within 4 weeks of receiving your passport, contact the State Department to report the delay.

Applying for a child's first passport

Children under 16 cannot renew by mail — every application requires an in-person appearance, and both parents or guardians must appear at the acceptance facility with the child. Both must sign DS-11 in front of the agent. If one parent cannot appear, the absent parent must complete a notarized Statement of Consent (Form DS-3053) and provide a photocopy of their photo ID. DS-3053 must be submitted within 90 days of notarization; expired forms are rejected. The application fee for children under 16 is $100, plus the standard $35 facility execution fee.

Situations involving sole custody, a parent who cannot be located, or non-parent guardians require additional documentation specific to each scenario. See the full guide to applying for a child's passport for what each situation requires.