Form DS-11 — Application for a U.S. Passport

Who uses DS-11

DS-11 is the standard application form for any U.S. citizen applying for a passport for the first time. It is also required when you cannot use the mail renewal process — which covers more situations than most people expect.

You must use DS-11 if:

• You have never held a U.S. passport
• Your most recent passport was issued before you turned 16
• Your most recent passport was issued more than 15 years ago
• Your passport is lost, stolen, or damaged beyond normal wear
• Your passport has been reported lost or stolen — even if you later found it
• Your name has changed and you cannot document it with a certified legal record

Children of any age require DS-11. Every application for a child under 16 is in-person; there is no mail option regardless of circumstances. DS-82 — the renewal form — is available only to adults meeting all six eligibility criteria. If you are unsure which applies, the renewal guide walks through the eligibility checklist.

Where to get the form

The State Department provides DS-11 free at acceptance facilities and through its online Form Filler at pptform.state.gov. Use the online filler whenever possible — it enforces required field formats and produces a clean, machine-readable printout that reduces the chance of a rejection at the counter.

Do not download DS-11 from a third-party website. The State Department updates the form periodically, and acceptance agents check the form version number printed at the bottom of the page. An outdated version — even one downloaded from a legitimate-looking site six months ago — will be rejected and you will have to complete a new form at the facility.

Print on one side of the paper only. Double-sided forms are rejected. Do not reduce the print size or alter the layout.

How to fill out DS-11

Use the pptform.state.gov Form Filler to complete DS-11 on your computer before printing. Handwritten forms are accepted but legibility errors cause delays; typed forms are cleaner.

Key fields where applicants make errors:

• Name as it will appear on the passport. Use your full legal name exactly as it appears on your citizenship evidence. If the names do not match, bring documentation explaining any difference.
• Social Security Number. Required for all adult applicants. Failure to provide it or providing an incorrect number can trigger processing delays.
• Emergency contact information. Not required, but the State Department uses this if they need to reach someone on your behalf during processing.
• Mailing address. Your new passport ships to the address printed on the form. Verify it carefully — address changes after submission require calling 1-877-487-2778.
• The "large book" checkbox. A larger passport book (52 visa pages instead of the standard 28) is available at no extra cost. Check the box on DS-11 if you travel frequently.

One rule overrides everything else: do not sign DS-11 before your appointment. The acceptance agent must witness your signature — this is a legal requirement, not a formality. Signing early voids the form and requires starting over with a blank copy. This is the single most common reason applications are turned away at the counter.

Documents to bring with your DS-11

Bring every item on this list. Acceptance agents cannot hold incomplete applications for missing documents — a missing item means rescheduling.

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 (full-term, 10-year book). Bring the original; the agent returns it at the appointment and you receive it again by mail after processing.
2. Photocopy of citizenship evidence — One copy, one-sided, on a single sheet of 8.5×11 paper.
3. Proof of identity — A valid (unexpired) driver's license, state ID, military ID, or current foreign passport showing name, date of birth, and photo. Bring the original plus a photocopy of the front and back on a single sheet.
4. Passport photo — 2×2 inches, color, taken within the last 6 months, white or off-white background. Do not staple or attach it to the form; the acceptance agent handles that.
5. Unsigned DS-11 — Completed but not signed. The acceptance agent witnesses your signature during the appointment.
6. Payment — Two separate payments to two different recipients. The $130 application fee (adults 16+) or $100 (children under 16) goes to the U.S. Department of State by personal check or money order — write the applicant's name and date of birth in the memo line. The $35 execution fee goes to the acceptance facility; payment methods vary by location, so call ahead.

Name changes require an additional certified copy of the legal name change document — marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order. See the full application guide for name change and minor applicant specifics.

After you submit DS-11

The acceptance facility forwards your application to a State Department processing center, typically within one to two business days. Processing time starts when the State Department receives the application — not when you appeared at the facility. That transit time matters when you are planning around a trip.

Routine processing runs 4–6 weeks from receipt. Expedited service adds $60 and cuts processing to 2–3 weeks. Your original citizenship document ships back separately via First Class Mail and may arrive up to four weeks after your passport.

Track your application at passportstatus.state.gov or call 1-877-487-2778. See application status for what the tracking stages mean and when to call if something looks delayed.