Passports

Passports

How to Get Your New Passport

To apply for a new passport, you will need to appear in person at a post office or courthouse that accepts passport applications. Use the links below to find the forms you need and click here to find the passport acceptance office nearest you. You can also call the U.S. Postal Service toll free at 1-800-275-8777 for the location nearest you.

At the acceptance facility, you will need to provide the following:

1. Proof of Citizenship

You will need ONE of the following:

  1. Original or Certified copy of your birth certificate - hospital birth certificates are unacceptable (If you do not have your original birth certificate, click here to order a certified copy)
  2. Old Passport
  3. Original Naturalization Certificate or Certificate of Citizenship
  4. Consular Report of Birth Abroad

2. Proof of Identity

You will need to provide ONE of the following

  1. Driver's License (issued more than 6 months ago)
  2. State-issued identification card (issued more than 6 months ago)
  3. Official government or military picture identification

3. New passport application (DS-11)

Click here to download the DS-11 form
(Do NOT sign the DS-11 until you are instructed to do so by the acceptance agent)

4. Passport Photos

Go to a passport photographer and have your passport photos taken. You will recieve two (2) identical passport photographs.

Click here for passport photo requirements and where to have passport photos made.

5. Check, money order or bank draft to pay application fees

You will need to provide two separate checks for fees:

  • payment of $75 payable to U.S. Department of State
  • payment of $25 payable to the acceptance facility

(Please include your date of birth on the memo line of the check)

To see complete fee schedule click here. Remember, you are only required to renew your U.S. Passport once every 10 years.

Expedited Passport Service

You can receive your passport, ordinarily, in about 3 weeks if you pay an additional $60 fee. Write a check in the amount of $135 made payable to U.S. Department of State (this includes $75 processing fee and $60 expediting fee). You will still need a separate check, payable to the acceptance facility in the amount of $25. Totaling $160 for an expedited adult passport.

  • Provide 2 prepaid “U.S. Postal Service Express Mail” envelopes
    • One envelope addressed to the U.S. Passport Agency (use address listed in the “Mail to” section of your DS-11 application)
    • One envelope addressed to the place you wish to have your new passport returned

Here's what you can expect to happen at the passport acceptance facility.
The passport acceptance agent will:

  • Witness you signing line 23 of the DS-11 (Do not sign until asked to do so)
  • Check your identification to verify your identity
  • Attach your proof of citizenship documents to the application
  • Attach your photos to the application
  • Receive payments for your passport application

At this point, the acceptance agent will send your documents to the U.S. Passport Agency. You will receive your new passport in the mail in about 6-8 weeks (or about 3 weeks if expedited) together with your citizenship documents. When you receive your passport, please be sure to sign in the space provided for your signature.

Questions? Call National Passport Processing Services toll free at 1-877-487-2778 or visit www.travel.state.gov