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 provides information on how,
when and where to apply for your passport.
- Other than at passport agencies, where can I
apply for a passport?
- When do I have to apply in person?
- What do I need to do to apply for a passport in
person?
- Where can I get passport forms?
- May I apply for a passport by mail?
- When should I apply for a passport?
- What happens to my passport application after I
submit it?
- What should I do if my passport is lost or
stolen?
- Do I need to obtain a separate passport for my
baby?
- What do I do if my name changes?
- What else should I know about passports?
- What if I need a passport in a hurry?
Other Than at
Passport Agencies, Where Can I Apply for a Passport?
You can apply for a passport at over 5,000 passport acceptance
facilities nationwide that include many Federal, state and probate
courts, many post offices, some libraries and a number of county and
municipal offices. These designated acceptance facilities are usually more
convenient because they are near your home or workplace. (Most of the 13
passport agencies are designated to serve only those departing urgently
and appointments are required.
- Back to Top
-
When Do I Have to
Apply in Person?
You must always apply in person if you are
14 or older and if you do not meet all of the requirements for renewing a
previous passport by mail. (See May I Apply for a Passport by
Mail?)
Click here for
information on special requirements for children under age 14
Usually, for children age 12 and under, only a parent or legal guardian
need appear to apply for a passport on behalf of a child.
- Back to Top
-
What Do I Need to
Do to Apply for a Passport in Person?
See How to Apply in Person
for a Passport.
- Back to Top
-
Where Can I Get
Passport Forms?
Passport acceptance facilities
stock passport forms. (See Other Than at Passport Agencies, Where Can I Apply
for a Passport? Passport forms can also be downloaded from the
Internet at http://travel.state.gov/download_applications.html
or obtained by calling the National Passport Information Center at
1-900-225-5674 or from the passport agencies.
- Back to Top
-
May I Apply for a
Passport by Mail?
See How to Apply for a
Passport Renewal.
- Back to Top
-
When
Should I Apply for a Passport?
Apply several months in advance of
your planned departure. If you will need visas from foreign embassies,
allow more time.
- Back to Top
-
What Happens to My
Passport Application After I Submit It?
If you apply at a passport
acceptance facility, the same day that you apply, your application will be
sent to Passport Services for processing. Your will receive your passport
within 6 weeks via first class mail. If you apply at a passport agency,
you will receive your passport within 5 weeks (25 business days) via first
class mail. Your passport will be mailed to the mailing address you
provided on your application. If you need your passport sooner, see What If I Need a Passport in a
Hurry?
- Back to Top
-
What Should I Do if
My Passport Is Lost or Stolen?
If your still valid passport is lost or
stolen, you can report the loss when you apply for a new passport. In
addition to Form DS-11, you will need to complete a Form DS-64, "Statement
Regarding a Lost or Stolen Passport." You may also call 202-955-0430,
which has voice mail for nonbusiness hours, Eastern
Time.
If you are abroad, immediately report the loss to local police
authorities and the Consular Section of the nearest U.S. Embassy or
Consulate.
For more information, see How to Replace a Lost
or Stolen Passport.
- Back to Top
-
Do I Need to
Obtain a Separate Passport for My Baby?
Yes. All persons, including newborn
infants, are required to obtain passports in their own names.
Click here for
information on special requirements for children under age 14
- Back to Top
-
What Do I Do if My
Name Changes?
If you need to get a valid passport
amended due to a name change, use Form DS-19. See May I Apply for a Passport by Mail? for
the documentation needed to accompany the form and your current passport
for amendment.
- Back to Top
-
What If I Need a
Passport in a Hurry?
If you are leaving on an emergency
trip, apply in person at the nearest passport agency, presenting your
tickets or airline-generated itinerary, as well as other required items
listed in this publication. to ensure that customers with imminent travel
receive their passports in time for their trips, many passport agencies
are now operating by appointments and are generally serving only those
leaving in less than 14 days. (See the list of passport
agencies for specific details.)
If you do not live near a passport agency, but your overnight delivery
service is reliable, departures within 7 to 10 business days may often be
accommodated by appointments at a nearby passport acceptance facility. You
will need to pay the additional $60 fee for expedited service and include
a self-addressed, prepaid, two-way, overnight delivery envelope. (We have
found that for states not densely populated and/or far from our
Pittsburgh, PA cashiering facility, overnight service is not always
reliable.) For all those customers leaving within 6 or fewer business
days, apply at a passport agency. Whichever way you apply, be sure to
include your departure date and travel plans on your
application.
- Back to Top
-
What Else Should I
Know About Passports?
Before traveling abroad, make a copy of
the identification page so it is easier to get a new passport, should it
be necessary. It is also a good idea to carry two extra passport-size
photos with you.
If you run out of pages before your
passport expires, submit Form DS-19, along with your passport to one of
the passport
agencies. (Please allow time for 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. Check with the
nearest embassy or consulate of the countries that you plan to visit to
find out their entry requirements.
In addition to foreign entry requirements,
U.S. law must be considered. With certain exceptions, it is against U.S.
law for U.S. citizens to enter or leave the country without a valid U.S.
passport. Generally for tourists, the exceptions refer to direct travel
within U.S. territories or between North, South, or Central America
(except Cuba).
- Back to Top
- |
