Passport application information
How to apply for a U.S. Passport
U.S. passports are issued only to U.S. citizens or
nationals. Each person must obtain his or her own passport.
If you are a First-time applicant, please complete and
submit your application in person. (Applicants under 13 years of age usually need not
appear in person unless requested. A parent or guardian may execute the application on the
child's behalf.) Each application must be accompanies by:
Proof of U.S. Citizenship
Proof of identity
Two photographs
Fees (as explained below) to one of the following acceptance agents:
A clerk of any Federal or State court of record or a judge
or clerk of any probate court accepting applications.
A designated postal employee at a selected post office or
an agent at a Passport Agency in Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Stanford, or Washington,
D.C.; or a U.S. consular official.
If you have had a previous passport, inquire about
eligibility to use Form DSP-82 (mail in application).
Address requests for passport amendment, extension of
validity, or additional visa pages to a Passport Agency or a U.S. Consulate or Embassy
abroad. Check visa requirements with consular officials of countries to be visited well in
advance of your departure.
1. PROOF OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP
(a) Applicants born in the united states. Submit previous
U.S. passport or certified birth certificate. A birth certificate must include your given
name and surname, date and place of birth, date the birth record was filed, and seal or
other certification of the official custodian of such records. A record filed more than 1
year after the birth is acceptable if it is supported by evidence described in the next
paragraph.
IF NO BIRTH RECORD EXISTS, submit registrar's notice to
that effect. Also submit an early baptismal circumcision certificate, hospital birth
record, early census, school, or family Bible records, newspaper or insurance files, or
notarized affidavits of persons having knowledge of your birth (preferable with at least
one record listed above). Evidence should include your given name and surname, date and
place of birth, and seal or other certification of office (if customary) and signature of
issuing official.
(b) Applicants born outside the United States. Submit
previous U.S. passport or Certificate of Naturalization, or Certificate of Citizenship, or
a Report of Birth Abroad, or evidence described below. If you claim citizenship through
naturalization of parents(s), submit the Certificate(s) of Naturalization of your
parent(s), your foreign birth certificate, and proof of your admission to the United
States for permanent residence.
IF YOU CLAIM CITIZENSHIP THROUGH BIRTH ABROAD TO U.S.
CITIZEN PARENT(S), submit a Consular Report of Birth (Form FS-240) or Certification of
Birth (Form DS-1350 or FS-545), or your foreign birth certificate, parents marriage
certificate, proof of citizenship of your parent(s), and affidavit of U. S. citizen
parent(s) showing all periods and places of residence/physical presence in the United
States and abroad before your birth.
2. PROOF OF IDENTITY
If you are not personally known to the acceptance agent,
you must establish your identity to the agents satisfaction. You may submit items such as
the following containing your signature AND physical description or photograph that is a
good likeness ofyou: previous U.S. passport; Certificate of Naturalization or of
Citizenship; drivers license (not temporary or learners license); or government (Federal,
State, municipal identification card or pass. Temporary or altered documents are not
acceptable.
IF YOU CANNOT PROVE YOUR IDENTITY as stated above, you must
appear with an IDENTIFYING WITNESS who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien who
has known you for at least 2 years. Your witness must prove his or her identity and
complete and sign an Affidavit of Identifling Witness (Form DSP-71) before the acceptance
agent. You must also submit some identification of your own.
3. TWO PHOTOGRAPHS
Submit two identical photographs of you alone, sufficiently
recent to be a good likeness (normally taken within the last 6 months), 2x2 inches in
size, with an image size from bottom of chin to top of head (including hair) of between 1
and 1 3/8 inches. Photographs must be clear, front view, full face, taken in normal street
attire without a hat or dark glasses, and printed on thin paper with a plain light (white
or offwhite) background. They may be black and white or color. They must be capable of
withstanding a mounting temperature of 225 Fahrenheit (107 Celsius). Photographs retouched
so that your appearance is changed are unacceptable. Snapshots, most vending machine
prints, and magazine or full-length photographs are unacceptable.
4. FEES
Submit $65 if you are 18 of age or older. The passport fee
is $55. In addition, a fee of $10 is charged for the execution of application. Your
passport will be valid for 10 years from the date of issue except where limited by the
Secretary of State to a shorter period. Submit $40 if you are under 18 years of age. The
passport fee is $30 and execution fee is $10. Your passport will be valid for 5 years from
the date of issue, except where limited as above.
Pay the passport and execution fees in one of the following
forms: checks-personal, certified, travelers; bank draft or cashiers check; money order,
U.S. Postal, international, currency exchange; or if abroad, the foreign currency
equivalent, or a check drawn on a U.S. bank.
Make passport and execution fees payable to Passport
Services (except if applying at a State Court, pay execution fee as the State court
requires) or the appropriate Embassy or Consulate, if abroad. No fee is charged to
applicants with U.S. Government or military authorization for no-fee passports (except
State courts may collect the execution fee). Pay special postage if applicable. |