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.