Info on getting a passport

For quicker service in obtaining a passport, you may find that a number of U.S. Post Offices and County Clerk offices can help you get your passport.

Follow these instructions for getting to know what’s required and preparing your envelope to ship if:

• You are applying for a new passport/child passport for the first time, or:
• You are applying for a minor (under 16), or:
• Your passport was issued more than 15 years ago, or:
• Your passport was issued before you turned 16.

Follow these steps and include this information in the package

Important note: In some of the steps below, a U.S. government form needed for completion of this process will be opened in a new browser tab (or window). When you complete this online form, print it, then close that tab or window, and you’ll be right back here to continue the process.

First fill out, then print the online U.S. Department of State passport application form DS-82. You’ll need to click the “Create” button after you’ve completed it there, and then you need to print it for inclusion in the package. Note: Please make sure to mark US Passport Book and not US Passport Card when filling out the form.

Check/money order made payable to “US Department of State” for its current fee (see schedule).

Two Passport Photographs taken by a passport photographer: Passport Photograph Regulations.

Original Certified Birth Certificate (a certified copy (which we can help you quickly obtain), a naturalization certificate or the most recent passport. If applying for a child passport and you are providing a previous passport for your child, you must include a certified birth certificate in addition to the previous passport to prove who the child’s parents are.

Valid Picture Driver’s License issued more than six (6) months ago. If your Driver’s License has been issued or renewed in the last six (6) months, you will need to provide at least three (3) personal documents.

For child passports, refer here.

Both parents must appear with the child at the acceptance agent when expediting the sealed envelope.

For All Minors Under Age 16:

• Each minor child shall appear in person.
• All applications for children under 16 require both parents’ or legal guardians’ consent.

For Minors under Age 16 you must establish proof of citizenship AND proof of relationship. Previous U.S. passports are not acceptable as proof of relationship to the applying parent(s)/guardian(s).

You will need to submit one of the following:

• Certified U.S. birth certificate (with parents’ names); or
• Certified Foreign Birth Certificate (with parents’ names and translation, if necessary); or
• Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) (with parents’ names); or
  Certification of Birth Abroad (Form DS-1350) (with parents’ names); or
• Adoption Decree (with adopting parents’ names); or
• Court Order Establishing Custody; or
• Court Order Establishing Guardianship.

If both parents cannot be present, then form DS-3503 must be filled out by the absent parent, and the DS-3053 needs to be included in your sealed envelope. (The DS-3053 needs to be notarized with a copy of the absent parent’s driver’s license.)

For All Minors Ages 16-17:

• Each minor child shall appear in person.
• For security reasons, parental consent may be requested.
• If your child does not have identification of his/her own, you need to accompany your child and present identification. (see above)

Local Acceptance Appearance: Every person must appear in person, which will either be a special post office or county clerk’s office. You will need to show the items listed above, which will then be put into a government sealed envelope.

First, your passport must have been issued within the past 15 years or less to renew it, and you had to be 16 years of age or older.

Important note: In Step 1, a U.S. government form needed for completion of this process will be opened in a new browser tab (or window). When you complete this online form, print it, then close that tab or window.

Step 1. Fill out, then print the online U.S. Department of State passport application form DSP-82 Note: Please make sure to mark US Passport Book and not US Passport Card when filling out the form. If this form is not included in your package, your passport will be delayed.

Step 2. Government Fee – $170.00 No temporary checks will be accepted by the passport office. You can use a money order in place of a temporary check. You can write one check for the governments fee.

Step 3. Your expired passport.

Step 4. Two passport photographs taken by a passport photographer

Step 5. To have your passport expedited, you will also need proof of departure, which will be ONE of the following:

• a) copy of airline tickets, or;
• b) travel itinerary, or;
• c) Company Letter of Expedite (click for sample)

Important note: In some steps, a U.S. government form needed for completion of this process will be opened in a new browser tab (or window). When you complete the online form, print it, then close that tab or window, and you’ll be right back here to continue the process.

Step 1. Fill out, then print the online U.S. Department of State passport application form DS-11 (opens in new tab/browser window so you keep your place here). You’ll need to click the “Create” button after you’ve completed it there, and then you must print it for inclusion in this package. Note: Please make sure to mark US Passport Book and not US Passport Card when filling out the form.

Step 2. DS-64 gray lost/stolen form (must complete U.S. Gov’t online form)

Step 3. Original Certified Birth Certificate, or naturalization certificate, or the most recent passport.

Step 4. Two Passport Photographs taken by a passport photographer Passport Photograph Regulations.

Step 5. Valid Picture Driver’s License issued more than 6 months ago. If your Driver’s License has been issued or renewed in the last 6 months, you will need to provide at least three personal documents.

Step 6. To have your passport expedited, you will also need proof of departure. It is comprised of any ONE of the following:

• a) copy of your airline tickets; or
• b) travel itinerary; or
• c) Company Letter of Expedite (see sample).

Note: If your passport runs out of pages, you need to follow the renewal instructions above.

Since 2016, the government now requires the obtaining of a renewed passport if you run out of pages to stamp. See: U.S. Department of State passport Extra Pages form DSP-4085 for more information.

Depending on if you have a passport that expires within a year or not, the procedure varies.

For a passport expiring within the next year, you follow one proceedure.

If your passport has more than a year left, there is aanother procedure.

Either way, more information on what to do can be found here.

In some rare cases, a person can get a second passport for limited uses. More information can be found here.

Follow the instructions below if you were issued a passport that had a validity that is shorter than the full validity, such as for five years.

Most of these will be if you lost your passport while overseas or did not have a certified birth certificate when you applied for your passport.

For more information, go here:.