How to Apply for the First Time (In Person)

YOU MUST APPLY IN PERSON IF:

You are applying for your first U.S. passport or You are under age 16 or Your previous U.S. passport was issued when you were under age 16 or Your previous U.S. passport was lost, stolen, or damaged or Your previous U.S. passport was issued more than 15 years ago or Your name has changed since your U.S. passport was issued and you are unable to legally document your name change

Before You Start, Please Note:

• Special Requirements for All Minors Under Age 16
• Special Requirements for All Minors Ages 16 & 17
• Special Requirements for Diplomatic, Official, & Regular No-Fee Passports
  

STEPS TO SUBMITTING A U.S. PASSPORT APPLICATION IN PERSON:

Read and understand Steps 1-5 before leaving this page.

STEP 1: Complete and Submit Form DS-11: Application For A U.S. Passport

Complete Form DS-11: Application for a U.S. Passport. To submit Form DS-11, you:

• Must apply in person at an Acceptance Facility or Passport Agency
• Must include the additional documentation required by Form DS-11 (See Steps 2-5)
• Must not sign the application until instructed to do so by the Acceptance Agent
• Must provide your Social Security number

STEP 2: Submit Evidence of U.S. Citizenship

When applying for a U.S. passport in person, evidence of U.S. citizenship must be submitted with Form DS-11. All documentation submitted as citizenship evidence will be returned to you. These documents will be delivered with your newly issued U.S. passport or in a separate mailing.

Primary Evidence of U.S. Citizenship (One of the following):

Previously issued, undamaged U.S. Passport Certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state* Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth  Naturalization Certificate  Certificate of Citizenship

*A certified birth certificate has a registrar's raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, registrar’s signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar's office, which must be within 1 year of your birth. Please note, some short (abstract) versions of birth certificates may not be acceptable for passport purposes.

NOTE: If you do not have primary evidence of U.S. citizenship or your U.S. birth certificate does not meet the requirements, please see Secondary Evidence of U.S. Citizenship.

STEP 3: Present Identification  

When applying for a U.S. passport in person, acceptable identification must be presented at the time of application.

Primary Identification (One of the following):

Previously issued, undamaged U.S. passport  Naturalization Certificate  Valid Driver's License  Current Government ID (city, state or federal)  Current Military ID (military and dependents)

NOTE: If you do not have primary identification, please see Secondary Identification.

STEP 4: Pay the Applicable Fee

Please see Current Passport Fees and methods of payment.

STEP 5: Provide Two Passport Photos

We can help you submit clear and correctly exposed passport photos the first time - especially when applying for the U.S. Passport Card. See Quality Requirements for Passport Book & Passport Card Photographs to avoid photo processing delays.

Your Photographs Must Be:

• Identical
• In color
• 2 x 2 inches in size
• Taken within the past 6 months, showing current appearance
• Full face, front view with a plain white or off-white background
• Between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head
• Taken in normal street attire:
  • Uniforms should not be worn in photographs except religious attire that is worn daily
  • Do not wear a hat or headgear that obscures the hair or hairline
  • If you normally wear prescription glasses, a hearing device, wig or similar articles, they should be worn for your picture
  • Dark glasses or nonprescription glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable unless you need them for medical reasons (a medical certificate may be required)
    
    

NOTES:

• Vending machine photos are not generally acceptable
• See Digitized Passport Photos for information on acceptable digital photos
  
• Professional photographers see Guidelines for Producing High Quality Photographs for U.S. Travel Documents

NEED A U.S. PASSPORT IMMEDIATELY?

You should make an appointment to be seen at a Regional Passport Agency only if:

• The U.S. passport is needed in less than 2 weeks for international travel
• The U.S. passport is needed within 4 weeks to obtain a foreign visa

Contact the National Passport Information Center to make an appointment or locate a Passport Agency.

 

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