Step 1: Check to see if a passport is required for your trip 

Step 2: Apply for or renew your passport

Apply for a new passport
If you have international travel plans in the next year and have not applied for a passport, it's a good idea to do so as soon as possible. You can choose between routine service and expedited service (with a fee) depending on when you will be traveling. Click here to check the latest passport processing times and choose the best option for you.

To obtain a passport for the first time, you need to go in person to one of over 9,000 passport acceptance facilities located throughout the United States with two photographs of yourself meeting passport requirements, proof of U.S. citizenship, and a valid form of photo identification such as a driver's license.

To learn more, please visit the State Department's Passport Website.

Renew your passport
You can renew your passport by mail if: you have your most recent passport and it is not damaged; you received the passport within the past 15 years; you were over age 16 when it was issued; you still have the same name, or can legally document your name change. Download the passport renewal application.

If your passport has been altered or damaged, you must apply for a new passport in person.

To learn more, please visit the State Department's How to Renew a Passport page.

Step 3: Check on passports that have not arrived

Track your passport application here

Please note: Due to the high volume of applications, it currently takes 7-10 days for passport applications to be tracked online.

Getting passports for trips scheduled in the next six weeks
If you have an international trip scheduled in the next six weeks and have not received your passport, there are a couple of options available to you:

National Passport Information Center
The National Passport Information Center (NPIC) can help individuals with travel plans scheduled in the next two weeks by checking on the status of your application, making a request to expedite processing, as well as scheduling an appointment with a Regional Passport Agency. You can contact the NPIC toll-free at (877) 487-2778 or (888) 874-7793 (TDD) or visit them online.   

Contact My Office
My office may also be able to assist you in receiving your passport in a timely manner. If you have not received your passport and your trip is scheduled in the next six weeks, please contact my Terre Haute District Office at (812) 232-0523. To assist you, my staff will need the full name/s, social security number/s, date/s of birth, and passport locator number/s (if available) for each person seeking a passport.

Travelers Tip:
Every foreign government has different requirements for entry. For instance, some countries require a VISA while others do not. Be sure to visit the State Department's International Travel Website to find out what you'll need for your trip.