Passport Office
The Fort Lee Passport Office serves as the primary point of contact in the central Virginia area for current Department of Defense (DoD) employees and military dependents seeking to obtain a United States Official, Diplomatic, or no-fee passport and/or Official visa for DoD business.
All applications for processing of passports or visas will be conducted by appointment only.
- Official and Diplomatic passports are no-fee passports. The Fort Lee Passport Office does not process tourist passports.
- You may only use your no-fee passport when traveling overseas in discharge of your official duties.
- For personal travel, you must use a regular-fee tourist passport.
- You may have both a valid tourist passport and a valid no-fee passport at the same time.
- Dependents authorized to accompany you on official travel must have their own no-fee passports.
Official Passport Application
DoD employees and service members who will travel on official business to a country which requires Official, Diplomatic, or no-fee passports should apply for them at their local military installation. The Fort Lee Passport Office issues passports for official travel at no cost to the employee, service member, or their authorized dependents. Each passport application packet requires the following five items:
Effective February 1, 2008, all DoD applicants are required to fill out a passport application or renewal online. All applications MUST include the 2D barcode which will appear on the left front page when printed.
U.S. passport applications. There are three types of passport applications:
DS-11: Application for a U.S. passport
This form should be used if an applicant never had a U.S. passport or was under the age of 16 at the time the previous U.S. passport was issued. This form is also used if an applicant’s previous U.S. passport was issued more than 15 years ago or if the most recent U.S. passport was lost, stolen, or damaged.
DS-82: U.S. passport renewal application
This form should be used if an applicant is over the age of 16, has a passport issued less than 15 years ago, and uses the same name listed in the most recent U.S. passport.
DS-64: Statement regarding a lost or stolen passport
This form should be submitted with the DS-11 to apply for a new passport book when a valid passport was lost, stolen, altered, or mutilated.
U.S. passport applications require two passport photos of the applicant taken within the last six months in the United States; the photos should reflect the applicant's current appearance.
U.S. passport photographs. Each photo must be 2x2 inches in overall size and between 1 inch and 1-3/8 inches from the top of the head to the bottom of the chin. Photos should meet the following standards:
- Must be taken against a white or off-white background
- No military or law enforcement uniforms
- No hats or headgear unless for religious or medical reasons
- No dark or tinted glasses unless for medical reasons
No-fee passport photos on Fort Lee: Passport photos may be taken at the Passport Office, Building 3400, 1401 B Avenue, Room 113. Many drug stores and pharmacies also take passport photos but charge a fee.
Each applicant must provide official proof of U.S. citizenship. All evidence must be originals; hospital record, copies, and copies certified by a notary public are not acceptable. All evidence will be returned to the applicant with the completed passport.
Examples of U.S. citizenship evidence:
- State or City Issued Birth Certificate:
The Birth Certificate must show the full name of the parent(s); be issued by the office of vital statistics of the state, country, or city where the birth occurred; indicate the date and place of birth; bear the embossed, impressed, multi-colored, or raised seal and signature of the issuing authority; and indicate a registration or file date within one year of birth. - Previous Full-Validity U.S. Passport
Must not be issued more than 15 years previously. - Naturalization Certificate
- Certificate of Citizenship
- U.S. Census Records
- Consular Report of Birth
- Certificate of Citizenship
Each applicant must provide copies of two different forms of photo ID. Copies should be enlarged, in color, and include the front and back of each ID card. All ID cards must be valid.
Applicants under the age of 16 must provide one form of ID from each parent.
Examples of acceptable forms of ID:
- CAC card/dependent ID card
- Driver’s license/State ID card
- Retired DoD ID card
- Old passport (not issued more than 15 years ago)
Family members over the age of 13 must have a valid military dependent ID card in their possession when applying for passports.
Applicants must provide supporting documentation that DoD ordered them to travel overseas on official business. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders will identify the directive for travel to a destination requiring a passport.
The Fort Lee Passport Office will accept dependents’ passport applications prior to approval of command sponsorship, but completed passports will not be issued until the Passport Office receives the approval of the command sponsorship.*
Supporting documentation:
Orders
Orders should include the name, grade/rank, destination, dates of travel, and purpose of the travel.
Alternative documentation in lieu of orders
If applicants have not received their orders yet, they can provide other documentation to justify their need for a no-fee passport:
- EDAS printout with projected assignment
- Request For Orders (RFO)
- ERB/ORB with projected assignment
Memorandum signed by General Officer or Senior Executive Service (SES) equivalent
Any General Officer or SES may request a no-fee passport for an individual. If applicants cannot provide orders or alternative documentation, they can submit a memorandum that requests a no-fee passport and includes a General Officer or SES equivalent’s endorsement.
Supporting documentation to request an expedited passport (under 30 days processing time)
Applicants who require their passport with less than 30 days processing time may submit a memorandum that requests an expedited passport and includes a General Officer or SES endorsement. If approved, the State Department is only required to expedite requests for Active Duty military and DoD Civilians, not authorized dependents.
*If the Passport Office does not receive approval of the command sponsorship within 45 days after the completed passport arrives, the passport will be returned to the State Department for destruction.
Once you have obtained all the required documents, photos, copies, and supporting documentation, you may request an appointment via email or call (804) 765-7615.
Visa Application
Certain countries require a visa for entry or temporary stay. A visa is a stamp or impression placed on a page of a valid passport by a foreign embassy or consulate which grants permission, as of the date issued, to the applicant to enter or remain in that country for a specific period of time. To check if you need a visa, please see the Foreign Clearance Guide.
