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The Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs
has prepared this publication to assist you in applying
for your U.S. passport. This guide provides information
on how, when and where to apply for your passport.
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Other than at passport agencies, where
can I apply for a passport?
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When do I have to apply in person?
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What do I need to do to apply for
a passport in person?
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Where can I get passport forms?
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May I apply for a passport by mail?
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When should I apply for a passport?
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What happens to my passport application
after I submit it?
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What should I do if my passport is
lost or stolen?
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Do I need to obtain a separate passport
for my baby?
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What do I do if my name changes?
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What else should I know about passports?
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What if I need a passport in a hurry?
Other Than
at Passport Agencies, Where Can I Apply for a Passport?
You can apply for a passport at over
4,500 passport acceptance facilities nationwide that
include many Federal, state and probate courts, many post
offices, some libraries and a number of county and municipal
offices. These designated acceptance facilities are usually
more convenient because they are near your home or workplace.
(Most of the 13 passport agencies are designated to serve
only those departing urgently and appointments are required.
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When Do I
Have to Apply in Person?
You must always apply in person if you are 13 or older
and if you do not meet all of the requirements for renewing
a previous passport by mail. (See May I
Apply for a Passport by Mail?)
Usually, for children age 12 and under, only a parent or
legal guardian need appear to apply for a passport on behalf
of a child.
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What Do I
Need to Do to Apply for a Passport in Person?
See How
to Apply in Person for a Passport.
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Where Can
I Get Passport Forms?
Passport acceptance facilities stock passport forms. (See
Other Than at Passport Agencies, Where
Can I Apply for a Passport? Passport forms can also
be downloaded from the Internet at http://travel.state.gov
or obtained by calling the National Passport Information
Center at 1-900-225-5674 or from the passport
agencies.
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May I Apply
for a Passport by Mail?
See How
to Apply for a Passport Renewal.
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When
Should I Apply for a Passport?
Apply several months in advance of your planned departure.
If you will need visas from foreign embassies, allow more
time.
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What Happens
to My Passport Application After I Submit It?
If you apply at a passport acceptance facility, the same
day that you apply, your application will be sent to Passport
Services for processing. Your will receive your passport
within 6 weeks via first class mail. If you apply at a passport
agency, you will receive your passport within 5 weeks (25
business days) via first class mail. Your passport will
be mailed to the mailing address you provided on your application.
If you need your passport sooner, see What
If I Need a Passport in a Hurry?
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What Should
I Do if My Passport Is Lost or Stolen?
If your passport is lost or stolen report the loss on Form
DSP-64, when you apply in person for your new passport.
If you are abroad, report the loss immediately to local
police authorities and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
Remember to write your current address in pencil in the
space provided in your passport, so that, if it is found,
it can be returned to you. For more information, see
How
to Replace a Lost or Stolen Passport.
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Do I Need
to Obtain a Separate Passport for My Baby?
Yes. All persons, including newborn infants, are required
to obtain passports in their own names.
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What Do I
Do if My Name Changes?
If you need to get a valid passport amended due to a name
change, use Form DSP-19. See May I Apply
for a Passport by Mail? for the documentation needed
to accompany the form and your current passport for amendment.
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What If I
Need a Passport in a Hurry?
If you are leaving on an emergency trip, apply in person
at the nearest passport agency, presenting your tickets
or airline-generated itinerary, as well as other required
items listed in this publication. to ensure that customers
with imminent travel receive their passports in time for
their trips, many passport agencies are now operating by
appointments and are generally serving only those leaving
in less than 14, or less than 21 days. (See the list
of passport agencies for specific details.)
If you do not live near a passport agency, but your overnight
delivery service is reliable, departures within 7 to 10
business days may often be accommodated by appointments
at a nearby passport acceptance facility. You will need
to pay the additional $35 fee for expedited service and
include a self-addressed, prepaid, two-way, overnight delivery
envelope. (We have found that for states not densely populated
and/or far from our Pittsburgh, PA cashiering facility,
overnight service is not always reliable.) For all those
customers leaving within 6 or fewer business days, apply
at a passport agency. Whichever way you apply, be sure to
include your departure date and travel plans on your application.
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What Else
Should I Know About Passports?
Before traveling abroad, make a copy of the identification
page so it is easier to get a new passport, should it be
necessary. It is also a good idea to carry two extra passport-size
photos with you.
If you run out of pages before your passport expires, submit
Form DSP-19, along with your passport to one of the passport
agencies. (Please allow time for processing of the request.)
If you travel abroad frequently, you may request a 48-page
passport at the time of application.
Some countries require that your passport be valid at least
6 months beyond the dates of your trip. Check with the nearest
embassy or consulate of the countries that you plan to visit
to find out their entry requirements.
In addition to foreign entry requirements, U.S. law must
be considered. With certain exceptions, it is against U.S.
law for U.S. citizens to enter or leave the country without
a valid U.S. passport. Generally for tourists, the exceptions
refer to direct travel within U.S. territories or between
North, South, or Central America (except Cuba).
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