Share ThisHow to Apply for a Passport in the U.S.
A valid passport is the only legal form of identification accepted around the world. You can’t cross an international border without this government-issued document. Although applying for a passport is easy, the wait to receive your official credentials requires patience.
Allow plenty of time before your trip to apply for a passport; processing normally takes three weeks, but it can take longer during busy periods (especially spring).
If you’re applying for a first-time passport, follow these steps:
Complete a passport application in person at a U.S. passport office; a federal, state, or probate court; or a major post office.
To find your regional passport office, either check the U.S. State Department passport Web site or call the National Passport Information Center (877-487-2778) for automated information.
Present a certified birth certificate as proof of citizenship.
Also expect to present acceptable identification at time of application. Bring along your driver’s license, state or military ID, or Social Security card.
Submit two identical passport-size photos, measuring 2 inches by 2 inches in size.
Lots of different businesses offer passport picture-taking services. In the United States, some post office branches and many photo centers within drugstore chains charge nominal fees to take your picture and process your passport photos.
You can’t use a strip from a photo-vending machine because the pictures aren’t identical. You may submit digital photos that have been printed on your printer at home, but they must meet the same requirements for all passport photographs. In addition, the digital photographs must have a continuous-tone image that looks very photo-like; grainy-looking photos composed of visible dots are not acceptable.
Pay the passport application fee.
For people 16 and older, a passport is valid for ten years and costs $100. For those 15 and younger, a passport is valid for five years and costs $85.
If you have a passport in your current name that was issued within the past 15 years and you were older than 16 when it was issued, you can renew the passport by mail for $75. Whether you’re applying in person or by mail, you can download passport applications from the U.S. State Department passport Web site.
American Passport Express (800-455-5166) is a service that can expedite the processing of your first-time passport application. Using this service, and paying the appropriate fees, you can receive your passport in as little as 24 hours.
