What are the 5 main steps you need to complete to apply for a passport?

Before initiating the application steps, we recommend you check the criteria listed below to verify if a new passport service is what you need. If so, you will find a complete list of requirements and step-by-step instructions to assist you in the process of obtaining a new U.S. passport.

Completing and sending in the wrong form can lead to delays. Take a few seconds to see who should use Form DS-11 in order to apply for a new passport.

Use Form DS-11 if any of the following apply:

• 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 significantly 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.

In a hurry? Click here to expedite a new passport in 24 to 48 hours.

1

Complete Application Form DS-11

There are two ways to complete application Form DS-11. One, you can fill out the passport application online and then print it. Two, you can download application Form DS-11 in PDF format, print a copy and complete it offline. Those who choose the latter option should print each page on a separate sheet of paper and use black ink to complete the form and write as legibly as possible. Illegible answers can lead to delays in the process or printing errors in your passport.

At the head of the application form is a space for you to check whether you want to obtain a passport book, a passport card or both. U.S. citizens can possess both a book and a card at the same time. Be aware that the card can only be used for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. If you are applying for a passport book, you can choose between a standard, 28-page passport book or a non-standard 52-page one. Choose the latter if you travel abroad frequently.

You must provide a Social Security number in accordance with 22 U.S.C. 2714a and 22 C.F.R 51.60(f). If you do not have a Social Security number, you must submit a signed statement including the phrase, "I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct: I have never been issued a Social Security Number by the Social Security Administration."

The remaining questions on the application form request personal information such as full name, address, telephone number, email address, and the like. The form has a section for information about your travel plans. Keep in mind though that you are not required to have immediate travel plans in order to obtain a passport. Note, you should not sign the application until asked to do so by an acceptance agent.

Download Application Form DS-11
Complete Application Form Online

2

Gather Supporting Documents

Several supporting documents are required when submitting Form DS-11 to obtain a passport. It is very important to understand the specific requirements for each supporting document in order to avoid delays in the process and get your travel document in the fastest time possible. The list of supporting documents include:

The document that you submit as evidence of United States citizenship has to be an original or a certified copy. The document will be returned to you although it may arrive on a different day from your new passport. Using a protective package and a traceable delivery method will help ensure that your documents arrive safely.

3

Visit Application Acceptance Facility

An Acceptance Agent will look over the completed Form DS-11 and supporting documents as well as administer an oath and witness as you sign the application. Payment for the new passport application fee is payable to the U.S. Department of State and sent with the completed form and supporting documents. The execution fee is paid to the Acceptance Agent.

See Also: Tips on applying for a passport at a post office

How Long Does It Take to Get a New US Passport?

Can't wait two weeks or more to get your passport? Obtaining a United States passport faster can be accomplished in one of the following ways. One, you can apply at a regional passport agency. There are 25 agencies located in major cities of the United States. While applicants are usually required to make an appointment, walk-ins who have urgent travel needs are welcome. The same documents listed above are required. Applications are processed in 5 days to as fast as the same day.

A second method to obtain a U.S. passport quickly is to employ the assistance of a qualified passport expediting courier service. Through an expediter, you can have your new passport delivered to you in 24-48 hours. Travel document expediting services can do this because they have a special relationship with the regional agencies that give them priority status. They can also obtain travel visas if you require them for your trip abroad.

Top 5 Questions About Expedited Passport Couriers

Expedite Your Passport Now!

Need more help? Visit our passport FAQ page or use the search box below.

A passport is a travel and identification document accepted by governments around the world. You need a passport to enter and return to the United States from most countries, and it's worth getting, even if you don't have any upcoming travel planned. It's usually better to get a passport through the U.S. government and not a commercial passport application agency; even if you need to get a passport fast, they won't speed up the process any more than you can.

• Passport application forms
• Proof of U.S. citizenship
• Proof of your identity
• Two current photographs
• Your social security number
• Applicable fee payment method

The first step requires you to download the relevant U.S. government forms. You can grab a passport application from any U.S. post office or download the passport application forms online and print them out from home. 

If printing, note this advice from the government: "The forms...must be printed in black print on white paper. The paper must be 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches, with no holes or perforations, at least medium (20 lb.) weight, and a matte surface. Thermal paper, dye-sublimation paper, special inkjet paper, and other shiny papers are not acceptable."

Once you have the passport application form in hand, start reading the instructions printed on the first and second pages. Complete page three using this information, and then read page four for further details on filling in the form. 

Next, you need to gather proof of your American citizenship, in the form of any one of the following, according to the U.S. Department of State.

• Certified U.S. birth certificate issued by the city, county, or state (not a copy). Call the state's government in which you were born to get an official version with a notary's seal. Know that the birth certificate must list the full name(s) of your parent(s). If you don't have a birth certificate, you can still get a passport.
• Records of birth abroad if you weren't born in the United States
• Naturalization certificate
• Certificate of citizenship

Be prepared to prove your identity with any one of these:

• Previous U.S. passport (altered or damaged passports are not accepted)
• Naturalization certificate
• Certificate of citizenship
• Current, valid driver's license
• Government ID: city, state, or federal
• Military ID: military and dependents

Get two passport photos taken to submit with your application. In your photos, you should make sure to wear your regular, everyday clothes (no uniforms) and nothing on your head. If you usually wear glasses or other items that alter your appearance, wear them. Look straight ahead and don't smile. You can get your U.S. passport photos taken at the post office—they'll know the drill and requirements. If you get passport photos taken elsewhere, read up first on passport photo requirements to make sure they'll qualify.

Prepare to pay the application and execution fees; get those dollar amounts online as they change periodically. As of 2021, first-time adult passports cost $165, and adult renewals cost $130. Minor passports for those under age 16 are $135. You can receive expedited processing for an extra $60 plus overnight fees. Check with the location where you'll be applying to find what payment methods are accepted, and then gather the money for payment.

Find the passport office location nearest you (it might just be the post office). Hand in your completed forms, passport photos, and money for the passport. Provide your departure date for your next trip, and you can then expect to receive your U.S. passport in two weeks to two months. For an additional fee of $60 plus overnight delivery fees, you can rush a U.S. passport application, and you may even be able to get a passport on the same day that you apply.

Beginning about a week after you submit your application, you can check your application's status online to see when your passport might arrive.

• The U.S. passport fee is $165 if you are 16 and older, and the U.S. passport is good for 10 years.
• The U.S. passport fee is $135 if you are under 16, and the new passport is good for five years.
• Some countries require that your passport be valid for six months after you leave that country to return to the U.S. Make sure you apply for a new one while you have plenty of valid months left on it. 
• Remember that you need a passport or other WHTI-compliant document to travel back to the U.S. from Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
• Leave a copy of your passport at home, and email a copy to yourself with other important travel documents. If you lose your passport overseas, having a copy will make getting a temporary or replacement passport far easier.
• Note that passport books are different than passport cards.