Passport
Information
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.
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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Travel.
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