Passports -- Frequently Asked Questions

Americans who travel to most countries other than our near neighbors (for example, Canada and Mexico) must have a valid passport. In general, it takes about 4-5 weeks to process an application. You can obtain Passport Services and Information, including the location of the nearest Passport Acceptance Agency or Passport Office, by visiting the State Department's Passport Services and Information web site.

First-time passports for adults (persons 16 or older)
Passports for children (persons 15 or younger)
Additional Fees
Passport Renewals
Passport Reissues (for modifications or changes)
Expediting the Process
Status Check
More Information

First-time passports for adults (persons 16 or older)
Where do I apply? In person at your closest Passport Acceptance Agency or Passport Office. To find the office nearest you, please visit the Where to Apply for a Passport Nationwide web site.

What form do I use? Fill out a DSP-11 form , the original of which is brown and white in color.

What else do I need to bring with me? Along with the completed form you are required to provide proof of United States citizenship. This proof may be a State-certified copy of your birth certificate, an old US passport, your naturalization certificate, or a certificate of American citizenship. Along with the proof of citizenship, you have to prove your identity with a photo ID. This proof may be a valid US drivers license (learner permits are not accepted), a military ID, a pilots license, a school ID, or a similar document. If you are 16 or 17 years old, you may also be required to have a parent or guardian with you.

What about the photographs? You must have two identical passport photographs, normally taken within the last 6 months. A detailed description of photograph requirements is on the passport application form. Consult your yellow pages for listings for passport photographers.

How much does it cost and for how long is a passport good? The total fee is $60.00 and the passport is valid for 10 years.

_______back to top

Passports for children (persons 15 or younger)
Who applies for the passport? A parent or guardian.

What documents and other papers are required? Proof of the child's citizenship, 2 passport photographs, a DSP-11 form completed by the parent, and proof of the parent's identity.

How much does it cost and for how long is this passport good? The total fee is $40.00 and the child's passport will be valid for 5 years.

Do the children have to apply in person? Children 12 years old and younger are not required to appear in person at a Passport Acceptance Agency or Passport Office. All others must apply in person and may be required to have a parent or guardian with them.

Can I renew a child's passport? No. If the individual is still not 16 years old when the passport expires, then the same process has to be followed as explained above.

______back to top

Additional Fees
An additional adjudication fee of $100 will be charged to previously undocumented passport customers who were born outside the United States and who have not been issued any of the following documents: a U.S. passport, a consular Report of Birth Abroad, a Certification of Report of Birth, a Certificate of Naturalization or a Certificate of Citizenship.

An additional fee $15 will be charged when, upon request, the Department of State verifies issuance of a previous U.S passport or consular Report of Birth Abroad because the customer is unable to submit evidence of U.S. citizenship.

No fee is charged to applicants with U.S. Government or military authorization for no-fee passports (except designated acceptance facilities may collect an execution fee of $15).

_______back to top

Passport Renewals
What is the deadline for renewal? An expired adult's passport must be renewed no later than 12 years after the issue date.

Is the application form different? Yes. It's a form DSP-82 , the original of which is red and white and is available from Passport Acceptance Agencies and Passport Offices.

What do I submit? The form, the old passport, name change information (if applicable), and new photos.

How much does it cost? The total fee is $40.00.

Do I have to apply in person? No. You should mail the form and the required materials to the address on the back of the form. You should try to reserve personal visits for when you are requesting expedited processing of your application.

_______back to top

Passport Reissues (for modifications or changes)
Is the application form different? Yes. For amendments (name changes, adding pages), it's a form DSP-19.

What do I submit? The form, the old passport, name change information (if applicable), and new photos (if applicable).

How much does it cost? There is no fee for this service unless you require expedited service.

Do I have to apply in person? No. You should mail the form and the required materials to the address on the back of the form. You should try to reserve personal visits for when you are requesting expedited processing of your application.

______back to top

Expediting the Process
Can I get the passport faster? Yes, if you have proof of early departure and pay an additional $35.00 for each expedited passport. Price does not include overnight mail service. Two-way overnight mail is strongly suggested and must be arranged and paid for by the customer.

______back to top

Status Check
How can I check the status of my application and how much will it cost? To check the status of an application you must call the National Passport Information left, at a cost of 35 cents per minute for automated service or $1.05 per minute for operator service. Operators are available from 8:30am to 5:30pm, eastern time Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The number is 1-900-CALL-NPIC (1-900-225-5674), or 1-900-225-7778 for TTY users. Credit card users pay $4.95 per call by dialing 1-888-362-8668 (TTY users dial 1-888-498-3648).

_______back to top

More Information
What if I have another question you haven't answered above? To verify locations of Passport Acceptance Agencies or Passport Offices, to get more information concerning any documentation requirements or expedite procedures, you may call the National Passport Information left (listed above under Status Check) or the Federal Information left toll-free at 1-800-688-9889 ( For TDD/TTY users, call: 1-800-326-2996 ).

_______back to top