Other Than at Passport Agencies, Where Can I Apply for a Passport?

You can apply for a passport at many Federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices, and some post offices.

Over 2500 courts and 1100 post offices in the United States accept passport applications. Courts, county/municipal offices and post offices are usually more convenient because they are near your home or your place of business. You save time and money by not having to travel to one of the 13 major U.S. cities where passport agencies are located.

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 the requirements for applying by mail. (See "May I Apply for a Passport by Mail?")
Usually, for children under 13, only a parent or legal guardian need appear to execute a passport application.

What Do I Need to Do to Apply for a Passport at a Courthouse or Post Office?

Go to a courthouse, county/municipal office, or post office authorized to accept passport applications and complete the DSP-11 application form, but do not sign it until instructed to do so.

You must present:

1. PROOF OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP

That is...

- a previous U.S. passport, or

- if you were born in the U.S., a certified copy of your birth certificate issued by the state, city, or county of your birth (a certified copy will have a registrar's raised, embossed, impressed, or multicolored seal and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar's office).

If you have neither a U.S. passport nor a certified birth certificate issued in the U.S....

- bring a notice from the registrar of the state where you were born that indicates no birth record exists;

- also, bring as many as possible of the following: a baptismal certificate, hospital birth record, early Census, early school record, or family Bible record. (To be considered, these documents must show your full name and date and place of birth.);

- also, bring a notarized affidavit completed by an older blood relative who has personal knowledge of your birth.

- if you were born abroad, bring a Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship, Report of Birth Abroad of a U.S. Citizen, or a Certification of Birth (Form FS-545 or DS-1350). If you do not have these documents, check with the passport acceptance agent for documents that can be used in their place.

2. TWO PHOTOGRAPHS

Photographs must be recent (taken within the past six months), identical, 2x2 inches, and either color or black/white; they must show a front view, full face, on a plain, light (white or off-white) background. (Vending machine photographs are not acceptable.)

3. PROOF OF IDENTITY

That is...

- a previous U.S. passport, a Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship, a valid driver's license, government or military ID.

4. FEES

- $60 for a ten-year passport (age 16 and older);

- $40 for a five-year passport (under 16)

These amounts include a $15 execution fee. Make your check or money order payable to Passport Services. Post offices (and passport agencies) accept cash, but courts are not required to do so. If you must have your passport in less than 25 business days, you will need to pay an additional $35 expedite fee to ensure urgent handling. (See "What If I Need a Passport in a Hurry?.")

5. SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

Although a Social Security number is not required for issuance of a passport, Section 6039E of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 requires that passport applicants provide this information. Passport Services gives this information to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) routinely. Any applicant who fails to provide the information is subject to a $500 penalty enforced by the IRS. Questions on this matter should be referred to the nearest IRS office.

Where Can I Get Passport Forms?

Passport forms are available from passport agencies, many post offices, clerks of court, county/municipal offices, and travel agencies or by calling the National Passport Information Center at 1-900-225-5674 (See "Passport Agencies" section for more information).

They can also be downloaded via the Internet at http://travel.state.gov/download_applications.html

May I Apply for a Passport by Mail?

Yes, if you already have a passport and that passport is your most recent one, and it was issued within the past 12 years, and if you were over age 16 when it was issued.

Obtain DSP-82 "Application For Passport By Mail." Fill it out, sign, and date it.

Attach to it:

- your most recent passport;

- two identical passport photographs (See previous section on passport photographs.);

- and a $40 fee, and if applicable, a $35 expedite fee for urgent service. (See "What If I Need a Passport in a Hurry?" ) Make your check or money order payable to Passport Services. (The $15 execution fee is waived for those eligible to apply by mail.)

If your name changed, enclose a certified copy of the Court Order, Adoption Decree, Marriage Certificate, or Divorce Decree specifying another name for you to use. (Photocopies will not be accepted.) If your name has changed by any other means, you must apply in person.

Mail (if possible, in a padded envelope) the completed DSP-82 application and attachments to:

National Passport Center
P.O. Box 371971
Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7971

Your previous passport will be returned to you with your new passport.

If you wish to use an overnight service, and the service of your choice will not deliver to a post office box, send it to:

Mellon Bank
Attn: Passport Supervisor 371971
3 Mellon Bank Center, Rm. 153-2723
Pittsburgh, PA 15259-0001

Include the appropriate fee for overnight return of your passport. Please note that overnight service will not speed up processing time unless payment for expedited service is also included. (See " What If I Need a Passport in a Hurry? ")

Note: *If your passport has been mutilated, altered or damaged , you cannot apply by mail. You must apply in person using Form DSP-11, present evidence of U.S. citizenship, and acceptable identification. (If you mutilate or alter your U.S. passport, you may render it invalid and expose yourself to possible prosecution under the law (Section 1543 of Title 22 of the U.S. Code).)

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.

What Happens to My Passport Application After I Submit It?

If you apply at a passport acceptance facility, the day that you apply, your application will be sent to Passport Services for processing.
Your passport will be issued within 25 business days after receipt of complete applications by Passport Services.
Your passport will be sent to you by mail at the address you provided on your application.

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 the space provided in your passport, so that, if it is found, it can be returned to you.

What Else Should I Know About Passports?

All persons, including newborn infants, are required to obtain passports in their own name.

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 required.)

Before traveling abroad, make a copy of the identification page so it 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 listed on the last page. (Please allow time for the 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 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 to enter or leave the country without a valid passport. Generally for tourists, the exceptions refer to direct travel within U.S. territories or between North, South, or Central America (except Cuba).

What If I Need a Passport in a Hurry?

If you are leaving on an emergency trip within five working days, apply in person at the nearest passport agency and present your tickets or itinerary from an airline, as well as the other required items. Or, apply at a court house, county or municipal office, or post office and have the application sent to the passport agency through an overnight delivery service of your choice (include a self-addressed, prepaid envelope for the overnight return of the passport). Be sure to include dates of departure and travel plans on your application and all fees (including the $35 expedite fee).

PASSPORT AGENCIES

Nationwide Passport Office Search

Apply Early For Your Passport!

For more information, contact the National Passport Information Center (NPIC). The NPIC is the only public telephone number for passport information. Callers can dial 1-900-225-5674* to receive passport applications, information on applying for a U.S. passport, or to check on the status of a passport application, or emergency passport procedures. Automated information is available 24-hours/day, 7 days/week. Operators can be reached Monday-Friday, excluding Federal holidays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Standard time. Services are provided in English, Spanish, and by TDD (1-900-225-7778*).

*The cost per minute for 1-900 service is $.35 for recorded information and $1.05 for operator assisted calls. This service also includes an optional number, 1-888-362-8668 (TDD 1-888-498-3648), for those calling from telephones with blocked 1-900 service. These calls require a credit card for payment of a flat rate of $4.95 per call.

Department of State Publication 10527
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Revised February 1998