A common question is how to get a passport. Here is some information I found on the U.S. State Department website:
How to Apply in Person for a Passport
Should You Apply In Person?
| You are applying for a U.S. passport for the first time. |
Yes |
|
Your previous U.S. passport was lost, stolen, or damaged. |
Yes |
|
Your previous U.S. passport has expired & was issued more than 15 years ago. |
Yes |
|
Your previous passport has expired and it was issued when you were under 16. |
Yes |
|
Your name has changed since your passport was issued and you do not have a legal document formally changing your name. |
Yes |
NOTE:
All persons must have their own passports, including infants.
For All Minors Under Age 14 :
- Each minor child shall appear in person.
- All applications for children under 14 require both parents’ or legal guardians’ consent.
( See Special Requirements for Children Under Age 14 )
For All Minors Ages 14 to 17:
- Each minor child shall appear in person.
- For security reasons, parental consent may be requested.
- If your child does not have identification of his/her own, you need to accompany your child and
present identification. - Follow instructions below.
To Apply in Person for a U.S. Passport
You MUST:
| 1. Provide Application for Passport, Form DS-11 |
NOTE: Please do NOT sign the DS-11 application form until the Passport Acceptance Agent instructs you to do so. |
| 2. Present Proof of U.S. Citizenship |
|
All documentation submitted as evidence of U.S. Citizenship will be returned with the issued passport. See Processing Times. You may prove U.S. Citizenship with any one of the following:
NOTE: A certified birth certificate has a registrar’s raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, registrar’s signature,
A Delayed Birth Certificate filed more than one year after your birth may be acceptable if it:
If you do NOT have a previous U.S. passport or a certified birth certificate, you will need:
NOTES: These documents must be early public records showing the date and place of birth, preferably created within the first five years of your life. You may also submit an Affidavit of Birth, form DS-10, from an older blood relative, i.e., a parent, aunt, uncle, sibling, If you were born abroad AND do not have a Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certificate of Birth on file, you will need:
NOTE: The following are NOT proof of citizenship
We have new information on foreign-born children adopted by U.S. citizens. NOTE: If you travel extensively, you may request a larger, 48-page passport at no additional cost. To do so, please attach a signed FOR MINORS UNDER THE AGE OF 14: The citizenship evidence submitted for minors under the age of 14 must list both parents’ names. Read more information on the citizenship requirements for minors under the age of 14. |
| 3. Present Proof of Identity |
|
You may prove your identity with any one of these, if you are recognizable:
NOTE: Your Social Security Card does NOT prove your identity. If none of these are available , you will need:
FOR MINORS UNDER THE AGE OF 14: Each minor child shall appear in person. Both parents or legal guardians must present evidence of identity when they apply FOR MINORS 14 to 17:
|
| 4. Provide Two Passport Photos |
Your photographs must be:
Click here for information on acceptable digitized photos. Click here for detailed information for professional photographers. NOTE:Vending machine photos are not generally acceptable |
| 5. Pay the Applicable Fee |
| Click here to see passport fees.
Methods of Payment - Both fees and the surcharge are combined into one payment to the ”U.S. Department of State”:
Note: If abroad, U.S. Embassies and Consulates accept the foreign currency equivalent, or a check drawn on a U.S. bank. At our over 7,000 Passport Acceptance Facilities - You pay the passport application fee and the security surcharge to the ”U.S. Department of State” and the execution fee For Passport Application Fee:
For Execution Fee:
Expedite Fee: (See How to Get Your Passport in a Hurry.) |
| 6. Provide a Social Security Number |
|
If you do not provide your Social Security Number, the Internal Revenue Service may impose a $500 penalty. If you have any |
As far as where to apply for a passport, you can go to http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/. Type in your zip code, and it will give you a list of places where you can apply. Many post offices now take passport applications. Be aware that in most places, you must first make an appointment.
Hopefully this has answered the question of how to get a passport.

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