You must apply for a US passport in person with Form DS-11 if you are applying for the first time, you are under 16, or your last passport doesn’t qualify for renewal. The application fee is $130 for an adult passport book, plus a $35 acceptance fee paid at the facility.
A passport application is a paperwork test more than a form-filling task. The form itself is short. Gathering an original birth certificate, a photo ID, clean photocopies and a compliant photo takes longer, and one missing item can stall a first application. This guide lists every document, every fee and every deadline in the order you’ll need them. Fees and steps were checked against State Department pages (fees last updated March 19, 2026, processing times updated October 5, 2026). If your passport is already valid and close to expiry, read our passport renewal guide instead.
Who Must Apply for a Passport in Person?
First-time applicants, children under 16 and anyone who fails the mail-renewal rules must apply in person. Mail renewal with Form DS-82 is only for adults whose last passport was issued within the last 15 years, at age 16 or older, in their current name and in undamaged condition.
You apply in person with Form DS-11 in these cases:
- You have never held a US passport.
- Your last passport was issued before you turned 16.
- Your last passport was issued more than 15 years ago.
- Your passport is damaged beyond normal wear, lost or stolen.
- Your name changed and you can’t document the change.
- You are under 16, even if you had a passport before.
Applicants aged 16 and 17 also apply in person for their first adult passport, which is valid for 10 years. A child’s passport is valid for 5 years and can’t be renewed, so every new child’s passport is a fresh in-person application.
What Documents Do You Need for a Passport Application?
Bring Form DS-11, original proof of citizenship, a photo ID, photocopies of both and one passport photo. All items must be physical, because the State Department doesn’t accept digital copies of a birth certificate and doesn’t accept digital IDs or mobile driver’s licenses.
- Form DS-11, completed and printed single-sided. Don’t sign it until the acceptance agent tells you to.
- Citizenship evidence, original plus a photocopy of the front and, if there is printing on the back, the back.
- A photo ID with a photocopy of the front and back.
- One passport photo, unstapled. The agent attaches it.
- A check or money order for the application fee, plus payment for the $35 acceptance fee.
Photocopies must be clear, on white 8.5 by 11 inch paper and single-sided. Don’t shrink an ID image, although you can enlarge it. If you owe more than $2,500 in child support or have seriously delinquent tax debt, resolve it first, because either issue can delay or deny the application.
What Counts as Proof of Citizenship?
A US birth certificate with a registrar’s seal is the usual proof of citizenship, and a valid US passport, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad or a naturalization certificate also work. The table shows the options by situation.
| Your situation | Primary evidence | Key detail |
| Born in the US | Birth certificate | Must show place of birth, a seal or stamp, the registrar’s signature and both parents’ full names |
| Born abroad to a US citizen | Consular Report of Birth Abroad | Issued by the State Department |
| Naturalized | Certificate of Naturalization | Original, not a copy |
| Citizenship acquired through a parent | Certificate of Citizenship | Original, not a copy |
| Held a passport before | Full-validity, undamaged passport | 10 years if issued after age 16 |
A birth certificate must have been filed with the registrar within one year of birth. Electronic copies don’t count. If you can’t find the original, order a replacement from the office that issued it, or submit a certified copy, which the State Department keeps.
What Photo ID Do You Need for a Passport Application?
A fully valid driver’s license is the most common ID, and you need only one primary photo ID. The ID must be a physical government-issued document with your photo.
Accepted primary IDs include these:
- An in-state driver’s license or enhanced driver’s license.
- A valid or expired, undamaged US passport book or card.
- A Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship.
- A government employee ID or US military ID.
- A current, valid foreign passport.
- A US Permanent Resident Card, which parents of child applicants often use.
- A Global Entry, FAST, SENTRI or NEXUS card.
If you can’t present a primary ID, bring at least 2 secondary IDs, such as an out-of-state license, a Social Security card, a voter registration card or a student ID. Applying in a state different from the one that issued your license can mean the agent asks for a second ID, so bring one.
How Much Does a Passport Application Cost?
A first-time adult passport book costs $130 to the State Department plus a $35 acceptance fee, which is $165 in total. Cards and children’s passports cost less.
- Adult 16 and older: book $130, card $30, both $160.
- Child under 16: book $100, card $15, both $115.
- Acceptance fee at the facility: $35 for every application.
- Expedited service: $60.
- Return shipping in 1 to 3 days: $26.87, not available for card-only applications.
Four examples show how it adds up:
- First-time adult book: $130 plus $35, which is $165.
- First-time adult book with expedite and faster return shipping: $130 plus $35 plus $60 plus $26.87, which is $251.87.
- Child’s book: $100 plus $35, which is $135.
- Child’s book and card: $115 plus $35, which is $150.
Pay the application fee by check or money order payable to “U.S. Department of State,” and write the applicant’s name and date of birth in the memo line. Confirm in advance how the facility accepts the $35 fee. The visa cost calculator works the same way for visa fees.
How Do You Apply for a Passport Step by Step?
Fill out DS-11, collect your documents, find an acceptance facility, sign in front of the agent and pay the fees. The agent verifies your ID, gives you an oath and mails the package.
- Complete Form DS-11 with the online form filler and print it single-sided.
- Gather your citizenship evidence, photo ID and two sets of photocopies.
- Get one passport photo that meets the State Department rules.
- Write the check or money order for the application fee.
- Find a facility with the passport facility locator and check whether you need an appointment.
- Sign the form only when the agent tells you to, and pay the $35 acceptance fee.
The facility mails your application to the State Department, which can take up to 2 weeks. After that, email updates follow, and you can check your status at passportstatus.state.gov.
Where Can You Apply for a Passport?
Apply at a post office, library or local government office if you travel in more than 3 weeks, and at a passport agency or center if you travel in less than 3 weeks. Agency and center appointments open when you are within 14 days of international travel.
Appointment rules differ from one facility to the next, so confirm with the location before you go. If you live abroad, contact the nearest US embassy or consulate instead. Plan your visit for a time when every parent or guardian can attend if the applicant is a child, because a missing parent adds paperwork.
How Long Does a Passport Application Take?
Routine processing takes 4 to 6 weeks and expedited processing takes 2 to 3 weeks, and mailing time is extra. Your application can take up to 2 weeks to reach the State Department.
That puts the worst case for routine service near 8 weeks before the passport is on its way back to you. A passport book arrives by a trackable service, while a passport card arrives by First Class Mail. Your supporting documents come back separately by First Class Mail, usually within 4 weeks. If they haven’t arrived after 4 weeks, call 877-487-2778.
Book your trip only after you know your timeline. If you travel in less than 3 weeks, use the agency or center route instead of a regular facility. To see how this timing fits with a visa, use the visa processing time calculator.
How Do You Apply for a Child’s Passport?
Both parents or guardians must attend with the child, or you must submit notarized consent. A parent who can’t attend signs Form DS-3053 in front of a notary, and the form must reach the State Department within 90 days of notarization.
For a child under 16, bring these items:
- Form DS-11 for the child, unsigned.
- The child’s birth certificate, original plus a photocopy.
- A photo ID and a photocopy of the front and back for each parent or guardian.
- One passport photo of the child.
- $100 for a book, $15 for a card or $115 for both, plus the $35 acceptance fee.
Applicants aged 16 and 17 follow a lighter rule. One parent or guardian must know about the application, shown by applying together, a signed note, a parent listed as the emergency contact or a parent paying by check. If it’s unclear, the State Department can ask for Form DS-3053.
What If You Don’t Have a Birth Certificate?
You can submit secondary evidence only if you can’t get primary evidence, and it usually means a Letter of No Record plus early records. Start by ordering a replacement from the issuing office, which is faster than building a secondary file.
The State Department accepts a delayed birth certificate or a state Letter of No Record. You also add early records from your first 5 years of life that show your name, date of birth and place of birth, such as a baptism certificate, hospital birth record or early school record. With a Letter of No Record, you may need Form DS-10 (Birth Affidavit).
If you once held a passport and can’t submit it, you can request a file search. Records issued before 1994 carry a $150 search fee. Foreign-language documents need a professional English translation with a notarized translator letter.
What Mistakes Delay a Passport Application?
The most common mistakes are signing DS-11 too early, missing photocopies, a photo that fails the rules and a birth certificate that lacks a seal. Each one can stop your application until you send the missing item.
- Signing the form before the agent asks you to.
- Printing DS-11 on both sides instead of single-sided.
- Stapling the photo to the form.
- Bringing a digital copy of a birth certificate.
- Skipping the photocopy of the back of an ID.
- Writing a check to the wrong payee or leaving off the name and date of birth.
- Using a photo older than 6 months or one with glasses.
Run through the list the night before your appointment. Our visa documents checklist tool helps you organize a file for any application. For the official steps, read the State Department’s apply in person page.
FAQs
Can I apply for a passport online?
No. First-time applicants, children under 16 and anyone who doesn’t qualify for renewal must apply in person with Form DS-11. Online renewal exists only for eligible adults.
How much does a first-time passport cost?
An adult passport book costs $130 plus a $35 acceptance fee, which is $165. A child’s book costs $100 plus $35, which is $135.
What documents do I need for a passport application?
You need Form DS-11, original proof of citizenship, a photo ID, photocopies of both, one passport photo and payment for the fees.
How long does a passport application take?
Routine processing takes 4 to 6 weeks and expedited takes 2 to 3 weeks. Mailing to the State Department can add up to 2 weeks.
Do both parents need to attend a child’s application?
Yes, or the absent parent must sign Form DS-3053 in front of a notary. The State Department needs it within 90 days of notarization.
Can I use a photocopy of my birth certificate?
No. Bring the original or a certified copy with a seal, plus a photocopy. Electronic copies of birth certificates are not accepted.
How long is a first-time passport valid?
An adult passport is valid for 10 years, including for applicants aged 16 and 17. A child’s passport under 16 is valid for 5 years.
Conclusion
Gather four items before you book a visit: an original birth certificate, a physical photo ID, a photocopy of each and a photo taken in the last 6 months. With those in hand, $165 covers an adult book and the 4 to 6 week routine window begins after the mailing time of up to 2 weeks.
