Getting or Renewing a U.S. Passport

All individuals, regardless of age, must have their own passport to travel internationally.

Passport Book or Passport Card

• Passport book is required for all international travel.
• Passport card can be used to enter the United States at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry from:
  • Canada
  • Mexico
  • the Caribbean
  • Bermuda

A Passport card is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book, but it cannot be used for international travel by air.

Apply for a Passport Book

To complete the application, first do one of the following:

• Use the Passport Application Wizard to step through the application process. When you complete the application process, print out the application.
• Download the passport application form (DS-11) and complete it by hand or go to a local passport acceptance facility to get a copy of the form

It is important that you do not sign the form until you are instructed to do so.

Apply for a Passport Card

If you have a U.S. passport book:

• Use online application form or download form DS-82 and apply by mail.

If you have never had a U.S. passport book:

• Use online application form or download form DS-11 and must apply in person.  

Find a Passport Facility

Once you’ve completed the application, if you have to take your application to a passport facility in person:

• Locate a local passport acceptance facility - This can be a post office or a clerk of court. You do not need to make an appointment.
• Locate a regional passport agency - These are Department of State offices that can process expedited passport applications. An appointment is required.

Find out what forms of payment the facility accepts. Remember to bring the following:

• unsigned application form
• evidence of U.S. citizenship
• photo identification
• passport photo
• passport fees

If you are a U.S. citizen living abroad and need a passport, contact a contact a U.S. Embassy or Consulate for information on how to apply for your passport.

U.S. Passports for Minors Under the Age of 16

If your child is a minor under the age of 16, parental consent is required. In addition to the above, you must:

• Accompany your child(ren).
• Co-sign the application.
• Provide additional documentation, including proof of parental consent.

Passports issued to minors are valid for five years and you must reapply in person. 

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Passport application processing times vary throughout the year, but there is a way to get a passport in an emergency.  Check the status of your passport application online 7-10 days after applying.

If you have questions about passports, please contact the National Passport Information Center.

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Family Emergency

You can get a passport quickly for a family emergency that requires you to travel outside the United States in 24-48 hours.  These emergencies include serious illness, injury, or death in your immediate family.

The only offices that can process this request are the Regional Passport Agencies and you must have an appointment.  To make an appointment, call the National Passport Information Center (NPIC).  

Note: The NPIC is only open during regular business hours,  Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 10 PM, Eastern time 1-877-487-2778 (TDD/TTY: 1-888-874-7793).   If you are calling after 5:00 p.m. Eastern time, on weekends and holidays, call 1-202-647-4000 and the operator will help you make an appointment with your closest Passport Agency.  

Expedited Service

If you have purchased tickets for a trip outside the United States that will take place within 2 weeks, visit a Regional Passport Agency. Call National Passport Information Center's automated service to make an appointment.  

If your trip is not within 2 weeks, but you need the U.S. passport more quickly than the normal processing period of 4 to 6 weeks, ask for expedited service.  You can:

• Contact NPIC to make an appointment with a Regional Passport Agency
• Contact a Passport Acceptance Facility near you, or
• Request Expedited Service by mail.  

Important: The extra cost for shortening the processing time is $60, plus any delivery costs.

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All individuals, regardless of age, must have their own passport to travel internationally.

You can renew your U.S. passport book and/or passport card, except if your current passport was: 

• Issued before your 16th birthday.
• Issued 15 or more years ago.
• Lost or stolen.

If any of these are true, you must apply for a new passport in person.

Renew your passport approximately nine months before it expires. Certain countries require passports to remain valid for up to six months after your trip. Some airlines do not allow you to board if you don't meet this requirement.

How to Renew Your Passport

If you live in the United States or Canada, you can renew by mail:

• Use the Passport Application Wizard to complete the application form online and print it. You can also download the passport renewal form (DS-82) and print it, or get it at a local passport acceptance facility or regional agency and complete it by hand.
• Mail the renewal form, plus all supporting documents (including a passport photo), and passport fees, to the address printed on the form.

The Passport Services Office returns official documents submitted as supporting documentation either with or separate from the passport.

How to Renew Your Passport from Outside the U.S.

If you live in any other country, contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in that country for information on how to renew your passport.

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You must report the loss or theft of an American passport immediately:

Find information on how to replace your lost or stolen passport on the Department of State’s U.S. Passports site. You may report your lost or stolen passport in person, online, or on the phone  toll free at 1-877-487-2778 (TTY 1-888-874-7793). There are different procedures if your trip is scheduled within 2 weeks.

If you are outside of the U.S., contact your nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate to replace your lost or stolen passport.

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