First-Time Applicants

Requirements

• Applicant must be a U.S. Citizen
• All applicants MUST appear in person at a Passport Acceptance Agency.
• Both parents must appear for minors under the age of sixteen (16). If one parent is unable to appear, a notarized letter of consent or other legal documents must be presented at the time of applying.
• Applicants age sixteen (16) and over must personally sign their passport application.

 

Documentation   Please submit the following documents that apply to you:

• A certified birth certificate from the county or state in which you were born (hospital certificates are not acceptable).
• A naturalization certificate or Report of Birth Abroad document.
• A state or federal issued picture ID such as driver's license, ID card. or military ID.
• Parental ID is required for children under the age of sixteen (16).
• Two identical passport photos with a plain white or light-colored background.

 

DS-11 Form (Application for a U.S. Passport)-This can be obtained online at travel.state.gov.

 

Passport Renewals

 

Renewal applications are processed by mail. You do not need to visit a Passport Acceptance Agency.

 

The Renewal application (Form DS-82) can only be used if you can answer "Yes" to the following questions:

 

I can submit my most recent passport book with the application.    Yes or No

 

I was at least 16 years old when my most recent passport was issued.    Yes or No

 

I was issued my most recent US Passport less than 15 years ago.    Yes or No

 

I use the same name as on my most recent passport OR I have had my name changed by marriage or court order and I can submit proper documentation to reflect my name change.    Yes or No

 

If you answered NO to any of the four statements above, YOU CANNOT use the renewal form.

 

Special Requirements for Children Under Age 16-

 

Children who were issued their most recent passport under the age of 16 cannot use the renewal form. They must apply in person with parents, the old passport, and certified copy of the birth certificate showing the parents' names to obtain a new passport.

 

Passport Photographs

 

The passport applicant is required to submit, along with the passport application, two identical photographs which are sufficiently recent (normally not more than 6 months old) to be a good likeness of and satisfactorily identify the applicant.

 

Photographs must meet the following requirements:

• Photographs should be 2 x 2 inches in size. Measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head (including hair) should be no less than 1 inch and no more than 1-3/8 inches.
• Photographs should be in color.
• Photographs must be clear images and have a plain white or light-colored background.

 

For more information regarding passport and passport renewal forms, please visit the Federal Government website at travel.state.gov.

 

You can also locate your local passport acceptance agency by visiting this website.