Most applicants age 16-17 must apply in person using Form DS-11.
If you are eligible to Renew a Passport by Mail, you can use Form DS-82.
Passports for applicants 16 and older are valid for 10 years.
DS-11: Application for a U.S. Passport
Please note:
Your evidence must be an original or certified, physical copy. A certified copy is any document that has the seal or stamp of the official issuing authority. You must submit one of the following documents:
If you cannot submit one of the above acceptable documents, or for more information, please see Citizenship Evidence.
You cannot submit digital evidence of U.S. citizenship such as a mobile or electronic birth certificate. You must submit physical evidence of U.S. citizenship and a photocopy of the document.
In addition to the original or certified copy of your U.S. citizenship, you must submit a photocopy of the document.
Photocopies must be:
If you don't want to submit a photocopy of your citizenship evidence, you may submit a second certified copy of your citizenship evidence, which we will keep. If you don’t submit a photocopy or a second certified copy of your citizenship evidence, your passport processing could be delayed.
If you have your own current identification document (ID), you may apply for a passport. You must show at least one legal parent or legal guardian is aware that you are applying for a passport. For more information, please see Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program.
How to Show Parental Awareness:
You (or your parent/guardian) must present one of the following IDs to the acceptance agent.
If you cannot present one of the IDs above, or for more information, please see Identification.
Please note:
Submit a photocopy of the front and back of each ID that you present when you apply.
Requirements:
You must provide one photo with your application. To avoid processing delays, be sure your photo meets all photo requirements.
Adult Applicants (age 16 and older):
Product | Form | Application Fee | Execution (Acceptance) Fee |
---|---|---|---|
Passport Book | DS-11 | $130 | $35 |
Passport Card | DS-11 | $30 | $35 |
Passport Book & Card | DS-11 | $160 | $35 |
Please note: The application fee and the execution fee are paid separately.
Expedited service costs an additional $60. For information on forms of payment and a full list of fees and services, please see Passport Fees.
*How to fill out your check
Inside the United States:
Outside the United States:
Contact your U.S. embassy or consulate.
You can track your application status online.
Note: It may take 2 weeks from the day you apply until your application status is “In Process.” During these 2 weeks, your application is delivered to a mail facility, your payment is processed, and your application is scanned and sent to us. If your passport status update says “Not Available,” your application and supporting documents are safely on their way to us.
You cannot mail in Form DS-11. Additionally, the Department of State does not have the option to submit your passport application online.
If you have already had a full-validity (10 year) passport issued to you when you were age 16 or older, you may use Form DS-82 to renew your passport. Please see Renew a Passport by Mail to see if you are eligible to apply using Form DS-82.
Some acceptance facilities require appointments and others do not. We recommend calling the acceptance facility ahead of time to verify their hours, acceptable forms of payment, and appointment requirements. Find your acceptance facility.
After we print your passport, we will send it to you and return your supporting documents. How we send your passport and supporting documents depends if you applied for a book and/or a card and if you paid an additional fee for 1-2 day delivery.
I applied for a passport book only: You may receive your newly-issued passport and your citizenship documents in two separate mailings. You may wait 8 weeks after receiving your passport before you receive a second mailing with your citizenship documents. We can send your passport book via a 1-2 day delivery service.
I applied for a passport card only: You may receive your newly-issued passport card and your citizenship documents in two separate mailings. You may wait 8 weeks after receiving your passport before you receive a second mailing with your citizenship documents. We only send the passport card via First Class Mail. We do not send cards via 1-2 day delivery services.
I applied for both a passport book and passport card: You may receive three separate mailings; one with your citizenship documents, one with your newly-issued passport book, and one with your newly-issued passport card. You may wait 8 weeks after receiving your passport book before you receive a second and third mailing with your passport card and citizenship documents.
When applying for the first time or for your child, you will need to provide evidence of U.S. citizenship and photo identification with your application. Go to our Citizenship Evidence page and Photo ID page for examples of documents we accept.
For example, if you were born in the United States and you do not have your birth certificate, you will need to contact the county, city, or state where you were born and request a certified copy of your birth certificate.
We also realize that some customers may not have a driver's license to present as photo ID. We accept other types of government-issued, primary photo ID, and will accept multiple forms of secondary photo ID if you do not have a primary ID.
If you choose not to submit a photocopy, you may submit a second certified copy of your birth certificate. We will keep this second certified copy for our records.