Travel.State.Gov >
U.S. Passports > Get a Passport Homepage > Apply for your First Passport as an Adult
Follow these steps to apply and track your status:
This video will help you learn how to apply:
Apply in person if you respond "Yes" to at least one of the following statements:
If you could not respond "Yes" to at least one statement, go to our Renew by Mail page.
*You may not have to apply in person if you want to get your first passport card and already have a passport book, or if you want to get your first passport book and already have a passport card.
Use our Form Filler tool on a desktop or laptop computer. Fill out your form online and then print it.
Tips to complete your form:
Your evidence must be an original or replacement copy. The document must have the official seal or stamp of the office which issued it. You must submit one of the following documents:
If you cannot submit one of these documents, go to our Citizenship Evidence page for more information.
Tips for making a photocopy:
If you do not submit a photocopy, you must submit a second copy of your citizenship evidence. We will keep this copy for our records.
Returning your document: We will return your citizenship document up to four weeks after you receive your passport.
Bring a physical, photo ID and a photocopy of it. If your photo ID is from a different state than the state in which you are applying, bring a second photo ID.
You must show at least one of these photo IDs:
If you do not have one of these photo IDs, go to our Identification page for more information.
Tips for making a photocopy:
Provide more information and documents if:
You must provide one photo with your application. Go to our Passport Photo page for photo requirements and to see examples of photos.
When applying using Form DS-11, you will pay two separate fees - an application fee and an execution (acceptance) fee. You will pay the application fee to the U.S. Department of State, and the execution (acceptance) fee to the facility which takes your application.
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 |
For more information on how to pay and a full list of fees, go to our Passport Fees page.
How to fill out your check for the application fee:
In the United States:
In another country:
You can enroll in email updates about your application status, and learn more about each status update.
It may take 2 weeks from the day you apply until your application status is “In Process.”
You will get multiple mailings. The number of mailings depends on what document(s) you asked for.
Passport Book: You may get your new passport and citizenship documents in two mailings. You may wait four weeks after getting your passport before you get a second mailing with your citizenship documents. We will return the passport book using a trackable delivery service.
Passport Card: You may get your new passport card and your citizenship documents in two mailings. You may wait four weeks after getting your passport before you get a second mailing with your citizenship documents. We only send the passport card via First Class Mail. We do not send cards using 1-2 day delivery services.
Both a Passport Book and Card: You may get three separate mailings:
Contacting Us: If you have been waiting more than four weeks for your documents, call us at 1-877-487-2778 to report that you have not received your documents.
If you want us to reimburse you for a lost supporting document, you must contact us within 90 days of the date which we mailed your passport. You will also need to provide a receipt to show the cost of replacing the document.
Yes. You may choose one or both of the following shipment options:
You may receive your passport and supporting documents in separate mailings. If you are renewing a passport card, we will send it to you via First Class Mail. We do not use 1-2 day delivery services if you only applied for a passport card.