A U.S. passport application asks for the same core proof every time: that you’re a U.S. citizen, that you are who you say you are, and what you look like today. What changes is how you prove it. A first-time adult applicant, a renewal by mail, and a 9-year-old applying with both parents each need a different stack of papers.
Start by working out which route you’re on. That one decision tells you the form, the fee, and whether you need to show up in person.
Which Passport Application Are You Filing?
| Your situation | Form | Apply how |
| First passport, age 16 or older | DS-11 | In person at an acceptance facility (many post offices and county clerks) |
| Child under 16 | DS-11 | In person, usually with both parents or guardians |
| Renewal, and your last passport was issued when you were 16+ within the past 15 years | DS-82 | By mail, or online if you qualify |
| Previous passport lost, stolen, or badly damaged | DS-11 plus DS-64 | In person |
| Previous passport issued before age 16, or more than 15 years ago | DS-11 | In person |
Documents for a First-Time Adult Passport (Form DS-11)
Bring all of these to your appointment. Don’t sign the DS-11 until the acceptance agent tells you to.
- Completed Form DS-11. Fill it out online with the State Department’s form filler and print it, or complete it by hand in black ink.
- Proof of U.S. citizenship, original plus a photocopy. The most common is a certified U.S. birth certificate showing your full name, date and place of birth, and parents’ names, with the registrar’s seal. Naturalized citizens use a Certificate of Naturalization. People who became citizens through a parent can use a Certificate of Citizenship. The agent sends the original to the State Department, and it comes back in a separate envelope.
- Photo ID, original plus a front-and-back photocopy. A valid driver’s license, state ID, military ID, or government employee ID works. If your ID is from a different state than where you’re applying, bring a second ID.
- One passport photo. It must be 2 x 2 inches, in color, taken within the last six months, on a white or off-white background. No glasses.
- Payment. The application fee goes to the U.S. Department of State, usually by check or money order. The $35 acceptance fee is paid separately to the facility.
If your birth certificate is missing or doesn’t meet the rules, order a certified copy first. Our birth certificate documents guide explains how. Parents of children born abroad to U.S. citizens often weigh a passport against a citizenship certificate. We compare Form N-600 and a U.S. passport as proof of citizenship and list the N-600 documents USCIS asks for.
When your name doesn’t match your citizenship document
If you’ve married, divorced, or legally changed your name, bring the document that links your birth name to your current name. A certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order works. Decorative certificates and photocopies don’t. You can get a certified marriage certificate from the county where you married, and our name change documents guide covers court-ordered changes.
Documents for a Passport Renewal (Form DS-82)
You can renew by mail if your most recent passport:
- Is in your possession and isn’t damaged
- Was issued when you were 16 or older
- Was issued within the last 15 years
- Is in your current name, or you can document the name change
Mail the completed DS-82, your most recent passport, one new photo, and the fee. If your name changed, include a certified copy of the marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order. The State Department returns your old passport, canceled, along with any original name-change document.
For a step-by-step renewal walkthrough, see our passport renewal documents guide.
Renewing online
Online renewal is open to eligible adults through the State Department’s MyTravelGov system. The basic rules: you must be 25 or older, live in the United States, and have a passport issued within the past 15 years. You’ll upload a digital photo and pay by card. If the system says you aren’t eligible, use the mail route.
Online renewal runs at routine speed only, with no expedite option. If you need your passport fast, renew by mail and pay for expedited service. The State Department also proposed in August 2026 to extend online renewal to Americans living abroad, but that rule isn’t final.
Documents for a Child’s Passport (Under 16)
Children under 16 always apply in person with Form DS-11. You’ll need:
- Proof of the child’s U.S. citizenship, such as a certified birth certificate
- Proof of the parent-child relationship. A U.S. birth certificate that lists both parents usually covers this and citizenship at once.
- Valid ID for each parent or guardian who attends
- Consent from both parents or guardians
Both parents should appear together. If one can’t, the absent parent signs Form DS-3053, the Statement of Consent, in front of a notary, and the attending parent brings it with a copy of the absent parent’s ID. Here’s what to bring when you get something notarized. If one parent has sole custody, bring the court order.
A child’s passport book is valid for five years, not ten. Plan the renewal around that. Traveling with only one parent can trigger questions at the border even with a valid passport, so read our guides on the child travel consent letter and one parent traveling abroad with a child.
Teens who are 16 or 17 apply with Form DS-11 too. They can usually present their own ID, but the State Department may ask for proof that a parent knows about the application.
U.S. Passport Fees for 2027
These are the State Department’s fees as of late 2026. They apply going into 2027 unless the department announces a change.
| Application | Application fee | Acceptance fee | Total |
| Adult passport book, first time (DS-11) | $130 | $35 | $165 |
| Adult passport card, first time | $30 | $35 | $65 |
| Adult book and card, first time | $160 | $35 | $195 |
| Adult book renewal (DS-82) | $130 | None | $130 |
| Adult card renewal | $30 | None | $30 |
| Adult book and card renewal | $160 | None | $160 |
| Child passport book (under 16) | $100 | $35 | $135 |
| Child passport card | $15 | $35 | $50 |
| Child book and card | $115 | $35 | $150 |
Optional extras: expedited processing is $60 per application, and a file search (when you can’t prove a previous passport) is $150. Faster return delivery costs extra too. Check the current amount on the State Department’s fee chart before you write the check.
A passport card is cheaper, but it only works for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. It isn’t valid for international flights. It does work as ID for domestic flights. See what ID you need to fly and how a passport compares with a REAL ID.
How Long a Passport Takes
| Service | Processing time | Extra cost |
| Routine | 4–6 weeks | None |
| Expedited | 2–3 weeks | $60 |
| Urgent travel (passport agency appointment) | Can be same day to a few days | $60 expedite fee, plus proof of travel within 14 days |
Processing time starts when the State Department receives your application, not when you mail it. Mailing can add up to two weeks on each end. Spring and early summer are the busiest months, so apply in the fall or winter if you can.
Do You Even Need a Passport for Your Trip?
Not always. U.S. citizens don’t need a passport to fly to Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or Guam. Here’s what to bring instead for Puerto Rico. Some closed-loop cruises that start and end at the same U.S. port accept a birth certificate and photo ID, though a passport is still the safer choice; see cruise passport requirements.
Mexico and Canada depend on how you travel. Driving across the border has different rules from flying. Read whether you need a passport to drive to Mexico and the full Mexico travel documents list.
Europe is changing too. U.S. passport holders will soon need ETIAS approval for most of Europe, and the UK already requires an ETA. Check the ETIAS requirements for U.S. citizens and the UK ETA for Americans before you book. Many countries also want your passport valid for at least six months past your return date.
Mistakes That Get Passport Applications Suspended
- Sending a photocopy of a birth certificate instead of a certified copy
- A photo with glasses, shadows, or a busy background
- Paying both fees in one check at an acceptance facility that requires separate payments
- Signing the DS-11 before the acceptance agent asks you to
- Forgetting the name-change document when your ID shows a different name
- One parent missing for a child’s application, with no notarized DS-3053
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a hospital birth certificate for a passport?
No. You need a certified copy from a state, county, or city vital records office. Hospital keepsake certificates aren’t accepted.
Do I get my birth certificate back?
Yes. The State Department returns original citizenship documents by mail, often separately from your new passport.
Can I renew an expired passport by mail?
Yes, if it was issued within the last 15 years, when you were 16 or older, and it isn’t damaged. Otherwise, apply in person with Form DS-11.
Can I expedite an online renewal?
No. Online renewal is routine service only. Renew by mail with the $60 expedite fee if you need it faster.
What if my passport was lost or stolen?
Report it with Form DS-64, then apply in person with Form DS-11. A lost passport can’t be renewed by mail.
How far in advance should I apply before an international trip?
At least two to three months for routine service, including mailing time. Give yourself more room in spring and summer.
Can a passport card be used to fly to Mexico?
No. The passport card covers land and sea crossings only. You need a passport book for any international flight.
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