Apply for Your New U.S. Passport Without the Stress

No. You must leave the signature block blank until you are instructed to sign it under oath in front of a designated Passport Acceptance Agent.

You must submit an original or certified physical copy of your US birth certificate, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or Certificate of Naturalization.

The total cost for a new adult passport book is $165, which includes the $130 State Department application fee and the $35 execution fee at the acceptance facility.

If you require your documents faster than the standard timeframe, you can opt for expedited government processing for an additional $60 fee, which is added to your primary application payment.

The $35 execution fee is a mandatory federal charge paid directly to the Acceptance Facility to verify your identity, witness your signature, and administer the oath.

To apply for a new U.S. passport, you must provide specific original documentation (not photocopies). This includes primary proof of your U.S. citizenship, which is most commonly an original or certified state-issued birth certificate.

You must also present a valid, physical photo ID, such as a state driver's license. You’re required to submit clear front-and-back photocopies of both documents, along with a 2x2-inch color passport photograph that meets the specifications.

All first-time adult applicants, minors under the age of 16, and individuals who are replacing a lost, stolen, or severely damaged passport must complete Form DS-11.

This form requires an authorized agent to physically verify your identity and witness your signature, so it cannot be mailed. It must be submitted in person at an official, designated passport acceptance facility, such as a local post office or a county clerk's office.

A standard U.S. passport book is a globally recognized document valid for all forms of international travel, including by air, sea, and land borders.

U.S. passport cards are legally valid only for land and sea border crossings specifically between the United States, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean region. The card version of a passport cannot be used for international air travel to any destination.

You must apply for a new U.S. passport in person at an authorized government acceptance facility. There are thousands of these facilities nationwide. The most common locations are designated U.S. post offices, local county clerk or municipal offices, and certain public libraries.

You’re almost always required to schedule an appointment in advance of your visit. Contact your nearest acceptance facility for more information.

First-time applicants must visit a designated Passport Acceptance Facility, which typically includes local post offices, clerks of court, and public libraries.

Yes. The vast majority of acceptance facilities require you to schedule an appointment before you arrive with your paperwork.

No, first-time adult applicants and minors under 16 must apply in person and cannot apply online. Federal regulations mandate that Form DS-11 be signed in person at an authorized passport acceptance facility.

Applicants must present original citizenship documents, prove their identity, and sign the form in the presence of an authorized agent.

You can expedite your new passport application by paying the standard $60 government expedite fee at the time of your scheduled in-person appointment. This pushes your application to the front of the processing queue.

To further accelerate the overall timeline, you can also pay an additional fee for 1-2 day expedited return shipping, so you receive the physical book faster once the facility prints it.

The U.S. Department of State enforces strict guidelines regarding facial expressions in your official passport photo. You’re required to maintain a completely neutral facial expression, or at most a very subtle, natural smile.

To ensure the facial recognition software can accurately map your features, both of your eyes must be fully open and looking straight at the camera, and your mouth must remain entirely closed without showing any teeth.