How to Get or Renew a U.S. Passport

First passport, renewal, or a child's application? Here's which form to use, what to bring, and how to avoid the mistakes that delay applications.

A U.S. passport book lets you travel internationally and serves as proof of citizenship and identity. With processing times that can stretch for weeks, it pays to apply early and get the details right the first time. The process depends on whether you're applying for the first time, renewing, or applying for a child.

Passport book or passport card?

• Passport book: Valid for international travel by air, land and sea. This is what most travelers need.
• Passport card: A wallet-sized card valid only for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. It cannot be used for international flights.

Both are also accepted as identification for domestic flights in place of a REAL ID-compliant driver's license.

First-time adult applicants (Form DS-11)

If you've never had a U.S. passport, you must apply in person using Form DS-11. You'll bring:

1. Completed Form DS-11 — don't sign it until the acceptance agent tells you to.
2. Proof of U.S. citizenship, such as an original or certified U.S. birth certificate or a Certificate of Naturalization, plus a photocopy.
3. Photo identification, such as a driver's license, plus a photocopy of the front and back.
4. One passport photo that meets the State Department's requirements.
5. Fees, usually paid as two separate payments: one to the U.S. Department of State and one to the acceptance facility.

You'll apply at a passport acceptance facility — often a post office, public library or county clerk's office. Many require an appointment; use the locator on travel.state.gov to find one near you.

Renewing your passport

You can usually renew by mail with Form DS-82, or online if you're eligible, if your most recent passport:

• is undamaged and can be submitted with your application,
• was issued when you were 16 or older,
• was issued within the last 15 years, and
• is in your current name, or you can document your name change with a marriage certificate or court order.

If you don't meet all of these conditions — for example, your passport was lost, stolen, damaged or issued when you were a child — you'll need to apply in person with Form DS-11 instead. Eligible adults can also renew online through the State Department's website, which avoids mailing your old passport.

Children under 16

Children under 16 must apply in person with Form DS-11. Both parents or guardians generally must appear and consent. If one cannot attend, they can usually provide a notarized statement of consent (Form DS-3053). You'll also need proof of the child's citizenship and documents showing the parents' relationship to the child, such as a birth certificate listing both parents. Passports for children under 16 are valid for five years; adult passports are valid for ten.

Getting the photo right

Photo problems are one of the most common reasons applications are delayed. Your photo must be in color, recent (taken within the last six months), with a plain white or off-white background, a neutral expression or natural smile, and both eyes open. Glasses are not allowed in passport photos. Many pharmacies and shipping stores take compliant passport photos.

How long does it take?

Processing times change throughout the year and are posted on travel.state.gov. Routine service takes several weeks, and expedited service — available for an extra fee — is faster. Mailing time is added on both ends. If you have urgent international travel within a couple of weeks, you may be able to make an appointment at a passport agency or center. You can track your application with the online status tool.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Signing Form DS-11 before you're told to.
• Bringing a photocopy of your birth certificate instead of an original or certified copy.
• Submitting a photo with glasses, shadows or the wrong background.
• Using an unofficial website that charges extra "service fees" — apply through travel.state.gov.
• Waiting until the last minute before a trip.

Fees, forms and processing times change. Always confirm current details at travel.state.gov.