No, you cannot get a passport at the BMV. Passports are federal travel documents, and the U.S. Department of State issues them exclusively through its own network of acceptance facilities.1U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passports Your Bureau of Motor Vehicles handles driver’s licenses, titles, and registrations, and has no authority to accept a passport application. To apply, you’ll visit a post office, clerk of court, public library, or similar office designated by the State Department.
Why the BMV Doesn’t Handle Passports
Only a handful of states even use the name “Bureau of Motor Vehicles” — Indiana, Maine, and Ohio are the main ones. Whatever it’s called in your state, the agency is a state operation. Passports fall under federal jurisdiction, so the paperwork has to go through federal channels.
The confusion is understandable. A passport and a driver’s license both prove who you are, and both require similar backup documents like a birth certificate. But the two live in separate systems, and no state motor vehicle office plays any role in issuing the federal one.
Where to Actually Apply
First-time applicants must apply in person at a passport acceptance facility. These are post offices, clerks of court, public libraries, and other local government offices that process applications on behalf of the State Department.2U.S. Department of State. Passport Acceptance Facility Search The easiest way to find one is the State Department’s locator at iafdb.travel.state.gov, which searches by ZIP code. Most people end up at their local post office.
If you have urgent international travel within two weeks, you can make an appointment at a regional passport agency or center. These are run directly by the State Department and are separate from the acceptance facilities at post offices and libraries.3U.S. Department of State. Make an Appointment at a Passport Agency or Center You’ll need proof of imminent travel, such as a flight itinerary or a letter from an employer.
What to Bring to Your Appointment
You’ll need four things: proof of citizenship, proof of identity, a passport photo, and a completed but unsigned Form DS-11.
Proof of Citizenship
Bring one original document: a U.S. birth certificate with the registrar’s seal and your parents’ names listed, a full-validity undamaged U.S. passport, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship.4U.S. Department of State. Apply for Your Adult Passport Hospital-issued commemorative certificates don’t qualify. You need the version filed with your city, county, or state vital records office.
Proof of Identity
Here’s where your BMV-issued license does come into play. An in-state, fully valid driver’s license with a photo is the most commonly used ID for passport applications. Other accepted primary IDs include a government employee ID, U.S. military ID, valid foreign passport, or a previous U.S. passport book or card. Without a primary ID, you can submit two secondary documents, such as a Social Security card paired with a voter registration card. Digital IDs and mobile driver’s licenses aren’t accepted — you must bring the physical document and a photocopy.5U.S. Department of State. Get Photo ID for a U.S. Passport
Passport Photo
You need a recent color photo taken within the last six months against a plain white or off-white background, with a full-face view, a neutral expression, and both eyes open. Eyeglasses aren’t allowed unless you have a documented medical reason. Hats and head coverings are permitted only for religious purposes.6U.S. Department of State. Photo Requirements Many pharmacies and shipping stores offer passport photo services for roughly $7 to $18.
Form DS-11
Download Form DS-11 from the State Department website or pick one up at the facility. Fill it out completely, but don’t sign it. You sign in front of the acceptance agent, who administers an oath and witnesses your signature.7U.S. Department of State. Application for a U.S. Passport DS-11
What It Costs
Every first-time applicant pays two separate fees: an application fee to the State Department and an execution fee to the acceptance facility. For adults 16 and older:
- Passport book: $130 application fee plus $35 execution fee, totaling $165
- Passport card: $30 application fee plus $35 execution fee, totaling $65
- Both together: $160 application fee plus $35 execution fee, totaling $195
For children under 16, the book runs $100 in application fees plus the $35 execution fee, totaling $135.8U.S. Department of State. United States Passport Fees for Acceptance Facilities Expedited processing adds $60 to any of these amounts.9U.S. Department of State. Apply at the Seattle Passport Agency
How Long It Takes
Routine processing currently runs four to six weeks. Expedited processing cuts that to two to three weeks for the extra $60.10U.S. Department of State. Processing Times for U.S. Passports Volume spikes in spring and summer can push times longer, so build in a cushion if you’re traveling then.
Once you’ve applied, track your application at passportstatus.state.gov using your last name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number.11U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passport Application Status Your new passport and your original supporting documents arrive in separate mailings, so don’t worry if one shows up before the other.12U.S. Department of State. Frequently Asked Questions about Passport Services
When You Can Skip the In-Person Trip
If you already have a passport, you may be able to renew by mail using Form DS-82, which skips the acceptance facility entirely and saves the $35 execution fee. You qualify only if your most recent passport meets all of these conditions:
- You have it in your possession and can submit it with your application
- It’s undamaged beyond normal wear and tear
- It was never reported lost or stolen
- It was issued within the last 15 years
- It was issued when you were 16 or older
- It was issued in your current name, or you can include a legal name-change document like a marriage certificate
Miss any one of these, and you’ll need to apply in person with Form DS-11 like a first-time applicant.13U.S. Department of State. Renew Your Passport by Mail
The One Real Overlap Between Your BMV and Your Passport
Since May 2025, you need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another acceptable document to board domestic flights and enter certain federal facilities.14Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID A valid passport works as an alternative at every TSA checkpoint. If your BMV hasn’t issued you a REAL ID-compliant license yet, carrying your passport to the airport is a reliable workaround for domestic travel until you get one.