A first time passport application in the United States is filed in person on Form DS-11, with proof of citizenship, a photo ID, one 2-by-2-inch photo, and payment of $165 for an adult passport book or $135 for a child under 16. Routine processing runs four to six weeks after the State Department receives the application, and mailing can add up to two more weeks in each direction.
Who Has to Apply This Way
Form DS-11 is required for anyone who cannot renew by mail. That covers four situations: you have never held a U.S. passport, your previous one was issued before you turned 16, your previous one expired more than 15 years ago, or your previous one was lost, stolen, or damaged.1U.S. Department of State. Application for a U.S. Passport If none of those apply to you, you are eligible to renew by mail on a different form and don’t need to read further about in-person appointments.
You can download DS-11 from the State Department’s website or pick it up at an acceptance facility. Fill it out completely in black ink, or type it online and print it. Leave the signature line blank. You sign only when an authorized agent is watching you at your in-person visit, and that witnessed signature is the core reason the visit exists.
Book, Card, or Both
Decide before your appointment which credential you need. A passport book is accepted for all international travel: air, land, and sea. A passport card is a wallet-sized alternative that works only for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and parts of the Caribbean. It cannot be used for international flights.2U.S. Department of State. Compare a Passport Card and Book
Both are valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for children under 16.2U.S. Department of State. Compare a Passport Card and Book If you want both, apply for them together on the same DS-11 and you pay one $35 execution fee instead of two.
Documents to Bring
Your application has three parts: proof of citizenship, proof of identity, and a photo. If any one is missing or unacceptable, the application comes back and your timeline restarts.
Proof of Citizenship
If you were born in the United States, you need a certified birth certificate from a city, county, or state vital records office. It must show your full name, date and place of birth, the seal of the issuing office, the registrar’s signature, and a filing date within one year of your birth.3eCFR. 22 CFR 51.42 – Persons Born in the United States Applying for a Passport for the First Time Hospital keepsake certificates don’t count. If you can’t get a certified copy, the State Department will consider secondary evidence such as baptismal certificates, early school records, or affidavits from people with knowledge of the birth, but expect extra scrutiny and a longer wait.
If you were born abroad, bring a Certificate of Naturalization, a Certificate of Citizenship, or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad.4U.S. Department of State. Get Citizenship Evidence for a U.S. Passport Your original citizenship document goes in with your application and is returned by mail separately, often a few weeks after the passport itself. Plan around not having it.
Photo Identification
One primary photo ID is enough: a valid driver’s license, a government or U.S. military employee ID, a Certificate of Naturalization, a current foreign passport, or a Trusted Traveler card such as Global Entry or NEXUS.5U.S. Department of State. Get Photo ID for a U.S. Passport
Without one of those, you can present at least two secondary IDs, such as a Social Security card, voter registration card, student ID, or expired driver’s license. As a last resort, an identifying witness who has known you for at least two years can vouch for you using Form DS-71.5U.S. Department of State. Get Photo ID for a U.S. Passport Younger applicants without a driver’s license often stumble here, so check the ID rules before you book the appointment.
Passport Photo
You need one color photograph, 2 inches by 2 inches, taken within the last six months, on a plain white or off-white background. Face the camera directly with a neutral expression and both eyes open. Glasses aren’t allowed without a signed medical statement.6U.S. Department of State. Photo Requirements Most pharmacies and shipping stores charge about $15 to $18 to take one that meets the specifications, which is cheaper than having the application rejected over a shadow or a bad crop.
What It Costs
First-time fees split into two payments to two different recipients. The application fee goes to the State Department. The execution fee (also called the acceptance fee) goes to the facility handling your paperwork. As of February 2026:
- Adult passport book (age 16+): $130 application fee plus $35 execution fee, totaling $165
- Child passport book (under 16): $100 application fee plus $35 execution fee, totaling $135
- Adult passport card: $30 application fee plus $35 execution fee, totaling $65
- Child passport card: $15 application fee plus $35 execution fee, totaling $50
Expedited processing adds $60 per application.7U.S. Department of State. United States Passport Fees for Acceptance Facilities
Pay the application fee by check or money order made out to “U.S. Department of State,” or online through Pay.gov before your appointment.8Pay.gov. Fee for U.S. Passport Application Submitted at Acceptance Facility The execution fee is paid at the facility itself. Each facility sets its own accepted methods (cash, check, debit, credit), so call before you go.
Where to File and What Happens There
Applications are submitted at passport acceptance facilities, which include post offices, public libraries, clerks of court, and other local government offices. Use the State Department’s locator at iafdb.travel.state.gov to search by ZIP code.9U.S. Department of State. Passport Acceptance Facility If you’re going to a post office, the USPS scheduling tool at tools.usps.com/rcas.htm lets you book a slot up to four weeks out; appointments run about 15 minutes.10USPS. Schedule An Appointment
At the counter, you hand over the completed but unsigned DS-11, your citizenship evidence, your ID, and your photo. The agent checks your identity against your documents, administers a verbal oath in which you affirm the application is true, then watches you sign.1U.S. Department of State. Application for a U.S. Passport The signed form, your photo, your fees, and your original citizenship document are packaged and mailed to the State Department together.
How Long It Takes
Routine processing currently runs four to six weeks from the day the State Department receives your package. Expedited processing runs two to three weeks. Neither figure includes mailing, which can add up to two weeks in each direction.11U.S. Department of State. Get Your Passport Fast If you’re booking travel, plan on six to eight weeks total for routine service and four to five weeks for expedited.
Track progress at passportstatus.state.gov using your last name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number.12U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passport Application Status The tracker often stays blank for the first couple of weeks, which is normal. The new passport arrives by mail, and your original citizenship documents follow in a separate envelope.
Applying for a Child
Children under 16 cannot apply alone. Both parents or legal guardians must appear in person with the child and show their own identification.13U.S. Department of State. Apply for a Child’s U.S. Passport If one parent cannot attend, the absent parent completes Form DS-3053, signs it before a notary, and includes a photocopy of their ID. The notarized DS-3053 is valid for 90 days. If neither parent can appear or there’s a custody dispute, expect to bring court orders or sole-custody documentation.
Applicants aged 16 and 17 follow the adult application process and fee schedule, but the State Department requires “parental awareness” rather than formal consent. A parent appearing in person satisfies this; otherwise the applicant needs a signed parental note with a copy of the parent’s ID, or proof the parent is paying the fees.14USAGov. Get a Passport for a Minor Under 18 A passport originally issued to someone under 16 cannot be renewed. A fresh DS-11 is required each time.
Situations That Complicate the Application
Name Changes
If the name on your birth certificate doesn’t match your current legal name, bring the original or a certified copy of the document that authorized the change: a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order. Multiple changes call for a chain of documents linking your birth name to your current one.
Social Security Number and Tax Debt
DS-11 requires your Social Security number. Failing to provide one triggers a $500 penalty under federal tax law unless you can show reasonable cause.15Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 USC 6039E – Information Concerning Resident Status Separately, seriously delinquent federal tax debt of $66,000 or more in 2026 can be certified by the IRS to the State Department, which may then deny your application or limit your passport to return travel only.16Internal Revenue Service. Rev. Proc. 2025-32 Active installment agreements, hardship status, and pending Collection Due Process hearings are exemptions. The threshold adjusts each year.
Gender Marker
As of March 2026, new passports reflect the applicant’s sex as assigned at birth. The “X” gender marker option has been discontinued. Existing passports with an X marker remain valid until they expire or are replaced, and replacements issued under the current policy will show sex assigned at birth regardless of what the prior passport showed.
Life-or-Death Emergencies
If an immediate family member abroad has died, is dying, or has a life-threatening illness or injury, and you need to travel within two weeks, you may qualify for an immediate appointment at a regional passport agency. Immediate family means a parent, child, spouse, sibling, or grandparent. Aunts, uncles, and cousins do not qualify.17U.S. Department of State. Get a Passport if You Have a Life-or-Death Emergency For urgent but non-emergency trips within six weeks, pay the $60 expedite fee and mark expedited processing on the form. Some acceptance facilities also offer 1-2 day mail delivery upgrades.