A 17-year-old can apply for a U.S. passport in person at any acceptance facility using Form DS-11, and only one parent or guardian needs to be aware of the application. The passport application for 17 year olds is nearly identical to an adult first-time application, and the resulting passport book is valid for ten full years. The main difference from an adult filing is that parental awareness requirement, which can be handled a few different ways.1USAGov. Get a Passport for a Minor Under 18
How to Show a Parent Knows About the Application
At 16 and 17, the Department of State accepts any of three ways to confirm that a parent or guardian is aware you’re applying:2U.S. Department of State. Apply for Your Passport as a 16-17 Year Old
- A parent or guardian goes with you to the acceptance facility and signs the DS-11. Bring a photocopy of that parent’s government-issued ID.
- A parent writes and signs a note stating they know you’re applying. Include a photocopy of the front and back of their ID with the note.
- The check or money order for the fees is drawn on an account with the parent’s or guardian’s name printed on it. That alone counts as awareness, with no separate note needed.
If the acceptance agent still isn’t satisfied, they can require a notarized statement on Form DS-3053 from your parent, along with a photocopy of that parent’s ID.3U.S. Department of State. Application for a U.S. Passport Some states allow electronic or remote notarization, and the Department of State accepts those provided you bring a printed copy. The easiest route is usually to have a parent come with you, because the agent can confirm awareness on the spot.
Documents to Bring
Every 17-year-old applicant needs four things at the appointment: a completed DS-11, proof of U.S. citizenship, photo ID, and a passport photo. Missing any one of these means rescheduling.
Form DS-11
Download DS-11 from the State Department or pick up a paper copy at most acceptance facilities. Fill it out in black ink and do not sign it in advance. You’ll sign under oath in front of the acceptance agent.3U.S. Department of State. Application for a U.S. Passport
The form asks for your full legal name as it appears on your citizenship evidence, date and place of birth, Social Security number, and your parents’ information. Providing a Social Security number is required by federal tax law if you have one.
Making a false statement on this form is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. ยง 1542. For a standard first or second offense, the penalty can reach up to ten years in prison and a fine. The maximum climbs to 25 years when the false statement is connected to international terrorism.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 1542 – False Statement in Application and Use of Passport If a name, date, or number on your paperwork doesn’t match your documents, fix it before you apply.
Proof of U.S. Citizenship
The standard document is an original or certified birth certificate issued by a city, county, or state. It must list your full name, date and place of birth, and both parents’ full names. It also needs the registrar’s signature, a filing date within one year of your birth, and a raised, embossed, or multicolored seal from the issuing authority.5U.S. Department of State. Get Citizenship Evidence for a U.S. Passport Hospital “souvenir” certificates and photocopies are not accepted.
If you can’t get a certified birth certificate, you’ll need a delayed birth certificate (filed more than a year after birth) or a Letter of No Record from your birth state, plus early records from your first five years such as a baptismal certificate, hospital birth record, census record, or early school records. If you had a previous passport or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, you can request a file search through the Department of State instead. Give yourself extra weeks if you’re going this route.
Photo Identification
A driver’s license or learner’s permit is the most common ID for a 17-year-old, and any current, valid government-issued photo ID works. If you don’t have one, you’ll need at least two forms of secondary identification. The State Department’s accepted secondary IDs include a Social Security card, student ID, school yearbook with an identifiable photo, voter registration card, or an expired driver’s license.6U.S. Department of State. Get Photo ID for a U.S. Passport As a last resort, someone who has known you for at least two years can serve as an identifying witness by completing Form DS-71 at the facility.
Bring a clear photocopy of the front and back of whatever ID you present. The acceptance facility keeps the copy.
Passport Photo
Your photo must be 2 by 2 inches, in color, taken within the last six months, against a white or off-white background with no shadows. Face the camera directly with a neutral expression.7U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passport Photos
Glasses have to come off. If you cannot remove them for medical reasons, include a signed note from your doctor. Hats and head coverings are not allowed unless worn daily for religious reasons, in which case submit a signed statement and make sure your full face is visible with no shadows. Many pharmacies and shipping stores take passport photos, and some acceptance facilities do them on-site for a small fee.
Fees
You’ll make two separate payments: an application fee to the Department of State and an execution (acceptance) fee to the facility.8U.S. Department of State. United States Passport Fees
- Passport book only: $130 application fee + $35 execution fee = $165
- Passport card only: $30 application fee + $35 execution fee = $65
- Book and card together: $160 application fee + $35 execution fee = $195
The application fee is paid by check or money order made out to “U.S. Department of State,” with the applicant’s name and date of birth in the memo line.9U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees Payment methods for the execution fee vary by facility; some take cash or cards, others only checks. Call ahead. Expedited service adds $60 per application on top of these fees.
Book or Card?
Most 17-year-olds should get the passport book. It’s the standard booklet good for all international travel by air, land, or sea. The passport card is a wallet-sized alternative that only covers land and sea entry into the U.S. from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and certain Caribbean destinations, and it cannot be used for international air travel.10U.S. Department of State. Compare a Passport Card and Book If you live near the Canadian or Mexican border and cross regularly, the card is a useful add-on. The card also works as federally accepted ID.
Where and How to Apply
All first-time applicants must appear in person at an authorized passport acceptance facility. These include post offices, clerks of court, public libraries, and other designated local government offices.11U.S. Department of State. Passport Acceptance Facility Search Page Search for nearby facilities on the State Department’s site. Most require an appointment, scheduled online or by phone.
At the appointment, the acceptance agent reviews your DS-11, checks your citizenship documents and ID, confirms parental awareness, and watches you sign under oath. Your original citizenship documents go with the application to a regional processing center and come back to you separately by mail after processing.
Processing Times and Tracking
As of early 2026, routine processing takes four to six weeks and expedited processing takes two to three weeks.12U.S. Department of State. Get Your Processing Time Those windows cover processing only. Add up to two weeks of mailing time on each end when you plan around a trip.
If you put an email address on the DS-11, the Department of State sends status updates automatically.13U.S. Department of State. Checking Your Passport Application Status You can also check status online through the State Department’s portal. Updates usually appear about two weeks after the appointment, once the package is logged in at the processing center. Your passport and your returned birth certificate typically arrive in separate envelopes.
If You Need It Faster
When even expedited service won’t be quick enough, the Department of State operates passport agencies that handle urgent cases by appointment. An urgent travel appointment requires proof of upcoming international travel. A separate emergency track exists for life-or-death situations where you must travel within 14 days because an immediate family member abroad has died, is dying, or has a life-threatening illness.14U.S. Department of State. Life-or-Death Emergencies “Immediate family” for this purpose means a parent, child, spouse, sibling, or grandparent. Aunts, uncles, and cousins do not qualify.
Schedule either type by calling the National Passport Information Center. The one-parent awareness requirement still applies, so line that up before you call.15U.S. Department of State. How to Get My U.S. Passport Fast
Special Situations
Your Name Doesn’t Match Your Birth Certificate
If your current legal name differs from your birth certificate because of a court-ordered name change, adoption, or similar reason, bring the original or certified copy of the legal document showing the change along with your DS-11 and birth certificate. The agent can process them together.16U.S. Department of State. Name Change for U.S. Passport or Correct a Printing or Data Error
If you’ve been using a different name without a court order to back it up, Form DS-60 exists as an affidavit route, but it requires three certified public records showing you’ve used the new name for at least five years. For most 17-year-olds, that timeline is out of reach, so a court-ordered name change first is the more realistic path.
Sex Marker
Under an executive order issued in January 2025, the Department of State only issues passports with an M or F sex marker matching the applicant’s biological sex at birth. The previously available X marker is no longer offered.17U.S. Department of State. Sex Marker in Passports
No Social Security Number
If you’ve never been issued a Social Security number, you can still apply. Include a signed statement with your application using this exact language: “I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the following is true and correct: I have never been issued a Social Security number by the Social Security Administration.” Using the exact wording avoids processing delays.