Photocopy of ID for Passport Application: Format and Accepted IDs

A photocopy of ID for a passport application must be on white 8.5-by-11-inch paper, printed single-sided, at the original size or larger, and it must show both the front and back of a physical government-issued photo ID. Every identifying detail — your photo, name, date of birth, and document number — has to be clear and legible. Get any of that wrong and the State Department returns the entire packet.

The Format Rules in Detail

Use standard white paper, 8.5 by 11 inches. Print on one side only. Do not shrink the image below the ID’s actual size; enlarging is fine. Black-and-white or color both work, as long as the copy is clear.¹

Copy both sides of every ID you present, even if the back looks blank. Front and back cannot be printed on the same sheet — that counts as double-sided and will be rejected. If any text or image is cut off or obscured, the copy fails.¹

The State Department doesn’t say whether you need a traditional photocopier or a home scanner and printer. What matters is the output: white paper, single-sided, full-size, legible, front and back on separate sheets.

Which IDs You Can Photocopy

The document you copy has to be an acceptable primary ID. That means a physical, government-issued document with your photo. The State Department accepts:¹

A fully valid in-state driver’s license or enhanced driver’s license, issued by the state where you’re applying
A U.S. military or military dependent ID
A city, county, state, or federal government employee ID
A current foreign passport
A U.S. passport book or card, valid or expired but undamaged

A Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship works for both identity and citizenship, since it carries a photograph and identifying information.²

Digital and Mobile IDs Don’t Count

Several states now issue mobile driver’s licenses. The State Department does not accept them. You need a physical card, and you need to photocopy that physical card. A screenshot from a phone app will not work.¹

If You’re Applying Out of State

An out-of-state driver’s license isn’t a primary ID. If you’ve recently moved or you’re applying while traveling, bring a second document showing as much of the following as possible: photo, full name, date of birth, and issuance date.¹

If you have no primary photo ID at all, you can present at least two secondary documents — an out-of-state license, a Social Security card, a voter registration card, a student or work ID. As a last resort, someone who knows you can vouch for your identity using Form DS-71 at an acceptance facility or passport agency.¹

Photocopy every ID you present. If you bring both a primary and a secondary document, both need front-and-back copies meeting the same format rules.

When the Photocopy Is Actually Required

The photocopy rule attaches to in-person applications on Form DS-11. That includes first-time applicants, anyone whose previous passport was issued before age 16 or more than 15 years ago, and anyone replacing a lost, stolen, or damaged passport.³

At the appointment, the acceptance agent checks your original ID, has you sign the form under oath, and hands the original back to you. The photocopy stays in the sealed packet sent to the State Department. It becomes the permanent record of your identity verification, which is why the format specifications are enforced strictly.¹

Renewal by Mail Is Different

If you’re eligible to renew by mail on Form DS-82, you don’t send a separate ID photocopy. Your most recent undamaged passport, which you mail in with the application, serves as your identity document. The DS-82 checklist calls for the completed form, your most recent passport, a new photo, the fees, and — if applicable — a certified name-change document.⁴

Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Passports

A lost or stolen passport can’t be renewed by mail because you have no passport to submit. You apply in person on Form DS-11 and report the loss on Form DS-64, including a copy of any police report you filed. Standard photocopy rules apply: bring your ID and a front-and-back copy on white, single-sided, 8.5-by-11-inch paper.⁵

If you’re reporting a passport lost or stolen by mail on DS-64 without applying for a replacement at the same time, include a front-and-back photocopy of your photo ID with that form as well.⁵

A damaged passport does not count as primary identification, even if the validity date hasn’t passed. When you replace one, bring a separate undamaged primary ID and a signed statement explaining the passport’s condition.

Extra Photocopies for Minors and Parents

Applications for minors involve photocopies of more people than just the applicant.

Ages 16 and 17

Applicants who are 16 or 17 apply in person on Form DS-11 and must show that at least one parent or guardian is aware of the application. The applicant brings their own photo ID; if that ID is from a different state, or if it’s a learner’s permit, a second form of identification may be needed.⁶

Parental awareness can be shown three ways: a parent appears in person and signs, the applicant submits a signed note from a parent, or the applicant submits a check or money order in a parent’s name. If you use one of the first two methods, bring a photocopy of that parent’s or guardian’s ID as well, following the same format rules.⁶

Under 16

Children under 16 always apply in person on DS-11 and cannot renew. Both parents or legal guardians generally must appear, and each must present acceptable identification. Include a photocopy of the front and back of each parent’s ID with the application, on white paper, single-sided, at full size.⁷

If Your Name Doesn’t Match Your ID

The name on your photocopied ID is compared against the name on your application. If they don’t match, the application can be suspended until you supply an ID in the requested name, or the State Department will issue the passport in the name your documents actually support.⁸

For a legal change from marriage, divorce, or a court order, bring the certified document that establishes the new name. For minor spelling variations, presenting an acceptable ID in the requested name may be enough.⁸

The Separate Photocopy of Citizenship Evidence

The ID photocopy and the citizenship photocopy are two different requirements. Your citizenship evidence — a birth certificate, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or Certificate of Naturalization — must be submitted as an original or certified copy, and you also submit a photocopy of it. The format rules match: clear, legible, white 8.5-by-11-inch paper, single-sided. The one difference is that the citizenship photocopy only needs the front, unless there’s printed information on the back.⁹

One document you don’t need to copy at all: your Social Security card. The number goes on the application form, but no photocopy of the card is required.

1
U.S. Department of State. Get Photo ID for a U.S. Passport
2
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Chapter 3 – Certificate of Naturalization
3
U.S. Department of State. Apply for Your Adult Passport
4
U.S. Department of State. Renew Your Passport by Mail
5
U.S. Department of State. Report Your Passport Lost or Stolen
6
Travel.State.Gov. Apply for Your Passport as a 16-17 Year Old
7
USEmbassy.gov. DS-11 for Minors
8
Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM). Name Usage and Name Changes
9
U.S. Department of State. Get Citizenship Evidence for a U.S. Passport