Sign your U.S. passport in blue or black ink. Those are the only two colors the State Department accepts, and a standard ballpoint pen in either color is the safest choice.1U.S. Department of State. After You Get Your New Passport – Section: Sign your passport Your passport isn’t fully valid until it’s signed, so do it as soon as the envelope arrives.
Why Blue or Black
Both colors photograph and scan cleanly under the equipment border agents use to verify travel documents. They hold up across the passport’s ten-year life without fading the way lighter inks can, and they contrast sharply with the off-white signature page so the writing stays readable after years of handling.
Red, green, purple, or any novelty color risks having your passport questioned or rejected at a checkpoint. A border officer who can’t clearly read or scan the signature line has grounds to flag the document, and that is not a conversation you want to have in an immigration queue.
Skip gel pens and felt-tip markers. They tend to smudge before the ink sets, and a smeared signature creates exactly the ambiguity you’re trying to avoid. A basic ballpoint dries almost instantly and holds a clean line.
Where to Sign
Open the passport book to the second page, directly opposite your photo page. There’s a line labeled “Signature of bearer.” Sign your full name on that line and nowhere else.1U.S. Department of State. After You Get Your New Passport – Section: Sign your passport Don’t let your signature spill onto other pages or cross over any printed text.
The State Department treats unofficial markings on passport pages as damage, which can make the document invalid for travel.2U.S. Department of State. Replacing Your Passport After A Disaster Writing notes in the wrong spot or letting a child doodle on a page can turn a valid passport into an expensive souvenir.
If You Used the Wrong Ink or Made a Mistake
A slightly wobbly line or a letter that ran together won’t get you flagged. The signature just needs to be readable and clearly yours.
What you should never do is try to erase, white-out, or scribble over a mistake. Any alteration that looks like tampering can turn a minor slip into a major one, because unofficial markings on passport pages count as damage.2U.S. Department of State. Replacing Your Passport After A Disaster
If you signed in the wrong color, wrote on the wrong page, or otherwise damaged the signature page yourself, you’ll likely need to apply for a replacement and pay the full fees. For an adult applying with Form DS-11, the total is $165: a $130 application fee plus a $35 facility acceptance fee. If you’re eligible to renew by mail using Form DS-82, the fee is $130 with no acceptance fee.3U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
Signing a Child’s Passport
Children under 16 don’t sign their own passports. A parent prints the child’s full name on the signature line, signs their own name next to it, and notes their relationship to the child, such as “mother,” “father,” or “guardian.”4U.S. Department of State. Frequently Asked Questions about Passport Services Use the same blue or black ink you’d use for your own passport. Once a child turns 16, they can sign their passport themselves.
Signing With a Disability
If you can’t write your name, you can sign with a mark such as an “X.” Bring a witness to your passport appointment who can confirm the mark is your intended signature, especially if your previous ID carries a written signature rather than a mark. The witness needs a valid government-issued photo ID.5U.S. Department of State. Applying with a Disability
If you can’t make a mark at all, someone with legal authority can sign on your behalf. Bring a copy of the court order granting that authority, such as a guardianship document or power of attorney.5U.S. Department of State. Applying with a Disability
What Happens if You Don’t Sign at All
An unsigned passport can cause real problems. Airlines and border agents check for the signature, and some countries treat an unsigned passport as invalid. You could face extra screening, delays at immigration, or denial of entry. Signing takes five seconds, and forgetting is one of those small oversights that can derail a trip before it starts.