How to File for a U.S. Passport

If you're going on a foreign trip, it's best to apply for your passport at least eight weeks before you plan to leave, to allow time for processing and any possible complications.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Passport Photographs
• Passport Services

1. Pick up a passport application. To find your nearest passport agency, look in the government pages of the phone book under 'Passport' or 'Immigration.' You can also apply for a passport at many courts, post offices and libraries.
2. Download an application from the State Department's Web site (www.travel.state.gov) if you cannot find one locally.
3. Get two passport pictures at a photography shop, usually for $10. Make sure the photos match the dimensions of the diagram on your form. Color or black-and-white is acceptable, but the picture must have a white background.
4. Fill out the passport application and attach photos where noted.
5. Take the completed application to the location where you obtained the form, with your birth certificate or other citizenship papers. Your birth certificate must be an original, not a copy. If you're renewing a passport issued within the past 15 years, you may be able to apply by mail. Check with a passport agency or the State Department Web site for details.
6. Provide a current address where you can receive mail.
7. Ask the passport officer for expedited service if you need the passport in less than eight weeks. Keep in mind that expedited service requires an additional fee and, in some cases, additional documentation.
8. Expect to wait six to eight weeks if expedited service is not requested.

Tips & Warnings

• Get multiple application forms in case you make a mistake.
• Carry a photocopy of your passport in a safe place; if you lose your passport, you'll be able to replace it more quickly.
• Some foreign countries don't require a passport for entry. Check with your passport office or with the embassy of the country you plan to visit.
• If your passport is more than 10 years old, you need a new one. Children under 16 need to renew every 5 years.