How to Obtain a Passport for the Military

Members of the military can obtain passports at no cost through the Department of Defense.

Members of the U.S. military quite frequently are required to relocate overseas to serve a tour of duty. Because military members and their families require passports to gain entrance to these countries, the Department of Defense issues service members specific military passports at no cost. These passports, also known as "no-fee" passports, are for use with official business only and are a necessary part of military travel abroad. To obtain one of these passports, military members must take the appropriate steps and have all documentation on hand.

Things You'll Need

• Military idenfitication card
• Proof of U.S. citizenship

Instructions

1. Receive notification of an overseas assignment. Upon receiving this notification, military members should immediately begin the process of assembling the needed documents for to obtain a passport. The Department of Defense stresses that service members need not wait for official orders and should begin the passport application process as early as possible. (Reference 1)

2. Get in touch with the installation's passport office or a passport agent on base. The location of these services can be found by calling the base operator and inquiring as to where to get a no-fee passport. If there is no agent or office availible, service members work through an authorized state or federal court, certain post offices and civilian passport agencies. (Reference 1)

3. Provide proof of identity and of military status. The most effective way to provide proper proof is with an official military identification card issued by the Department of Defense. All service members and their family members should have their ID on hand when visiting the passport office. (Reference 1)

4. Show proof of U.S. citizenship. The easiest way to show proof of citizenship is by using a previously issued passport that is undamaged and unmodified. If an old passport isn't available, service members should have a copy of their birth certificates with a raised seal. This requirement is similar for family members applying for a no-fee passport as dependents of a military member. (Reference 1)

5. Fill out the DD Form 1056 and DSP Form 11. These forms should both be available as the passport office. Each individual family member or applicant must fill out their own copies of the form. (Reference 1)

6. Take photos for the passport. These photos can be taken on base and are black-and-white images of each applicant facing the camera straight-on. Applicants should not wear their military uniforms when taking these photos, nor should they have on sunglasses, hats, T-shirts or multicolor sport shirts. (Reference 1)

7. Wait for the passport applications to be processed and, when they arrive, pick them up from the passport office. The passports will not generally be sent to the applicant directly but, instead, will go to the institution on base that sponsored them. (Reference 2)

Tips & Warnings

• Although no-fee passports are useful for traveling on job-related business, service members and their families traveling overseas should also obtain a regular civilian passport as well. This is because no-fee passports are not authorized for personal use. These civilian passports can be useful, as well, when traveling to dangerous, "high-threat" areas where having a military passport could put its bearer in danger.

• Begin the passport application process as soon as possible when receiving notification of an overseas assignment. According to the Department of Defense, the average processing time for a no-fee passport is 30 days. (Reference 1) Applying as early as possible eliminates problems that could arise if the passport is delayed or late.

References

• Department of Defense: Instruction 1000.21-R
• U.S. State Department: No-fee Passport - Special Issuance Agency