Apply for a new adult passport
Getting a new adult passport; almost every country aside from the United States requires a passport.
Discover how to apply in person for a passport, how to monitor the status of your application, and how to get it updated or changed.
But be mindful of processing timeframes. All over the year, they change.
Eligibility to get a passport
You will need to apply for a new passport if you are unable to renew your current one or if this is your first. In order to qualify, one must be either:
- A naturalized citizen or a citizen by birth
- An eligible non-citizen national of the U.S.
For a new passport, you have to apply in person at a passport acceptance center. You cannot complete it by mail or online.
What do you need to get a passport?
Both passport books and passport cards require the same application process. When you apply, you will select the kind of passport you wish to get. Find out how passport books and passport cards differ from one another.
To obtain a U.S. passport, you must apply this four steps.
Application: Form DS-11 is required.
Form DS-11 can be completed online and printed, or it can be downloaded as a PDF (PDF, 5 pages, 1.9 MB) and completed by hand.
Locate your regional agency or local passport acceptance center, then pick up Form DS-11.
Until the passport acceptance official instructs you to sign Form DS-11 at your appointment, do not do so.
- Personal documents and records, such as: Original citizenship proof: Find out what counts as primary citizenship evidence or, in the absence of primary evidence, what secondary evidence might be acceptable.
- A valid picture ID: A copy of your citizenship certificate and picture ID
Photo on a passport and cost - Apply in person: Locate the passport acceptance center in your area. This establishment might serve as a post office or library. Certain facilities have set hours or require appointments.
Renew an adult passport
See if you require a new passport or if you can renew your current one. Find out how to get your passport updated or amended, how to renew it by mail, and what to do if it is about to expire.
Early renewal is recommended. The time it takes to process a passport varies. If your passport expires in less than six months, some countries and airlines will not allow your entrance.
Check to see if your passport can be renewed.
If any of the following apply to you, you will need to apply in person for a new passport using Form DS-11 as you cannot renew your U.S. passport.
- Issued before the age of sixteen
- Released over fifteen years ago
- Stolen, lost, or damaged. Find out how to report a stolen or missing passport.
- Issued under your former name, and you lack a legal record—such as a marriage license—proving that your name has changed legally.
You can renew your U.S. passport if none of the above circumstances apply to you.
Can you renew an expired passport?
A passport that has expired can still be renewed, but only if it was obtained within within 15 years. What documentation is required and how to renew your passport.
Only way to renew a passport is by mail, and both passport books and cards require the same steps. When completing the application form, you will be able to choose the kind of passport you want. Currently delaying online renewals.
It is important to renew your passport weeks before its expiration as the application processing time may reach three months.
In most cases, the following documents are required in order to renew your passport:
Application: Form DS-82 is required. When renewing by documents, you have three options: fill out Form DS-82 online, download it, and fill it out by hand,
Visit the nearby agency or your local passport acceptance center, then pick up a copy.
Passport picture, passport fee
Your most recent passport – Following the delivery of your new passport, you will get a second package containing your most recent passport. Documentation of name changes, if applicable
Lost or stolen passports
If your passport is lost or stolen you must report it to the State Department right away. How you replace it depends on if you are inside or outside the U.S.
How to report your lost or stolen passport
- Online: To submit Form DS-64 online, use the online tool.
- Via phone: Dial 1-877-487-2778 (TTY 1-888-874-7793) toll-free.
- By mail: Fill out Form DS-64 and send it to the specified address.
The State Department cancels your passport as soon as you declare it stolen or misplaced. If you find it, you are unable to use it.
How to replace your lost or stolen passport
Lost or stolen passport replacements while in the United States.
You must apply in person for a new passport using Form DS-11 if yours has been lost or stolen while you are in the United States. Pay attention to the State Department’s instructions, which can differ depending on how soon you require your new passport. Find out how long it will take by looking up the current processing times.
Stolen or lost passport replacements outside the U.S.
If you are outside of the country, find out how long it will take to replace a lost or stolen passport by getting in touch with the closest American embassy or consulate.
If you don’t have enough time to obtain a standard passport, you might be able to obtain one with restricted validity in particular circumstances. Find out more about stolen or lost passports internationally.
What to do if you find someone else’s lost passport
Send any U.S. passports you come across throughout the country to the following address:
Department of State of the United States Consular Lost and Stolen Passport Unit (CLASP) 44132 Mercure Circle PO Box 1227 Sterling, Virginia 20166-1227
Returned passports should be sent to the closest American embassy or consulate if you come across one while traveling overseas.
If a foreign passport is discovered in the United States, return it to the embassy or consulate of the nation that issued it.
Recognize the regulations of passport expiration at your destination.
If an American passport holder’s passport expires in less than six months, certain nations and airlines won’t let them in.
Visit the Department of State’s country information website to verify the U.S. passport expiration policies of your intended nation.
Look for “country name” on the left.