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Passport Applications and Forms
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 A passport is your ticket to travel the world! All U.S. citizens, including children, are required to obtain passports in their own names for identification while traveling abroad and for re-entry into the United States. Unless specifically authorized by a passport issuing office, no person may have more than one valid, or potentially valid, U.S. passport of the same type at any one time.
Following is a summary of the passport application process compiled from information provided by the U.S. State Department. You can find checklists of all the materials necessary for each type of application and download the appropriate forms in Passport Applications and Forms.
Jump to:
First-Time Applications
Passport Renewals
Application Fees
New State Department Requirements
In the past, passports were not required for travel to countries like Canada, Mexico and parts of the Caribbean. However, in January 2007, the U.S. State Department began requiring passports for all air travel to and from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. This is known as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI).
Adult citizens traveling by land or sea to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermuda will need passports (or a WHTI-compliant alternative) by June 1, 2009 in most cases. There are a few exceptions, according to the Department of Homeland Security:
U.S. citizens on cruises that begin and end at the same port in the U.S. will only need to display proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID.
Children 16 and under will still be able to travel to these destinations by land or sea by presenting proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate).
Groups of children ages 16 through 18, when traveling under adult supervision with a religious or school group, sports team, or social organization, may present a birth certificate or other proof of citizenship.
For more information, see GetYouHome.gov.
The State Department has developed a cheaper alternative to the traditional passport called the passport card, which started production in July 2008. This card is not valid for international air travel, but may be used instead of a passport for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. The wallet-sized card contains an identification chip that can be read by a scanner up to 20 feet away, and costs $45 for adults and $35 for children. Adults who already have a traditional passport pay only $20 for the passport card.
U.S. citizens may currently travel by land or sea into Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean with a WHTI-compliant document (such as a passport, passport card or enhanced driver's license) or a government-issued photo ID (such as a driver's license) and a birth certificate. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol tells us that copies of birth certificates are acceptable if you are unable to bring your original. Oral declarations of citizenship are no longer acceptable at border crossings.
A note for travelers who've had a name change: A State Department spokesperson tells us that if the names on your birth certificate and driver's license don't match (for example, if your birth certificate has your maiden name and your driver's license has your married name), it's a good idea to bring along documentation of your name change -- such as a marriage certificate.
First-Time Passport Applications
 If you are applying for your first U.S. passport, you must apply in person at one of over 7,000 facilities, such as courthouses and post offices, which accept passport applications or at a regional passport agency. To find the nearest passport agency or facility, use this search tool from the U.S. State Department. You will need to provide the following documents:
Proof of United States citizenship or nationality such as: a certified copy of a birth certificate (one issued from a government office, not a hospital)
for all applicants born in the U.S., a Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship, or an expired U.S. passport.
Proof of identity (photo ID with signature) such as a previous U.S. passport, a Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship, a valid driver's license, or a valid government or military identification card.
Two identical passport photographs taken within the last six months. The photographs must be 2x2 inches with an image size between 1 and 1 3/8 inches. Photographs must be a front view, full face, taken in normal street attire without a hat or dark glasses, with a plain white background.
A completed passport application form DS-11 containing all the requested information except your signature. This form must be signed in the presence of an authorized executing official.
Passport Renewals
Applicants who have had a previous U.S. passport issued within the past 15 years, and who were 16 or older when the passport was issued, may be eligible to apply for a new passport by mail providing they can submit their passport and their name has not changed or can legally document a name change. If these statements do not apply to you, you must follow the procedure for first-time passport applications (above). Documents required for passport renewals include:
U.S. passport.
Two passport photos.
A completed passport application form DS-82 that contains all the requested information and is signed and dated.
If your name has changed due to marriage, divorce, adoption or court order, you must also include a certified copy of the document detailing your name change.
Mail the completed application, attachments and payment in a padded envelope to the address on the application form. Note that there may be a different address if you've chosen expedited service.
Your previous passport will be returned to you with your new passport. (Please note that the two documents may be sent in separate mailings.)
Passport Fees
Passport fees for an initial 10-year passport are $100 if you are 16 years of age or over, and $85 for a five-year passport if under 16. (Note that the total price of a passport is composed of two different fees -- an application fee and an execution fee -- so you may need to write out two different checks when applying in person.) Passport renewal fees are $75. Some facilities are beginning to accept payment via credit and debit cards; call ahead to be sure.
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