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U.S. Passport Application (First-Time)

Everything a first-time U.S. passport applicant needs — from the DS-11 no-sign-early rule and certified birth certificate requirements to the two separate fees, photo rejection traps, and how to read the real processing timeline. For more background and examples, see the guidance below; for built-in tools and options, use the quick tools guide.

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Download and complete Form DS-11 — leave the signature line blank until you are physically in front of the acceptance agent.

DS-11 is the required form for all first-time adult applicants (age 16+) and for minors under 16. Download it at travel.state.gov or pick up a paper copy at the acceptance facility. Fill it out completely — name exactly as it appears on your citizenship document, Social Security number, contact information, and travel plans. The unsigned requirement is a legal oath witnessed by the agent; if you sign it early, the agent is required to reject it and you must start over with a new form. Typing or printing in black ink is both acceptable; computer-generated submissions are preferred because handwritten forms sometimes generate legibility errors during processing. Double-check that your name, date of birth, and place of birth match your citizenship document exactly — even a middle name initial discrepancy can cause a request for additional evidence.

Verify your name on DS-11 matches your citizenship document exactly — including middle name and any suffixes.

The State Department matches the name on your application to the name on your citizenship document. If you go by a nickname, use your legal name. If your birth certificate says 'Mary Elizabeth Johnson' and your driver's license says 'Mary E. Johnson,' that is fine — but your DS-11 must match the birth certificate, not the license, since the birth certificate is your citizenship evidence. If you have legally changed your name (through marriage, court order, or other process), you must submit the legal name change document (certified marriage certificate or court order) along with your application. Without it, the State Department will issue the passport under the name on your birth certificate.

Submit an original or certified copy of your U.S. birth certificate — with the official raised or color seal, registrar's signature, and a date of issue.

The birth certificate must be a certified government-issued document — not a commemorative hospital copy. A certified birth certificate comes from the vital records office of the state where you were born, bears the official raised embossed or color government seal (not a rubber stamp), carries the registrar's original or stamped signature, and shows a date of issue (the date the certified copy was produced, separate from the birth date). Laminated birth certificates are never accepted because lamination conceals potential alterations. If you only have a hospital-issued birth record or a photocopy, you must order a certified copy from your state's vital records office — search '[state] vital records certified birth certificate order.' Cost: $10–$30 depending on state. Standard mail delivery: 1–4 weeks. If your birth was registered late or you were born at home, the process may involve additional affidavits — contact your state's vital records office directly.

If born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent, submit your Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) or Certificate of Citizenship.

Americans born abroad to at least one U.S. citizen parent can establish citizenship via a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA, Form FS-240), a Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560/N-561), or a prior U.S. passport. Naturalized citizens submit their original Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570). These original documents are returned to you by mail after processing — you do not permanently surrender them. If you were born in a U.S. territory (Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands), a certified birth certificate from that territory's vital records office serves as your citizenship document.

Bring a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID — and a black-and-white photocopy of both the front and back.

Accepted IDs: state driver's license or ID card, U.S. military ID, U.S. government employee ID, or a naturalization certificate. The ID does not need to be REAL ID-compliant (the gold or black star marker) — REAL ID compliance is a requirement for domestic air travel and federal building access, not for passport applications. The photocopy requirement (front and back of the ID on the same sheet of paper) is often overlooked: the agent keeps the copy with the application. If your name on your photo ID differs from your citizenship document due to a legal name change, bring your name change document (certified marriage certificate or court order) as well.

Provide one 2×2 inch (51×51 mm) color photograph printed on photo paper, taken within the last six months.

All of the following must be true simultaneously: the print is 2×2 inches on photo-quality paper (not inkjet on regular paper); your face occupies 50–69% of the total frame height, measured chin to top of head (1 to 1.375 inches); the background is plain white or off-white with no shadows, objects, or patterns; your expression is neutral with your mouth closed; your eyes are open, clearly visible, and directed at the camera; eyeglasses are removed (prohibited since 2016, with no exceptions unless you have a medical waiver from a licensed physician on letterhead); no hats or head coverings except for documented, sincerely held religious beliefs (requires a signed statement); no filters or digital alterations. The photo must reflect your current appearance — if you've significantly changed your hair color, grown a beard, or had surgery, use a current photo.

Get the photo taken at a professional passport photo service — CVS, Walgreens, USPS, AAA, or UPS Store.

Professional services cost $10–$20 and produce two compliant prints (submit one, keep one as a backup). The technician handles background, lighting, composition, and sizing. For DIY digital submissions: apps like the CVS Photo app or Passport Photo Maker can work if your lighting is controlled and your background is genuinely white — but the most common DIY failures are off-white walls photographed to look white, shadows on the background, glasses left on, or face proportion outside the 50–69% requirement. A rejected photo at the acceptance facility means you leave without submitting, need to find a photo service, and potentially rebook an appointment — a $15 professional photo is the cheapest insurance in this entire process.

Prepare a check or money order payable to 'U.S. Department of State' for the application fee.

Current fees (2026 — always verify at travel.state.gov before applying, as Congress authorizes changes): Passport book (adults 16+): $130. Passport card (adults 16+): $30. Both book and card on one application: $160. Minors under 16: $100 for book, $15 for card. This payment must be a check (personal, cashier's, or certified) or a money order — no cash, no credit or debit cards, no digital payments for this federal fee. Make it payable to 'U.S. Department of State' — do not abbreviate. If you are applying by mail (renewal only, not first-time), include the check or money order with your mailed application packet.

Bring a separate payment of $35 for the execution fee, paid directly to the acceptance facility.

The execution fee ($35 as of 2026) covers the facility's service: witnessing your DS-11 signature as a legal oath, reviewing your documents for completeness, and transmitting your application. Payment methods for this fee vary by facility — most accept credit cards, cash, and money orders; a minority accept only cash or money order. Call or check the facility's website before your appointment. Bringing cash as a backup is always safe. The execution fee is non-refundable — even if your application is later rejected by the State Department after submission.

Locate an acceptance facility and book an appointment — most facilities are busiest January through August.

Find facilities and appointment availability at iafdb.travel.state.gov. Not all U.S. Post Offices offer passport acceptance — only designated locations do. Other acceptance facilities include county clerk offices, public libraries, and municipal courts. Peak demand runs from January through late summer (spring break and summer vacation planning season). During peak season, appointment slots at busy facilities can be booked 2–6 weeks out. Off-peak (September–December): usually available within 1–2 weeks. If you are in a rural area with limited facilities, factor in the drive and confirm the facility's accepted payment methods and document requirements before traveling.

#10

Apply for expedited processing (+$60) if your international travel is within 13 weeks of your application date.

Routine processing: 8–11 weeks from the date your application is received by the State Department (not the date you apply at the facility). Expedited processing (add Form DS-11's expedite checkbox and an additional $60 check/money order, also to 'U.S. Department of State'): approximately 5–7 weeks currently. Neither timeline includes mailing time to and from the State Department. You can also add State Department priority return shipping ($19.53 as of 2026 — verify at travel.state.gov) to ensure tracked overnight delivery of your completed passport. For travel within 14 calendar days: routine and expedited processing are too slow — you need an emergency appointment at one of the 13 Regional Passport Agencies (not acceptance facilities). Same-day and next-day appointments require documented proof of imminent international travel (confirmed itinerary showing departure date).

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After submission, track your application status online at travel.state.gov using your last name, date of birth, and last four digits of your Social Security number.

The online tracker becomes active approximately 2–3 weeks after your acceptance facility submits your application. Status stages you will see: 'Application Received,' 'In Process,' 'Approved,' and 'Shipped.' Your original citizenship documents (birth certificate, naturalization certificate, etc.) are mailed back to you separately and earlier than the passport itself — this is normal. If documents arrive but the passport does not within expected timeframes, or if you see no status update after four weeks, contact the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778. Status updates by email are available if you provide an email address on your DS-11.

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⚠️ The Name-Match Trap That Delays Thousands of Applications

One of the most underreported application delays isn't about documents being missing — it's about names not matching across documents. The State Department compares the name on your DS-11 against your citizenship document (birth certificate or naturalization certificate), not your driver's license. If you were born Maria Consuela Reyes but your birth certificate reads Maria C. Reyes, that inconsistency can generate a Request for Evidence letter, adding 4–8 weeks to your timeline. Before you fill out DS-11, lay your birth certificate and any name-change documents side by side and write your name exactly as the citizenship document shows it.

📖 When the Timeline Blindsided a Whole Family

A family of four booked a Caribbean cruise in late February, departure in late April — nine weeks away. They assumed passports were a two-week errand. The parents had valid passports; both children needed first-time applications. They applied in early March under routine processing. The cruise sailed without the children. They had to forfeit non-refundable cabin costs. The passports arrived the following week. The $60 expedited upgrade and $19 return shipping would have cost $158 total for both children — far less than the cruise penalty. Apply before you book, not after.

🧮 Your Application Cost at a Glance

Book application fee$130

Execution fee$35

Passport photo$15

Routine total~$180

+ Expedited processing+$60

+ Priority return shipping+$20

Expedited total~$260

Verify all fees at travel.state.gov — they change by Congressional authorization, not annually.

📅 The Honest Processing Calendar

"Processing time" on travel.state.gov is measured from when the State Department receives your application — not when you apply at the facility. The facility typically mails your application within 1–3 business days of acceptance. Factor in return shipping (1–3 business days for standard, 1 day for priority). Here is how to read the calendar honestly:

14+ weeks

before departure

Routine processing, standard shipping. No urgency fees.

7–13 weeks

before departure

Add expedited processing (+$60) and priority shipping (+$20).

Under 14 days

before departure

Regional Passport Agency only. Bring printed flight confirmation.

🌍 The Six-Month Validity Rule — A Post-Issuance Trap

Getting your passport is not the last step — understanding when it expires relative to your travel is. Over 50 countries (including much of Southeast Asia, Central America, and parts of Africa) require that your passport remain valid for at least six months beyond your intended return date. A passport expiring in four months is technically "valid" but will be denied entry at the border or boarding gate. If your passport will be less than seven months valid when you travel, begin renewal immediately — do not wait. U.S. adult passports are valid for 10 years from the issue date (5 years for minors under 16), so this mostly catches travelers with older books, but it applies to new passports if your trip extends close to the issue date plus 9.5 years.

💡 The Book vs. Card Decision Framework

The passport card's $30 fee (versus $130 for the book) is appealing — but the decision tree is simple:

✅Get the card too if you regularly cross land or sea borders to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean, or if you want a second government ID for domestic travel.
✗Don't rely on only the card if you ever plan to fly internationally — even a single international flight to Mexico or the Bahamas requires the book at the boarding gate.

Applied together on one DS-11 form: $160 total, one appointment, one execution fee.

🚨 If Your Passport Doesn't Arrive in Time

If routine or expedited processing is running long and your travel is approaching, escalate before panicking: (1) Check your application status at travel.state.gov — if it shows "Shipped," the passport is already in the mail. (2) If status shows "In Process" and you are within 14 days of departure, call 1-877-487-2778 to request emergency escalation. (3) If you need to travel and your passport has not arrived, a Regional Passport Agency appointment can issue a limited-validity passport for imminent travel while your full application is still in process. Bring your flight confirmation, itinerary, and all application receipts to the appointment.

📝 After You Get Your Passport — Three Things Most First-Timers Don't Know to Do

1. Register with STEP before international travel. The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (step.state.gov) is a free State Department service that lets the nearest U.S. Embassy contact you in an emergency — civil unrest, natural disaster, or personal crisis. It takes three minutes and is one of the most overlooked safety steps by first-time passport holders.

2. Make two copies of your passport data page before you leave. Store one copy at home with a trusted person and carry the second separately from your actual passport (a different bag or luggage piece). If your passport is lost or stolen abroad, a copy speeds up the emergency replacement process at the nearest U.S. Embassy significantly.

3. Check visa requirements for every country on your itinerary — separately from your passport. A valid U.S. passport grants visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to roughly 186 countries, but the exceptions include countries many Americans visit (India, China, Russia, Brazil, Vietnam, and others). Check the State Department's country-specific pages at travel.state.gov before booking any trip.

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Checklist Items

Form DS-11 — Fill Out Correctly Before You Arrive

Proof of U.S. Citizenship — Specific Document Standards

Government-Issued Photo ID — Original Plus Photocopy

Passport Photo — The Highest Rejection Rate of Any Requirement

Fees — Two Separate Payments to Two Different Payees

Processing Time and Submission

⚠️ The Name-Match Trap That Delays Thousands of Applications

📖 When the Timeline Blindsided a Whole Family

🧮 Your Application Cost at a Glance

📅 The Honest Processing Calendar

🌍 The Six-Month Validity Rule — A Post-Issuance Trap

💡 The Book vs. Card Decision Framework

🚨 If Your Passport Doesn't Arrive in Time

📝 After You Get Your Passport — Three Things Most First-Timers Don't Know to Do

Master This Checklist Quickly

Start Here

Checklist Row Tools

Top Action Buttons

Share

Add & Ask

Copy and customize

Save Progress

Most Natural Usage

Track over time

Send or export

Make your own version

Form DS-11 — Fill Out Correctly Before You Arrive

Proof of U.S. Citizenship — Specific Document Standards

Government-Issued Photo ID — Original Plus Photocopy

Passport Photo — The Highest Rejection Rate of Any Requirement

Fees — Two Separate Payments to Two Different Payees

Processing Time and Submission

Additional Notes