U.S. passports are issued only to U.S. citizens or nationals. Each person must obtain
his or her own passport.
If you are a First-time applicant, please complete and submit your application in
person. (Applicants under 13 years of age usually need not appear in person unless
requested. A parent or guardian may execute the application on the child's behalf.) Each
application must be accompanies by:
- Proof of U.S. Citizenship
- Proof of identity
- Two photographs
Fees (as explained below) to one of the following acceptance agents:
1.A clerk of any Federal or State court of record or a judge or clerk of any probate
court accepting applications.
2.A designated postal employee at a selected post office or an agent at a Passport
Agency in Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York,
Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Stamford, or Washington, D.C.; or a U.S. consular
official.
If you have had a previous passport, inquire about eligibility to use Form DSP-82 (mail
in application). Address requests for passport amendment, extension of validity, or
additional visa pages to a Passport Agency or a U.S. Consulate or Embassy abroad. Check
visa requirements with consular officials of countries to be visited well in advance of
your departure.
(1) PROOF OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP.
(a) Applicants born in the united states. Submit previous U.S. passport or certified
birth certificate. A birth certificate must include your given name and surname, date and
place of birth, date the birth record was filed, and seal or other certification of the
official custodian of such records. A record filed more than 1 year after the birth is
acceptable if it is supported by evidence described in the next paragraph.
IF NO BIRTH RECORD EXISTS, submit registrar's notice to that effect. Also submit an
early baptismal, circumcision certificate, hospital birth record, early census, school, or
family Bible records, newspaper or insurance files, or notarized affidavits of persons
having knowledge of your birth (preferable with at least one record listed above).
Evidence should include your given name and surname, date and place of birth, and seal or
other certification of office (if customary) and signature of issuing official.
(b) Applicants born outside the United States. Submit previous U.S. passport or
Certificate of Naturalization, or Certificate of Citizenship, or a Report of Birth Abroad,
or evidence described below. If you claim citizenship through naturalization of
parents(s), submit the Certificate(s) of Naturalization of your parent(s), your foreign
birth certificate, and proof of your admission to the United States for permanent
residence.
IF YOU CLAIM CITIZENSHIP THROUGH BIRTH ABROAD TO U.S. CITIZEN PARENT(S), submit a
Consular Report of Birth (Form FS-240) or Certification of Birth (Form DS-1350 or FS-545),
or your foreign birth certificate, parents´ marriage certificate, proof of citizenship of
your parent(s), and affidavit of U.S. citizen parent(s) showing all periods and places of
residence/physical presence in the United States and abroad before your birth.
(2) PROOF OF IDENTITY. If you are not personally known to the acceptance agent, you
must establish your identity to the agent's satisfaction. You may submit items such as the
following containing your signature AND physical description or photograph that is a good
likeness of you: previous U.S. passport; Certificate of Naturalization or of Citizenship;
driver's license (not temporary or learner´ s license); or government (Federal, State,
municipal identification card or pass. Temporary or altered documents are not acceptable.
IF YOU CANNOT PROVE YOUR IDENTITY as stated above, you must appear with an IDENTIFYING
WITNESS who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien who has known you for at least 2
years. Your witness must prove his or her identity and complete and sign an Affidavit of
Identifying Witness (Form DSP-71) before the acceptance agent. You must also submit some
identification of your own.
(3) TWO PHOTOGRAPHS. Submit two identical photographs of you alone, sufficiently recent
to be a good likeness (normally taken within the last 6 months), 2x2 inches in size, with
an image size from bottom of chin to top of head (including hair) of between 1 and 1 3/8
inches. Photographs must be clear, front view, full face, taken in normal street attire
without a hat or dark glasses, and printed on thin paper with a plain light (white or
off-white) background. They may be black and white or color. They must be capable of
withstanding a mounting temperature of 225ˇ Fahrenheit (107ˇ Celsius). Photographs
retouched so that your appearance is changed are unacceptable. Snapshots, most vending
machine prints, and magazine or full-length photographs are unacceptable.
(4) FEES.Submit $65 if you are 18 of age or older. The passport fee is $55. In
addition, a fee of $10 is charged for the execution of application. Your passport will be
valid for 10 years from the date of issue except where limited by the Secretary of State
to a shorter period. Submit $40 if you are under 18 years of age. The passport fee is $30
and execution fee is $10. Your passport will be valid for 5 years from the date of issue,
except where limited as above.
- Pay the passport and execution fees in one of the following forms:
- checks-personal, certified, traveler's; bank draft or cashier's check; money order,
- U.S. Postal, international, currency exchange;
- or if abroad, the foreign currency equivalent, or a check drawn on a U.S. bank.
Make passport and execution fees payable to Passport Services (except if applying at a
State Court, pay execution fee as the State court requires) or the appropriate Embassy or
Consulate, if abroad. No fee is charged to applicants with U.S. Government or military
authorization for no-fee passports (except State courts may collect the execution fee).
Pay special postage if applicable.
Expediting A Passport
Reated Request
EXPEDITED PASSPORT SERVICES
APPLY EARLY FOR YOUR PASSPORT
REDUCE STRESS - SAVE MONEY
FEE FOR EXPEDITED SERVICE:
An additional charge of $35 will be assessed to
receive an expedited passport. The fee applies to expedited processing for all passport
services, including issuance, amendment, extension of validity, and adding visa pages.
Travelers who qualify for expedited service are guaranteed that the passport will be
processed within three business days of receipt by a Passport Agency, except when a
passport must be denied or delayed. If desired, payment for overnight return of the issued
passport should also be sent with your application. The three day time limit does not
include mailing time to and from a passport agency.
REQUIREMENTS FOR EXPEDITED PASSPORT PROCESSING:
Expedited processing is available only for travelers who are leaving in less than ten (10)
business days and who can document their imminent departure with plane tickets or
confirmed reservations for overseas travel. Travelers who need to obtain foreign visas to
depart within two to three weeks may also request expedited service. Expedited service is
not available to travelers who cannot document their imminent travel.
WHERE TO APPLY:
Travelers with very short travel deadlines may wish to apply for their passports directly
at a Passport Agency (located in Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Stamford (CT) and Washington
D.C.). However, many requests for expedited service can be handled by the more than 4,000
clerks of court and post offices which accept passport applications from the public and
forward them to Passport Services for issuance. If this option is selected, prepaid
overnight delivery is suggested both to and from the Passport Agency.
EXPEDITING PASSPORT RENEWALS BY MAIL:
Applicants renewing passports by mail can also benefit from expedited service by including
proof of departure and the $35 expedite fee. These applications should be sent to the
address below, clearly indicating "EXPEDITE" on the outside of the envelope. The
applications will be processed within three business days of receipt by the National
Passport Center. This fee charge is only for applicants requiring expedited service.
Passport Agencies will continue to issue passports in time for intended trips for
applicants who do not have immediate departure plans.
MELLON BANK
Attn: Passport Supervisor, 392052M
3 Mellon Bank Center, Rm. 153-2723
Pittsburgh, PA 15259-0001
Phone: 900-225-5674 or if (900) number
blocked-call
888-362-8668 (Credit Card Only)
