Apply in person at either a Passport Application Acceptance Facility or a Regional Passport Agency. Passport Application Acceptance Facilities are often located in post offices or local government offices. No appointment is required. Twenty four Regional Passport Agency offices exist in various cities throughout the United States. However, you must have an appointment set up in advance to acquire a passport at a regional office. Hours, locations and directions for acquiring an appointment can be found on the U.S.State Department website (see Resources).
Print out a DS 11 form from the State Department website and fill it out completely, except for a signature. Since the form needs to be signed in front of authorized personnel, a staff member will advise when to sign the form.
Present proof of U.S. citizenship including any of the following when appearing at the Passport Application Acceptance Facility or a Regional Passport Agency:
A previously issued U.S. Passport (with no previous damage)
A certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state (with raised and embossed seal)
A naturalization certificate
A consular report concerning birth abroad or certification of birth
A certificate of U.S. citizenship
Take a current government-issued ID, including any of the following:
A current military ID or passport
A previously issued U.S. passport (must be undamaged)
A valid driver's state-issued license
A current government-issued ID (city, state or federal)
In addition to the actual ID, you will need to include a photocopy of the ID (front and back with each on a separate sheet of paper).
Bring two full-color, identical, 2-inch-by-2-inch photos when applying for your passport. You must be dressed in normal civilian dress in the photo. And the measurement from the bottom of the chin to the top of the hair cannot be less than 1 inch or greater than 1 3/8 inches.
Bring the fee. A first-time passport fee starts at $110 plus an additional $25.00 for handling as of November 2010. Payment methods include credit cards; personal, certified and cashiers checks; or money orders.
