Get your birth certificate. You must submit this with your passport application to prove U.S. citizenship. If needed, Vermont natives born prior to 2004 should submit a request with fees for a certified copy of their birth certificate to the Vermont Secretary of State Certification Services (see Resources). You can order online with a credit card or print out an application and mail with a check. Current fees and contact information can be found on the Certification Services webpage (see Resources).
Check your Vermont driver's license or non-driver Identification cards to be certain they are still valid. You will need to show these to prove your identity when you apply for your passport. Apply for or renew those if needed through the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Forms for this purpose can be downloaded from the DMV's webpage (see Resources). Military ID, current government employee ID and naturalization certificates will also prove your identity when applying for your passport. Make a photocopy of your identification.
Complete the passport application DS-11, the application for a United States passport. Fill the form out online and print. You must provide your Social Security number to get a passport. Do not sign the form; you will do that at a passport agency.
Get your photograph taken. You must include two acceptable color photos with your passport application. The United States Department of State has specific guidelines on the size and quality of these photos. Numerous Vermont post offices have passport photo services available (see Resources). Your passport application can also be submitted at these post offices.
Take your passport application, your supporting documents and your photos in person to a Vermont post office/passport acceptance facility (see Resources). Pay the current passport fees. Processing time can vary; the norm is six weeks. Check online for an estimate of current processing time and to track your passport application status.
