An U.S. Passport Application (Form DS-11) must be completely filled out. These can be obtained online at the U.S. State Department website (see Resources). You will be required to input your social security number, you parents' personal information, and your current location information, as well as date and place of birth. Do not sign the form until you are in front of a passport acceptance agent, or it will be considered invalid.
You are required to submit evidence of your U.S. citizenship. The current accepted documents include a previously issued passport, a certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state you were born in, certification of birth abroad, a naturalization certificate or certificate of citizenship. You must submit original or certified documents.
You must show a current government-issued identification card that includes your photo. This can include a driver's license, military identification card, naturalization certificate or a previously issued passport. You will be required to provide a copy of the front and back of this identification card as well. If you are applying for your passport in a different state than where your ID card was issued, you must show another form of identification that includes your photo, full name, date of birth and date the identification was issued.
Two current passport photos must be submitted with your passport application and documents. They must be 2 inches by 2 inches in size and show your full face against a plain white background. The photos must be in color and be identical. You can have these taken at your local pharmacy store or photography shop.
You are required to pay an application and execution fee at the time of application. It is $135 total for a first-time adult passport. If you need your passport expedited, it will cost an additional $60. Overnight delivery, which is highly suggested, is $14.95. If you are unable to provide evidence of citizenship, you can pay a file search fee of $150.
