If this is your first time applying for a passport or you are ineligible to renew your passport through the mail, you must complete Form DS-11. Reasons that make you ineligible to renew your passport through the mail are if your passport was lost or stolen, you are under the age of 16, your passport is over 15 years old or your name has changed but you have no documentation to prove the name change. You can obtain Form DS-11 from the U.S. Department of State website or from any acceptance facility. Do not sign this form until you are instructed to do so by a facility agent.
You must show proof that you are a U.S. citizen when submitting Form DS-11. All evidence you submit will be returned with your newly issued passport. You must show proof of citizenship with a previously issued passport, a certified birth certificate, a certificate of citizenship, a consular report of birth abroad or a naturalization certificate.
You must show proof of your identity when submitting Form DS-11. Acceptable forms of identification are a valid driver's license, government ID, military ID, naturalization certificate or a previously issued passport. The identification you provide must be unexpired. If you are applying for a passport in a state other than the state your identification was issued, you must show a separate form of identification. For instance, if you are applying in Wisconsin with an ID or driver's license from Florida, you must provide a secondary form of identification. Acceptable second forms include library cards, credit cards and a social security card.
You must submit two, identical, 2 by 2 inch photographs when submitting Form DS-11. These photographs must be recent and show your full face on a plain white background. Some businesses offer passport photograph services such as portrait studios and photograph developing facilities. Some passport facilities also offer this service.
