# Travel >> Travel Preparation >> Passports

How to Obtain a Passport in Florida

Florida residents can get a U.S. passport by applying by mail, or by applying in person at one of the 261 Passport Acceptance Facilities throughout the state. Emergency applications can be done at the Passport Agency in Miami. Application by mail is the normal procedure for renewal of passports. For first-time applicants, applying in person is required to get a passport. It may also be required under some other special conditions, like if the applicant's passport is lost or stolen, or the original passport was issued before the applicant was 15 years old.

Form DS-11: Application for a U.S. Passport, unsigned and with Social Security Number filled in.
Proof of citizenship, which can be any of the following: Certified birth certificate issued by the state, county, or city of birth; a Certification of Birth or Consular Report of Birth Abroad; a Naturalization Certificate; or a Certificate of Citizenship.
Valid identification, which can be any of the following: a valid drivers license; a naturalization certificate; a current military ID; or a current government ID (issued by a state, city, or the federal government).
Photocopies of the documentation and the ID
Two 2-by-2 inch passport photos in color, not printed on a computer printer or taken in a vending machine, but taken by a photographer
$135 for the passport processing fee

Instructions

- 1
  Apply at one of the Passport Acceptance Facilities throughout the state. Acceptance Facilities usually do not require reservations, but the opening times and practices varies from facility to facility.
- 2
  Present the required documentation, including the photographs, the identification, the proof of citizenship, and the passport photos.
- 3
  Sign form DS-11 when requested by the passport officer.
- 4
  Pay the processing fee. At the Passport Acceptance Facilities, payment can be done only by personal check, or exact cash at some facilities. Check what applies before making an appointment or submitting the application.
- 5
  Wait 4 to 6 weeks for the passport to be processed.