First-time applicants are required to submit an application for a U.S. passport in person at an approved passport acceptance facility. Only renewals are eligible for mail-in processing. Along with the appropriate form, DS-11: Application for a U.S. Passport, the appropriate fees, primary evidence of citizenship and identification must be submitted.
Evidence of citizenship can be substantiated through a government-issued certified birth certificate, consular report of birth abroad, naturalization certificate or a certificate of citizenship. Appropriate documents for identification include a valid driver's license, current government I.D., military I.D. or naturalization certificate.
Alongside the appropriate documents, two passport-size photos must be submitted. These can be taken at a number of places or, in many cases, paid for and taken at an approved passport acceptance facility.
When taking a passport photo, certain rules apply. The photos submitted must measure 2x2 inches and must be identical. They must be recent, or rather, taken within six months prior to applying for a passport. The image should be a full-face photo in normal street attire with a white background and between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.
Clothing worn in the photo should not be in religious garb unless it is worn daily, hats or headgear that hide the hair or hairline is forbidden and dark or tinted glasses that are not prescribed should not be worn. Anyone who wears prescription glasses, a hearing device, wig or similar items on a day-to-day basis should wear these in the picture.
Minors, or applicants 16 years old and under, must submit applications and application renewals in person at an approved passport acceptance facility. All children, even newborns, must have their own passport. Evidence of U.S. citizenship must be established, and in addition, both parents or guardians must submit proof of relationship.
Proof of relationship can be established by means of a birth certificate with both parents' names on it, a report of birth abroad with both names on it, an adoption decree or a court order establishing custody or guardianship. Both parents must submit primary evidence of identification and both must provide parental consent, in person. If one parent is unavailable then a notarized statement of consent must be submitted in lieu of the parent's appearance. When a single parent is the sole guardian, primary evidence of this must be substantiated in the form of a birth certificate listing a single parent only, an adoption decree, death certificate, court order establishing sole custody or a judicial declaration establishing the incompetence of the non-applying parent.
