If you are traveling by alternative transportation to Mexico, Canada, Bermuda and the Caribbean, a passport card may be acceptable. For more information, visit the U.S. State Department website.
In order to get a passport, you will need to fill out the "DS-11 Form." However, you will need to apply for a passport in person if you are younger than 16 or if you've never applied for a passport. You'll also need to bring your birth certificate.
When applying for a passport, don't forget to get your photo taken. It should be 2 inches by 2 inches and taken in front of a white background. You can have the photo taken at a photo studio or drugstore.
Your passport should take about four to six weeks to arrive, though you can have it expedited; it should then arrive in two to three weeks. As of 2009, passport costs range between $75 and $160, depending on your age and whether you apply in person or by mail.
Depending on the state you live in, you can use your passport as identification if you are applying for or renewing a driver's license. You can also use your passport as a form of ID when you are traveling domestically.
