# Travel >> Travel Preparation >> Passports

How to Print a Passport Application

Everyone should have a passport, whether you have an international trip planned or not. But, applying for a passport can be sort of an ordeal. It involves lots of paperwork, submitting documents, waiting, and worst of all, the dreaded photo. There can also be long lines at your local passport office. So, to save some time when applying for a passport, download and print out your application online.

Instructions

- 1
  Go to the U.S. Department of State’s website.
- 2
  Select Applications and Forms in the blue column on the left. If you just hold your mouse pointer over this box, another list of options will open out to the side.
- 3
  Choose the form that you need. Are you getting a passport for the first time or renewing? There are a few different passport forms that can be printed out depending on your needs.
- 4
  Click on the form that you need, and you can download a copy to print out.
- 5
  Scroll to the bottom of the page where it says in bold “If you would prefer to complete the current form…online or by hand….” Click either “online” or “by hand” to get a copy of the application in PDF to download and print out.
- 6
  Go to File and Print to print out the application. Or, use the print icon on your tool bar.