Pick up a passport application. To find your nearest passport agency, look in the government pages of the phone book under 'Passport' or 'Immigration.' You can also apply for a passport at many courts, post offices and libraries.
Download an application from the State Department's Web site (www.travel.state.gov) if you cannot find one locally.
Get two passport pictures at a photography shop, usually for $10. Make sure the photos match the dimensions of the diagram on your form. Color or black-and-white is acceptable, but the picture must have a white background.
Fill out the passport application and attach photos where noted.
Take the completed application to the location where you obtained the form, with your birth certificate or other citizenship papers. Your birth certificate must be an original, not a copy. If you're renewing a passport issued within the past 15 years, you may be able to apply by mail. Check with a passport agency or the State Department Web site for details.
Provide a current address where you can receive mail.
Ask the passport officer for expedited service if you need the passport in less than eight weeks. Keep in mind that expedited service requires an additional fee and, in some cases, additional documentation.
Expect to wait six to eight weeks if expedited service is not requested.
