The easiest way to apply for your first passport is to visit your local post office. In order to attain a passport you will need to bring a passport-sized photo with you and some form of proof of citizenship, such as your birth certificate. You will need to fill out the application and pay the passport fee. Fees will vary based on processing time. You will receive your passport in the mail.
Passport renewals are available via mail. You can renew your passport through the mail if you meet the criteria: Your current or expired passport is damage-free and issued to you within the last 15 years. You must also have been 16 years of age or older when you received your passport. Along with the application, you will need to submit your old passport, a passport-sized photo and payment for any applicable fees.
A passport that has been lost domestically needs reporting to the U.S. State Department. The phone number is 877-487-2778. In order to replace your passport, you can visit your local post office or other agency that provides passport services. When a passport is lost in another country, you will need to contact the American embassy.
Name changes require specific measures related to your passport. If your passport is less than one year old, you can update it without any fees. You will need to mail in the application that will include a corrected name. You must also send in your current passport and evidence of your name change. A name change related to a passport issued more than one year beforehand will necessitate the payment of applicable fees. You will also mail in your current passport, evidence of your name change, an application and a photograph.
