Step 1: Decide If You Are A First Time Applicant Or A Renewal
The process for how to get your passport depends on which category you are in.
You generally apply in person using Form DS-11 if:
- This is your first US passport
- Your last passport was issued when you were under age 16
- Your previous passport was issued more than 15 years ago
- Your last passport was lost, stolen, or significantly damaged
You can usually renew by mail using Form DS-82 if your most recent passport:
- Is undamaged and can be submitted with your application
- Was issued when you were age 16 or older
- Was issued within the last 15 years
- Was issued in your current name, or you can document your name change
If you are not sure which form applies, USA.gov and the State Department both have eligibility checkers that walk you through the questions.
This article focuses on the in-person DS-11 process, since that is what most first-time travelers need.
Step 2: Gather Proof Of Citizenship And Identity
Before you can get your passport, you need to prove your identity and US citizenship.
For a first-time adult passport, you must bring:
- Evidence of US citizenship (original or certified copy), such as
- A US birth certificate that meets State Department requirements
- A US naturalization certificate
- A US certificate of citizenship
- A current, valid photo ID, such as
- A US driver’s license
- A state-issued ID card
- Photocopies of the front and back of each ID document you are presenting
- Copies must be on plain white paper, single-sided, and legible
Your evidence of citizenship must be an original or certified copy, not a simple photocopy or printout. If you are using a birth certificate, double-check that it shows your full name, date of birth, and place of birth, and that it is issued by a city, county, or state, not just a hospital.
The State Department’s “Get Evidence of U.S. Citizenship“ page has a detailed list of acceptable documents and exceptional cases, for example, for people born abroad.
Step 3: Get A Proper Passport Photo
You will need one recent, good-quality passport photo that meets US requirements.
Basic rules include:
- Color photo, taken in the last 6 months
- Clear, in focus, with a plain white or off-white background
- Sized 2 x 2 inches, with your head centered and facing the camera
- Neutral expression or natural smile, both eyes open
- No hats, uniforms, or headphones, and limited glasses use (in most cases, glasses are not allowed)
You can go to a pharmacy, shipping store, or photo service that advertises passport photos, or you can take one yourself if you follow the official guidelines carefully.
The State Department has a detailed photo example page and a photo tool that shows you what is acceptable before you print.
Step 4: Fill Out The Right Form
For first-time adults, the main form is DS-11.
The recommended way to do it is:
- Use the online Form Filler on travel.state.gov to enter your information
- Print the completed form on single-sided white paper
- Do not sign it yet
You will sign the DS-11 in front of an acceptance agent when you submit your application.
If you prefer, you can print a blank DS-11 and fill it out by hand using black ink, writing clearly and neatly.
Check everything carefully for spelling mistakes and date errors. Little mistakes are a common cause of delays.
Step 5: Decide On Book, Card, Or Both And Calculate Fees
You now choose which travel document you want and how fast you need it.
You can apply for:
- A passport book, which is valid for all international air, land, and sea travel
- A passport card, which is cheaper but only valid for land and sea crossings to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda
- Both book and card together
Most international air travelers should get the passport book. You can add the card only if you see a clear use for it.
There are two types of fees for Form DS-11:
- Passport application fee, paid to the US Department of State
- Execution (submission) fee, paid to the facility where you submit your application
Fees vary depending on whether you choose book, card, or both, and whether you request routine or expedited service. Because they can change, the safest approach is to check the official current fee chart right before you apply.
You usually pay the application fee by check or money order made payable to “U.S. Department of State.“ The execution fee is typically paid separately to the acceptance facility and can often be paid by card.
If you want faster processing, you can:
- Add the expedited service fee
- Add an optional one to two-day delivery for mailing your completed passport back to you
The State Department’s “Cost of Your Passport“ and “Processing Times“ pages give current numbers.
Step 6: Submit Your Application In Person
For Form DS-11, you must apply in person. You cannot mail this form yourself.
You can submit at:
- Many US post offices
- Some public libraries
- County or city clerk of court offices
- Official passport agencies and centers (usually for urgent travel only)
On the day of your appointment, bring:
- Your completed but unsigned DS-11 form
- Your original proof of citizenship and one photocopy
- Your valid photo ID and one photocopy
- Your passport photo
- Payment for both fees
The acceptance agent will:
- Review your documents
- Witness you signing the DS-11
- Administer a short oath stating that your information is true
- Package and send your application to the correct passport center
If you have a very urgent international travel within 14 calendar days, you may be eligible for an in-person appointment at a regional passport agency. Those must be booked through the official site or by calling the National Passport Information Center, and availability is limited.
Step 7: Track Your Passport And What To Do When It Arrives
After your appointment, it will take some time for your application to reach the passport center, be processed, and then be mailed back to you.
You can:
- Check the status online on the State Department site
- Sign up for email updates using the contact information you put on your form
Once your new passport arrives:
- Inspect it immediately to make sure your name, date of birth, and other details are correct
- Sign it in ink on the signature line
- Celebrate by booking a trip if you haven’t already
- Store it in a safe place, but not so “safe“ that you forget where it is before your trip
If there is an error that is clearly the government’s fault, there is a separate process to correct it without paying a new application fee. USA.gov outlines how to handle corrections and name changes.
Special Notes: If You Are Getting A Passport For A Child Or Teen
“How to get your passport“ includes a list of extra rules for those under 18.
For ages under 16:
- Both parents or guardians usually must appear in person with the child
- There are specific consent procedures if one parent cannot be present
- Child passports are valid for 5 years, not 10
For 16 and 17-year-olds:
- They generally apply in person using the DS-11 form.
- The State Department recommends that at least one parent or guardian be present, or that they provide proof of parental awareness of the application.
Because the requirements here are more detailed, I highly recommend reading the State Department’s dedicated pages for “Apply for a Child’s Passport“ and “Apply as a 16 or 17 Year Old“ before you start, to get a complete and updated understanding.
Looking Ahead: EES And ETIAS If You Plan To Visit Europe
Once you understand how to get your passport, the next big question for many travelers is “What else do I need for Europe now that the rules are changing?”
Two systems are important for US citizens to understand when visiting most European countries in the coming years: the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).
What Is The Entry Exit System (EES)
The Entry Exit System is a new digital border system for non-EU nationals entering or leaving 29 European countries that participate in the Schengen border-free area.
Key points for US travelers:
- EES started operations on 12 October 2025, with a gradual rollout that is expected to be fully in place by April 2026.
- On your first entry after EES is active, border officers will
- Scan your passport
- Take a facial image and fingerprints (children under 12 are typically exempt from fingerprints)
- Record your entry in a central database instead of stamping your passport. (I know. I will miss passport stamps too.)
- On later trips, your entry and exit are logged digitally, which helps enforce the rule that you can only stay in the Schengen area up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period.
You do not apply for EES in advance. It is something that happens at the border. You remain visa-exempt for short stays, and your regular US passport is still the primary document you present.
What Is ETIAS And When Will It Start
ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, is a separate electronic travel authorisation that will soon be required for many visa-exempt travelers, including US citizens, who visit those 30 European countries for short stays.
As of the time of writing:
- ETIAS is not in force yet
- The European Union’s current timeline is that ETIAS will start in the last quarter of 2026, after EES is fully operational.
- US travelers going to most European destinations for tourism or business will need to apply online for the ETIAS before their trip, once it is implemented.
Basic ETIAS facts:
- It will be an online application linked to your passport.
- The fee is expected to be about 20 euros for most adults, and the authorisation will be valid for three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
- You will not provide biometric data to the ETIAS, but you will answer security and travel history questions.
- Airlines, cruise lines, and border officers will check that you have a valid ETIAS approval before letting you board or enter.
Because ETIAS is not live yet, there is also a wave of scam websites pretending to be the official application portal. European authorities and consumer sites warn travelers not to pay anyone or enter passport details into any ETIAS application site until the European Union officially launches the system on its own domain.
When the time comes, always look for links from official EU pages, such as the European Commission or the travel .eu portal, rather than third-party sites.
The ETIAS was supposed to be in place and operating over two years ago, and it keeps getting postponed. With the EES now operational, they may finally get the system off the ground. Still, I also would not be surprised if they had to postpone its implementation yet again.
For many customers we talk to, the ETIAS sounds like a daunting task; they are not just afraid of not having it, but also fear the process of getting it.
You just figured out how to get your passport, now you need to worry about getting special authorization to visit Europe? Don’t stress too much. It may be an annoyance, but at least they have made the processes easy. However, we will have to wait for its official launch to know for sure.
