How to Get a New Passport

A passport is one of the most important travel documents you can have for international travel. In most cases, you will need it to board an international flight and to enter another country. Even if you are early in the planning process, applying for your passport sooner rather than later can help you avoid last-minute stress.

It is also worth checking validity requirements before you travel. Many destinations require your passport to remain valid for a specific period beyond your travel dates, and some require blank pages for visas or entry stamps. Applying early gives you more room to handle those rules before your trip is on the calendar.

If you are applying for a passport for the first time, it helps to know that the process is less about complicated paperwork and more about bringing the right items to the right place. Many delays happen because an application is incomplete, a document is missing or a photo does not meet requirements.

A few practical tips can make the process easier:

• Check whether your nearest passport acceptance facility takes walk-ins or requires an appointment. Post offices, libraries and local government offices often have different procedures.
• Bring original citizenship evidence, not just a digital file or phone image. The U.S. Department of State requires physical evidence and does not accept digital citizenship documents.
• Review photo rules before your appointment or confirm whether the location can take your photo for you.

Build mailing time into your timeline. The U.S. Department of State says mailing time is separate from processing time and can add up to several weeks total.

If you’re applying for a passport for the first time, you will generally need to apply in person using Form DS-11. Most first-time applicants submit their application at a passport acceptance facility, where their documents are reviewed and sent in for processing.

As of early 2026, the U.S. Department of State lists current processing times as four to six weeks for routine service and two to three weeks for expedited service. Those estimates do not include mailing time. The agency says it may take up to two weeks for your application to reach them and up to two weeks for your completed passport to arrive after mailing.

That means travelers should look at the full timeline, not just the processing estimate. If you are booking international travel, it is smart to leave more room than you think you need.

If you need your passport sooner than routine processing allows, you can request expedited service for an additional fee (currently $60) when you apply. You can also pay an additional cost for expedited shipping of your new passport book after it is mailed, though that faster delivery is not available for passport cards.

Expedited service can be a good option if you have upcoming travel but do not yet qualify for urgent travel appointments. It is still best to apply as early as possible because demand changes over the course of the year.

If you have urgent international travel, you may be able to make an appointment at a passport agency or center once you are within 14 calendar days of departure. These locations are different from post offices and libraries, and they operate by appointment only. The State Department says appointments are not guaranteed. Separate life-or-death emergency appointments may also be available in qualifying situations.

For most first-time applicants, here is what you will need:

Proof of citizenship

You must bring original citizenship evidence with an official seal or stamp. Common examples include a certified U.S. birth certificate, a Certificate of Naturalization, a Certificate of Citizenship or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad. Digital birth certificates are not accepted.

Valid photo ID

You must present a physical photo ID, such as a fully valid driver’s license or state-issued ID. If your ID was issued by a different state than the one where you are applying, bring a second photo ID.

Photocopies

You also need a photocopy of your citizenship evidence and a photocopy of the front and back of your photo ID. The copies should be on 8.5-by-11-inch paper and single-sided.

Passport photo

You need one passport photo that meets official requirements. Some acceptance facilities can take your photo during your appointment, but not all do, so it is worth confirming in advance.

Application form

First-time adult applicants generally use Form DS-11. Fill it out ahead of time, print it single-sided and leave it unsigned until you are told to sign at the appointment.

Payment

For DS-11 applications submitted at an acceptance facility, you usually pay one fee to the U.S. Department of State and a separate execution fee to the facility. Accepted payment methods can vary by location, so check before you go. 

A few simple mistakes cause a lot of passport stress. The good news is that most of them are easy to avoid.

• Signing the DS-11 too early. First-time applicants should wait until the acceptance agent tells them to sign.
• Bringing the wrong kind of citizenship document. You need original, physical evidence with the proper seal or stamp, not just a scanned copy or phone image.
• Forgetting photocopies. Many first-time applicants remember the originals but forget the copies.
• Using a photo that does not meet requirements. This is one of the easiest issues to prevent if you check the photo rules or use a trusted photo service.
• Waiting too close to departure. Processing times do not include mailing time and requests for additional information can slow things down.

If you are applying for the first time, these are some of the questions that come up most often.

For most first-time applicants, you cannot complete the entire process online. You can fill out Form DS-11 online using the  U.S. Department of State’s website and print it, but you still need to submit the application in person at an authorized passport acceptance facility or, in urgent cases, at a passport agency or center.

If you have urgent international travel within 14 calendar days, you may be able to schedule an appointment at a passport agency or center. Appointments are not guaranteed and are different from applying at a post office or library. Same-day issuance can happen in some urgent cases, but travelers should not assume it will always be available.

For a first-time adult applicant, a passport book currently costs $165 total, which includes the $130 application fee and the $35 execution fee. A passport card costs less, but it cannot be used for international air travel. Optional expedited service costs extra.

Yes, many U.S. post offices serve as passport acceptance facilities for first-time applicants. Some libraries and local government offices do too. Check ahead to see whether you need an appointment and whether that location offers passport photos.

First, check your application status online and watch for any email or letter requesting more information. The U.S. Department of State says responding quickly to those requests is important because delays can lengthen processing time. Travelers with urgent upcoming trips may need to review expedited or agency appointment options.

A passport book is valid for international travel by air, land and sea. A passport card is valid only for return to the U.S. by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. It cannot be used for international air travel.