Passports and Citizenship Documents

Getting a passport or other citizenship document.

Where do I get a passport application?

At any regional passport agency or a designated Post Office or Clerk of Court. You can look at the "Where to Apply for a Passport Nationwide" listing under Passport Information on this site or check your local telephone directory for locations. Look for Passport Services under the Department of State listing in the Federal Government blue pages of the directory.

Where are the instructions for filling out the passport forms?

Instructions are on the back of the forms.

My child who is under 16 needs a passport. How do I get one?

If applying for a child under the age of 13: The child need not appear in person. A parent or legal guardian can apply for the child. The parent or guardian must show current, valid ID. If the parent is NOT a citizen, they must show an alien registration card ("green card"), valid foreign passport, other ID such as a driver's license. If the parent does not have acceptable ID, someone with current, valid ID must vouch for the parent as described above.

If applying for a child age 13 to 16: The child MUST appear in person with the parent.

I was recently married/divorced. How do I change my name on my passport?

You will need to complete Form DSP-19, Passport Amendment/Validation Application and send it along with certified documentation of your name change and your current, valid passport to the nearest passport agency. The agencies are listed on the back of the form. Your documentation will be returned to you with your amended passport. There is no fee for this service unless you require expedited service. (See How do I get my passport in a hurry?)

My passport was lost/stolen. How do I report it?

You report a lost or stolen passport when you apply for the new one. At that time, you will submit a DSP-64, "Statement Regarding Lost or Stolen Passport." Click here for more information on the DSP-64.

I was born abroad. How do I get a birth certificate?

If you were born in a foreign country to a U.S. citizen parent or parents, and your parent registered your birth at a U.S. embassy or consulate in the form of a Consular Report of Birth (Form FS-240), and you would like evidence of your birth and United States citizenship, please submit a written request which includes the following five items:

1. The subject's full name at birth, and date and country of birth.

2. Parents' full names, including mother's maiden name, and their dates and places of birth and nationality.

3. A daytime telephone number.

4. Signature of the subject or parents. A legal guardian's signature is acceptable only when accompanied by a certified copy of the guardianship papers or court order of adoption.

5. A $40 fee per document. Please send a check or money order made payable to the Department of State.

All requests should be mailed to:

What should I do if my baby is born abroad?

The birth of a child abroad to a U.S. citizen parent(s) should be reported as soon as possible to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to establish an official record of the child's claim to U.S. citizenship at birth. The official record is a Consular Report of Birth of a Citizen of the United States of America, or Form FS-240. This document, know as the Consular Report of Birth Abroad, is a basic United States citizenship document. An original FS-240 is furnished to the parents at the time the registration is approved. (Click here for more information.) A Consular Report of Birth can be prepared only at a U.S. embassy or consulate. It cannot be prepared if the child has been brought back into the United States, or, if the person is 18 years of age or older at the time the application is made.

What do I do if there is no birth record on file for me?

If you were born in a foreign country to a U.S. citizen parent or parents and your parent did not register your birth in the form of a Consular Report of Birth FS-240, we suggest that you apply to a U.S. passport agency for a U.S. passport, or, alternatively, to INS for a Certificate of Citizenship to document your U.S. citizenship. If you submit satisfactory documentary proof that you acquired citizenship at birth, a Certificate of Citizenship will be issued in your name. For more information, please contact your local office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. You may consult your local phone book for the telephone number listed under the U.S. Department of Justice. A U.S. passport is also proof of U.S. citizenship.

I'm renewing my passport. Do I get the old one back?

Yes, we return the old, cancelled passport to you. It is a good idea to keep it in a safe place as it is considered proof of your U.S. citizenship.

My child is too young to sign his/her own passport. How do I sign my child's passport?

In the space provided for the signature, the mother or father must print the child's name and sign their own name. Then, in parenthesis by the parent's name, write the word (mother) or (father) so we know who signed for the child.

How long is a passport valid?

Age - Validity

16 and older - 10 years

15 and younger - 5 years