U.S. Passport FAQ: 43 Answers to the Most Asked Passport Questions

A U.S. passport is an internationally recognized travel document issued by the U.S. Department of State that proves your identity and U.S. citizenship. It allows you to enter and exit foreign countries, request consular assistance abroad, and re-enter the United States after international travel. Adult passports are valid for 10 years; child passports (issued under age 16) are valid for 5 years.

The passport book is the standard 28-page document valid for all international travel by air, sea, or land. The passport card is a credit-card-sized ID valid only for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda — it cannot be used for international air travel. The book costs $130 (adult); the card costs $30 (adult). Most travelers should get the book; the card is useful as a backup ID and for frequent border-crossers.

Adult passports (issued to applicants age 16 and older) are valid for 10 years from the date of issue. Child passports (issued under age 16) are valid for 5 years. Limited-validity passports (issued in special circumstances) may be valid for less than the standard period. The expiration date is printed on your passport data page.

Generally no — most international air travel requires a U.S. passport book. Closed-loop cruises that begin and end at the same U.S. port may accept alternative documents like a birth certificate plus government-issued photo ID, but airline travel almost always requires a passport. Some land border crossings to Canada and Mexico accept a passport card or Trusted Traveler card. Check destination requirements before booking.

Apply at least 12 weeks before your planned travel date for routine processing. Government routine processing currently takes 6-8 weeks (longer during peak season, March-August). For travel within 6-8 weeks, use government expedited service ($60 extra, 2-3 weeks). For travel within 2-3 weeks, use a professional expediter for 3-day service. For travel within 14 days, you can also schedule an appointment at a regional passport agency.

Any U.S. citizen or U.S. non-citizen national is eligible to apply for a U.S. passport. Citizenship can be acquired by birth in the United States or its territories, by birth abroad to U.S. citizen parent(s), or through naturalization. You must provide acceptable evidence of citizenship (certified birth certificate, naturalization certificate, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or prior U.S. passport) along with your application.

If your U.S. citizen parent(s) registered your birth at a U.S. embassy or consulate, you should have received a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240). This is acceptable evidence of U.S. citizenship for passport applications. If your birth was not registered, you can apply for a U.S. passport using your foreign birth certificate, evidence of your parent(s) U.S. citizenship at the time of your birth, and your parents' marriage certificate. The State Department will adjudicate your derivative citizenship claim.

You will need a "Letter of No Record" from the Vital Statistics office of the state where you were born, stating the years searched and that no record was found. You will also need early public records to substantiate your birth in the U.S. — early baptismal records, hospital birth records, U.S. Census records, school records, family Bible records, or affidavits from older relatives. The combination of the letter of no record plus secondary evidence is acceptable.

Yes. The U.S. recognizes dual citizenship. If you are a U.S. citizen, you must enter and exit the United States using your U.S. passport, regardless of any other citizenships you may hold. You can use your other passport(s) for travel to and from those countries. Dual citizens applying for a U.S. passport follow the same application process as any other U.S. citizen.

Naturalized citizens use their Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570) as evidence of U.S. citizenship for passport applications. Submit the original certificate (it will be returned with your new passport, usually mailed separately). If your certificate is lost or damaged, you must request a replacement from USCIS using Form N-565 before you can apply for a passport. Replacement takes 6-9 months, so plan ahead.

First-time applicants and anyone replacing a lost, stolen, damaged, or limited-validity passport must apply in person at a passport acceptance facility using Form DS-11. Eligible adult passport holders can apply for renewal by mail using Form DS-82. For free corrections within 1 year of issuance, use DS-5504. For lost or stolen passports, file DS-64 to invalidate the missing passport, then apply with DS-11.

DS-11 is the in-person application for first-time applicants, children under 16, and replacement of lost, stolen, damaged, or significantly aged passports. DS-82 is the mail-in renewal form for adult passport holders whose most recent passport was issued within the last 15 years, when they were 16 or older, in their current name (or with name change documentation), and is undamaged. DS-82 is faster, cheaper, and more convenient if you qualify.

Download all U.S. passport forms (DS-11, DS-82, DS-5504, DS-64, DS-3053, DS-5525) from the State Department website at eforms.state.gov. Forms are also available at passport acceptance facilities. Always use the latest version of each form — older versions may be rejected. We provide an organized library of all passport forms with explanations on our forms page.

In-person passport applications are accepted at over 7,000 passport acceptance facilities nationwide, including post offices, public libraries, county clerk offices, and some courthouses. For urgent travel within 14 days, you can schedule an appointment at one of 26 regional passport agencies for expedited same-day or next-day service. Find your nearest facility using the State Department's online locator tool.

For DS-11 (first-time application), you need: (1) Form DS-11 completed but unsigned, (2) evidence of U.S. citizenship — certified birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or prior passport, (3) acceptable photo ID — driver's license, state ID, or military ID, (4) photocopy of front and back of your photo ID, (5) one passport photo (2x2 inches, taken within last 6 months), and (6) application fees ($165 for routine book, $225 expedited).

Yes, by federal law (22 U.S.C. 2714a), you must provide your Social Security Number on passport applications. Failure to provide your SSN may result in your application being denied or processing delays, and you may be subject to a $500 penalty from the IRS. If you have never been issued an SSN, enter all zeros and attach a signed statement explaining why.

Children under 16 must apply in person using Form DS-11. Both parents (or legal guardians) must appear with the child and provide consent, OR one parent must appear with the child and bring a notarized Form DS-3053 (Statement of Consent) signed by the absent parent within the last 3 months. You will need: the child's evidence of U.S. citizenship, evidence of parental relationship (child's birth certificate listing both parents), photo IDs for both parents, one passport photo of the child, and applicable fees ($135 routine for the book).

Effective February 1, 2008, federal regulation 22 C.F.R. 51.28 requires both parents (or legal guardians) to consent to passport issuance for children under 16. This rule was implemented to help prevent international parental child abduction. If only one parent can appear in person, the absent parent must complete and notarize Form DS-3053. If consent cannot be obtained at all (sole custody, missing parent, deceased parent, etc.), Form DS-5525 can document the special circumstances.

In the signature block, the parent or legal guardian prints the child's name, then signs their own name with the parent's relationship in parentheses — for example, "John Smith (mother)" or "Jane Smith (father)". This indicates the parent signed on the child's behalf. The child's passport will then be issued with the child's name but the application is signed by the parent on the child's behalf.

Passports issued to children under age 16 are valid for 5 years (not 10 like adult passports). This shorter validity reflects how rapidly children's appearances change. When a child passport expires or the child turns 16, you must apply in person again using Form DS-11 — DS-82 mail-in renewal is not available for passports issued to minors under 16, regardless of how recently the passport was issued.

CPIAP is a free program that lets parents register their child's name with the State Department's passport name-check system. When CPIAP is active, the State Department will: (1) notify the registering parent if a passport application is submitted on behalf of the registered child, and (2) deny passport issuance if appropriate court orders restricting travel are on file with CPIAP. The program is designed to help prevent international parental child abduction. Either parent can enroll a child by contacting the Office of Children's Issues.

First, file Form DS-64 to immediately invalidate the missing passport (online filing is fastest at travel.state.gov). For stolen passports, also file a police report. Then apply in person for a replacement using Form DS-11 — you cannot use DS-82 for lost or stolen passports. Bring evidence of citizenship (certified birth certificate or naturalization certificate, since you do not have your prior passport), photo ID, a passport photo, and fees. Expedited replacement is available.

Contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate immediately. They can issue an emergency replacement passport (typically a limited-validity passport valid for one year) to get you home. Find the nearest U.S. embassy at usembassy.gov. File a local police report for stolen passports. Bring any evidence of citizenship you have — even a photocopy of your prior passport helps. Once back in the U.S., apply for a full-validity replacement using DS-11.

No. Once you file Form DS-64, your passport is permanently invalidated in the State Department's database. Even if you find it the next day, it cannot be reactivated and cannot be used for travel — attempting to do so is a federal crime. Return the found passport to the State Department for cancellation or shred it to prevent unauthorized use. You must apply for a new passport with DS-11.

If your passport is damaged (water damage, torn pages, broken chip, unauthorized markings) but still in your possession, do NOT file DS-64 — that is for lost or stolen passports only. Bring the damaged passport with you to a passport acceptance facility and apply for replacement using Form DS-11. The acceptance agent will examine and cancel the damaged passport when you submit your application. Normal wear and tear is acceptable; significant damage requires replacement.

If your current passport was issued less than 1 year ago, use Form DS-5504 — name changes are FREE within the 1-year window. Submit DS-5504, your current passport, a new passport photo in your married name, and a certified copy of your marriage certificate. If your passport is older than 1 year, you must use Form DS-82 (renewal by mail) and pay the standard $130 fee. The marriage certificate is required either way.

Same process as marriage name changes. If your passport is less than 1 year old, use Form DS-5504 (free). If older, use Form DS-82 ($130). You'll need a certified copy of your divorce decree showing the court-ordered name change. If your divorce decree does not explicitly address the name change, you may need a separate court order for the name change before you can update your passport.

State Department printing errors (misspelled name, wrong birthdate, incorrect place of birth, swapped first/last names) are corrected for free using Form DS-5504, regardless of how recently the passport was issued. Include a brief cover letter explaining the error, your current passport with the error, and supporting documentation proving the correct information (birth certificate, prior passport). The State Department typically prioritizes correcting their own printing errors.

Routine processing for DS-5504 (name change) is 6-8 weeks. Government expedited processing is 2-3 weeks for an additional $60 fee. Professional expediting can complete a name change in as little as 3 business days. Plan ahead — name changes that need to happen before specific travel dates should be initiated as soon as possible. Most travelers can use their old passport (in their old name) until they receive the updated passport, but airline reservations should match the passport name exactly.

Adult passport book (first-time, DS-11): $130 + $35 execution fee = $165. Adult renewal (DS-82): $130. Adult passport card (first-time): $30 + $35 execution = $65. Adult passport card renewal: $30. Adult book + card combined (first-time): $160 + $35 = $195. Child passport book: $100 + $35 execution = $135. Child passport card: $15 + $35 = $50. Government expedited service adds $60 to any application. Photo costs $15-20 separately at most retailers.

As of 2026, government routine processing takes 6-8 weeks from when the State Department receives your application. Government expedited processing (add $60) takes 2-3 weeks. These timelines do NOT include mailing time — add 1-2 weeks each direction for mail. Processing times can be longer during peak season (March through August). For faster service, professional expediters can complete passports in 3 business days, and regional passport agencies offer same-day or next-day service for urgent travel within 14 days.

The $35 execution fee is charged for in-person passport applications (DS-11) to compensate the passport acceptance facility (post office, library, county clerk) for verifying your identity and witnessing your signature. The execution fee is NOT charged for mail-in renewals (DS-82) or free corrections (DS-5504). The fee is paid separately to the acceptance facility, usually by check or money order — the facility may have different payment requirements than the State Department.

No. The application fee ($130 book) and execution fee ($35) are non-refundable, even if your application is denied or processing takes longer than expected. The expedite fee ($60) IS refundable if expedited processing was not actually provided. If you miss your travel date due to processing delays, fees are still not refunded. This is why we strongly recommend professional expediting for time-sensitive travel.

It depends on the application type. For mail-in DS-82 renewals: no — payment must be by personal check or money order payable to the U.S. Department of State. For in-person DS-11 applications at acceptance facilities: depends on the facility. Some accept credit cards, some don't. The $35 execution fee paid to the facility may have different payment requirements than the State Department fees. Bring multiple payment methods to be safe. Regional passport agencies generally accept credit cards.

Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least 6 months BEYOND your intended travel dates — not just the dates of your trip. This is called the "6-month rule." For example, if you're returning from Thailand on June 1, your passport must be valid through at least December 1. Countries enforcing this rule include most of Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. Always check destination requirements; the State Department's travel advisories list each country's rules.

Yes — many countries require at least 2 (sometimes 4) blank visa pages in your passport for entry stamps. Some countries deny entry if there aren't enough blank pages. The State Department no longer adds pages to passports — if you run out of pages, you must apply for a new passport. Frequent international travelers should renew when their passport gets close to running out of pages, even if it hasn't expired yet.

No. The U.S. passport card is valid only for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean (except Cuba), and Bermuda. It cannot be used for any international air travel — even to those same countries. For international flights, you need the U.S. passport book. The card is useful as a backup ID and for frequent land border crossers, but it is not a substitute for the book.

No. A REAL ID is an enhanced state driver's license or ID that meets federal security standards. As of May 7, 2025, REAL ID is required for domestic flights and entering federal facilities. A REAL ID does NOT work for international travel — you still need a passport for international flights. A passport book is also accepted for domestic flights as an alternative to REAL ID. So for an international traveler, the passport covers both domestic and international flight needs.

It depends on the destination and length of stay. U.S. passport holders can enter many countries visa-free for short tourist stays (e.g., most of Europe under the Schengen Area for up to 90 days). Other countries require a visa for any visit (e.g., China, Russia, India, Vietnam). Some countries offer visa-on-arrival or e-visas. Always check the embassy website or State Department travel advisories for your specific destination before booking. Visa requirements can change.

It depends on how long ago it expired. If your passport was issued within the last 15 years (meaning it's expired no more than 5 years ago, given the 10-year validity), and you meet the other DS-82 eligibility requirements, you can renew by mail. If your passport was issued more than 15 years ago, you must apply in person using Form DS-11 as a new application. There is no penalty for renewing an expired passport — the fees are the same as renewing one that hasn't yet expired.

Yes — under specific circumstances. The State Department issues "second passports" (technically called secondary passports) to applicants who can demonstrate need: business travelers who need to apply for multiple visas simultaneously, travelers visiting countries with conflicting visa requirements, or those traveling to countries that require a passport free of stamps from certain other countries (e.g., Israel and some Arab states). Second passports are valid for only 4 years and require a written justification letter with the application.

Yes. There are three types of U.S. passports: regular (blue cover, for tourist travel), official (maroon cover, for U.S. government employees on official business), and diplomatic (black cover, for U.S. diplomats and their families). Most government employees who travel for work get an official passport in addition to their regular passport. Official and diplomatic passports are issued by the Special Issuance Agency through the employee's federal agency.

Yes. U.S. citizens overseas can apply for or renew their passport at any U.S. embassy or consulate. Each location has its own appointment process and accepted forms (DS-11 or DS-82). Processing times vary — overseas applications often take longer than domestic ones because they are routed back to the U.S. for printing. For urgent overseas needs, U.S. embassies can issue emergency limited-validity passports valid for one year.