Can a Felon Get a Passport?

Does a felony record stop you from getting a U.S. passport?

Whether a felony record affects a U.S. passport depends on your own legal situation, and a lawyer is the right person for a complicated case. The application itself works the same way for every U.S. citizen. Start by working out which application fits you.

Not sure whether yours is a renewal or a new application? Our guide to passport renewal vs. a new application walks through each case.

What do you need to apply for a passport with a felony record?

A first-time U.S. passport application needs the same five things from every adult applicant: an unsigned Form DS-11, proof of U.S. citizenship, a government photo ID, a passport photo and the government fees. A felony record does not add a document to this list.

What you need

1. Form DS-11, unsignedThe application form for a first-time or replacement passport.
   How to get it: PassportsAndVisas.com prepares it for you in your online portal; you print it.
   Watch out: Do not sign it at home: the acceptance agent must watch you sign.
   Who needs it: Every first-time adult applicant
2. Proof of U.S. citizenshipShows you are a U.S. citizen, which every passport applicant must prove.
   How to get it: A certified birth certificate with a raised seal, an expired U.S. passport, a naturalization certificate or a consular report of birth abroad.
   Watch out: A hospital birth certificate is not accepted.
   Who needs it: Every applicant
3. Government photo IDProves you are the person on the application.
   How to get it: A driver's license issued at least 6 months ago, a state ID or a military ID.
   Watch out: A recently issued license may not be enough on its own.
   Who needs it: Every applicant
4. Passport photoA recent color photo of your face that is printed in your new passport; every application needs one so the government can match the passport to you.
   How to get it: Take a selfie and our Digital Photo Service turns it into a compliant passport photo, which our team checks before submission.
   Watch out: Photo problems are among the most common issues our pre-check catches. See our passport photo requirements.
   Who needs it: Every applicant
5. Government feesThe $130 application fee and the $35 execution fee for an adult book.
   How to get it: A check or money order payable to the U.S. Department of State; we check it before submission.
   Watch out: A wrong payee or missing details on the check can hold an application up.
   Who needs it: Every first-time adult applicant

How do you apply for a passport, step by step?

A first-time U.S. passport application with PassportsAndVisas.com takes six steps: order, complete the DS-11 online, upload your documents for our review, sign in front of an acceptance agent, send the sealed packet to us with a prepaid FedEx label, and we submit it and deliver your passport.

1. Place your orderChoose your speed and your personal dashboard opens, showing each stage of your order.
2. Complete your DS-11 onlineOur portal walks you through the form one question at a time and prepares it for you. Print it, but do not sign it.
3. Upload your documentsUpload your proof of citizenship, ID and photo from your phone. A member of our team reviews each one and tells you clearly if anything needs fixing, or let us handle the photo with our Digital Photo Service.
4. Visit an acceptance agentTake your prepared packet to an acceptance agent, most often a local post office. The agent checks your ID, watches you sign the DS-11 and seals your documents in an envelope.
5. Send the sealed envelope to usPlace the sealed envelope in the FedEx envelope we provide, with its prepaid label. Your part ends when you drop it off.
6. We submit and deliverWe check everything again, submit your application at a passport agency, pick up the finished passport and FedEx it to you, with email and text updates at each stage.

Unsure which of our services fits? Our passport service decision guide matches your situation to the right one.

How much does a first-time passport cost?

A first-time adult U.S. passport book costs the $130 government application fee plus the $35 execution fee. With PassportsAndVisas.com, our service fee is added on top and depends on the speed you choose.

How long does it take to get a passport?

A U.S. passport takes 4–6 weeks of government routine processing, or up to 10 weeks door to door, and 2–3 weeks expedited, or up to 7 weeks door to door. With PassportsAndVisas.com, your passport can be in hand in as little as 3-4 business days.

Dates shown by our date tool are estimates. The government's decision on any application is theirs alone.

Will other countries let you in with a felony record?

A U.S. passport proves your identity and citizenship, but entry to another country is that country's own decision. Each destination sets its own entry rules, so check what yours requires for your passport before you pay for flights or a cruise, since cruise ports are foreign entry points too.

Our visa checker shows the entry requirements for your destination and your passport, and PassportsAndVisas.com handles eVisas, ETAs, visas and arrival cards for travelers of any nationality.

Only U.S. citizens can hold a U.S. passport. Green card holders and citizens of other countries travel on their own country's passport, and the visa checker gives the entry rules for that passport.

Why use PassportsAndVisas.com for your passport application?

PassportsAndVisas.com prepares your DS-11, has our team review every document before submission, submits your application at a passport agency and FedExes your passport to you, with updates at every stage. We have been a registered passport expediter since 1992.

Your visit to the acceptance agent is quick because you arrive with a complete, pre-checked packet. We are a private company, not the U.S. government.