Passport FAQS

Passports

If you want to see the world, you have to have a passport - the only universally accepted form of identification. In the United States, passports are issued upon application to U.S. citizens by the State Department and its 13 passport agencies in major cities by the clerks of federal and certain state courts, certain designated post offices and by U.S. consular authorities abroad. A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and leave most foreign countries. All persons must have their own passports, including infants.

To obtain a passport for the first time, you need to go in person to one of  7,000 passport acceptance facilities located throughout the United States with two photographs of yourself, proof of U.S. citizenship, and a valid form of photo identification such as a driver’s license. It is valid for 10 years for adults and five years for people under 16.

The most recent passport includes additional state-of-the-art innovations, including security thread embedded in the paper and special inks. The cover of the new passport has reverted to the traditional blue color.

You should apply for your passport several months in advance of your planned departure, making sure you fill in the dates of your upcoming trip in the appropriate place on the application. Lines are longest at passport agencies from January to July, resulting in longer waiting times for applicants.