One of the things you must consider when applying for a passport is the documents you must submit because the possibility of passport issuance is based on these documents. Any mistake on your passport application or requirements can cause delay or rejection. To make things more manageable, try to gather all the documents before submitting your passport application.
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What are the requirements for a passport book for adults?
Adult passport applicants must provide the following documents when applying for a new passport book:
- Form DS-11 — Form DS-11, Application Form for New U.S. Passport, filled out and signed.
- Passport Photo — One-color passport photo with two inches by two inches measurement that has been taken within the last six months to reflect your current appearance.
- Citizenship Evidence — Proof of United States (U.S.) citizenship, which is either a baptismal, certified birth certificate issued by the city, county, or state that shows both parents’ names, original Certificate of Naturalization, or Certificate of Citizenship. Submit an original and a photocopy of your citizenship evidence document.
- Photo Identification — Proof of identity, which is either an original or certified copy of a U.S. driver’s license or any government ID card listing a full name, date of birth, gender, address, and photo. Submit an original and a photocopy of your photo identification.
- Passport Fee — A check or money order for the passport fee. New applicants for a passport book must pay $110 for the application fee and $35 for the execution fee.
What are the requirements for a passport card for adults?
The requirements to get a new passport card and a passport book are the same except for the passport fee. Adult passport card applicants must provide the following:
- Form DS-11 — To apply for a passport card, mark the “U.S. Passport Card” box in your Form DS-11.
- Passport Photo — Provide a valid passport photo.
- Citizenship Evidence — You may submit an original and a photocopy of your birth certificate or baptismal.
- Photo Identification — You may submit an original and a photocopy of your government-issued identifications.
- Passport Fee — The execution fee to get a passport card is $35, while the application fee is $30.
What are the requirements for a passport book for minors?
To apply for a passport book for minors under age 16, both parents must appear in a passport acceptance facility with the child and submit the following:
- Form DS-11 — Both parents must sign their child’s Form DS-11.
- Minor Applicant’s Social Security Number — If none, parents must submit a statement, signed and dated, that includes the phrase, “I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the following is true and correct: (Child’s full name) has never been issued a Social Security Number by the Social Security Administration.”
- Citizenship Evidence — Parents must submit both an original and a photocopy of their child’s citizenship evidence document. They may submit one of the following documents their child’s U.S. birth certificate, Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth, or Certificate of Citizenship.
- Parental Relationship — Parents need to prove their relationship with the minor applicant by submitting a Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth, Foreign Birth Certificate, Adoption Decree, Divorce or Custody Decree, or the child’s U.S. Birth Certificate.
- Parent or Parent’s Identification — Parents need to submit an original copy and a photocopy of any of the following IDs:
- Valid or expired, undamaged U.S. passport book or passport card
- In-state, fully valid driver’s license or enhanced driver’s license with photo
- Certificate of Naturalization
- Certificate of Citizenship
- Government employee ID (city, county, state, or federal)
- U.S. military or military dependent ID
- Current (valid) foreign passport
- Matricula Consular (Mexican Consular ID) – commonly used by a parent of a U.S. citizen child applicant
- U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) – commonly used by a parent of a U.S. citizen child applicant
- Trusted Traveler IDs (including valid Global Entry, FAST, SENTRI, and NEXUS cards)
- Enhanced Tribal Cards and Native American tribal photo IDs
- In-state, fully valid learner’s permit with photo
- In-state, fully valid non-driver ID with photo
- Temporary driver’s license with photo
- Parental Consent — If parents cannot go to the passport acceptance facility with the minor applicant, they must provide documents for parental consent, such as Form DS-3053, Statement of Consent: Issuance Of A U.S. Passport To A Child.
- Passport Photo — The child or minor applicant needs to have a valid passport photo. The standard passport photo must be clear and colored with a plain white or off-white background.
- Passport Fees — The application fee for minor applicants applying for a new passport is $80 and $35 for the execution fee.
What are the requirements for a passport card for minors?
The requirements to apply for a new passport card or a passport book for minors under age 16 are the same except for the passport fees. Parents have to go to a passport acceptance facility with the minor applicant and submit the following:
- Form DS-11 — Mark the “U.S. Passport Card” box in Form DS-11.
- Minor Applicant’s Social Security Number — If none, parents must submit a signed statement as stated above.
- Citizenship Evidence — Submit an original and photocopy of the child’s baptismal or birth certificate.
- Parental Relationship — Submit a Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth, Foreign Birth Certificate, Adoption Decree, Divorce or Custody Decree, or the child’s U.S. Birth Certificate.
- Parent or Parent’s Identification — Parents must submit an original or photocopy of any identification listed above.
- Parental Consent — If both parents are present at a passport acceptance facility with the minor applicant, there is no need to submit a document for parental consent. However, if only one parent is present, the absent parent must submit a signed Form DS-3053.
- Passport Photo — Submit a valid passport photo of the minor applicant. If the minor applicant is an infant, you may get tips on how to get a passport photo here.
- Passport Fees — Parents must pay $30 for their child’s new passport card and $35 for the execution fee.
What are the requirements when renewing a passport?
Passport book and card renewal by mail are only available for adult applicants.
You must mail the following:
- Form DS-82, U.S. Passport Renewal Application For Eligible Individuals — Form DS-82 is a document used to renew a passport book or passport card.
- Valid U.S. Passport — Submit your old yet valid passport. If you have a valid U.S. passport, you do not need to furnish a document to prove your U.S. citizenship.
- Name Change Documents — You may submit your marriage certificate, divorce decree, or adoption papers stating your name change, if applicable. If it does not apply to you, you may skip this requirement.
- Passport Photo — Submit a recent passport photo.
- Renewal fee — Your passport book renewal fee is $110, while your passport card renewal fee is $30. One of the advantages of renewing a passport is you do not have to pay the execution fee.
Minor applicants are not eligible for passport renewal. They must go to a passport acceptance facility and apply for a passport replacement instead. They must bring the following:
- Form DS-11
- Valid U.S. passport book or card
- Passport photo
- A $35-execution fee and a $30-application fee for a passport card or a $110-application fee for a passport book
- Name change documents, if applicable
What are the passport requirements for new applicants?
New applicants must hand-carry all of the following:
- Form DS-11
- Citizenship evidence
- Passport photo
- Name change documents, if applicable
- Photo identification
- Passport fee:
- For minors:
Passport book = $115
Passport card = 50
-
- For adults:
Passport book = $145
Passport card = 65
What if I don’t have a valid ID for my passport requirements?
The U.S. Department of State offers options for passport applicants to furnish either one primary identification or two secondary identifications.
If you do not have primary identifications, you may submit any two of the following secondary IDs:
- Out-of-state driver’s license or enhanced driver’s license with photo
- Learner’s or temporary driver’s permit (without a photo)
- In-state, fully valid non-driver ID (without a photo)
- Out-of-state, non-driver ID
- Temporary driver’s license (without a photo)
- Social Security card
- Voter registration card
- Employee work ID
- Student ID
- School yearbook with identifiable photograph
- Selective Service (draft) card
- Medicare or other health cards
- Expired driver’s license
- Form DS-71, Affidavit of Identifying Witness, for an Identifying Witness
For your information, here are the primary IDs you can choose from:
- Valid or expired, undamaged U.S. passport book or passport card
- In-state, fully valid driver’s license or enhanced driver’s license with photo
- Certificate of Naturalization
- Certificate of Citizenship
- Government employee ID (city, county, state, or federal)
- U.S. military or military dependent ID
- Current (valid) foreign passport
- Matricula Consular (Mexican Consular ID) – commonly used by a parent of a U.S. citizen child applicant
- U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) – commonly used by a parent of a U.S. citizen child applicant
- Trusted Traveler IDs (including valid Global Entry, FAST, SENTRI, and NEXUS cards)
- Enhanced Tribal Cards and Native American tribal photo IDs
- In-state, fully valid learner’s permit with photo
- In-state, fully valid non-driver ID with photo
- Temporary driver’s license with photo
What if I don’t have a birth certificate for my passport requirements?
If you do not have a birth certificate to prove your U.S. citizenship, you may submit any of the following:
- Fully valid and undamaged U.S. passport
- Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship, if born outside the U.S.
- Delayed birth certificate
- Letter of No Record
- Early public or private documents
- Social Security Number (SSN)
What are the passport requirements for a minor without parents?
If you are a minor applying for a passport, you must submit the following with the other requirements needed to apply for a passport book or passport card:
- Parental Relationship Document
- U.S. birth certificate (also evidence of U.S. citizenship)
- Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth (also evidence of U.S. citizenship)
- Foreign birth certificate
- Adoption decree
- Divorce/Custody decree
- Parents’ Identification
- Valid or expired, undamaged U.S. passport book or passport card
- In-state, fully valid driver’s license or enhanced driver’s license with photo
- Certificate of Naturalization
- Certificate of Citizenship
- Government employee ID (city, county, state, or federal)
- U.S. military or military dependent ID
- Current (valid) foreign passport
- Matricula Consular (Mexican Consular ID) – commonly used by a parent of a U.S. citizen child applicant
- U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) – commonly used by a parent of a U.S. citizen child applicant
- Trusted Traveler IDs (including valid Global Entry, FAST, SENTRI, and NEXUS cards)
- Enhanced Tribal Cards and Native American tribal photo IDs
- In-state, fully valid learner’s permit with photo
- In-state, fully valid non-driver ID with photo
- Temporary driver’s license with photo
- Parental Consent or Awareness Documents
- If both of your parents cannot go with you to a passport acceptance facility, a third party or a legal guardian may apply for your passport. However, the legal guardian must obtain Form DS-3053 or a notarized statement that is signed by your parents.
- If one of your parents cannot sign Form DS-3053, you must submit Form DS-5525, Statement of Exigent/Special Family Circumstances.
How to get a passport without a valid ID?
You cannot get a passport without valid identification.
An applicant must present acceptable identification at the time he or she applies for a passport. If you do not have any identification, you must apply for it. The easiest identification to get that is valid for a passport application is a school identification.
What are the passport requirements for an infant?
Here are the documents to get a passport for an infant:
- The infant’s passport photo;
- The parents’ photo identification;
- The parents’ parental consent documents if they cannot appear with the infant in a passport acceptance facility;
- The infant’s birth certificate or baptismal for citizenship evidence;
- Passport fees; and
- Evidence for parental relationship.
What IDs are needed for a passport?
Generally, you need identifications that verify your identity to get a passport. These are the identifications that have your name, age, address, nationality, signature, and photo.
You may submit any of the primary and secondary identifications listed above.
What disqualifies a passport application?
One of the reasons why a passport application gets delayed or rejected is an incomplete requirement. For example, you forgot to submit your government-issued identification.
Other reasons why a passport application gets rejected are:
- incorrect information;
- invalid identification, including expired or damaged IDs;
- outdated information;
- invalid passport photo; and
- more than one application under different names is submitted.
How much does a passport cost?
Passport fees vary depending on the different passport types. The prices are as follows:
- Adult Passport Book — $110-application fee and $35-execution fee
- Minor Passport Book — $80-application fee and $35-execution fee
- Adult Passport Card — $30-aplication fee and $35-execution fee
- Minor Passport Card — $15-application fee and $35-execution fee
For adult applicants renewing their passport book or passport card, you do not need to pay the execution fee.
There is an additional $60 if you want to expedite your passport application. It will shorten your processing time by 12 weeks.
How many IDs are needed for passport applications?
One identification is enough for your passport application. However, there are certain instances when you need to submit multiple IDs before getting a passport. These instances are as follows:
- You are applying for a minor passport book or card. You need to submit parental consent forms along with your documents;
- You are under the age of 16, and you got your application denied because of a lack of evidence of citizenship; or
- Your identity is in question.
How fast can I get a passport?
The processing time for a passport application is the standard of 18 weeks. If you choose to expedite your passport application, it will take up to 12 weeks.
Why does a passport book cost so much?
A passport book is a requirement for traveling abroad, so it may be expensive. However, there are ways when you can save money on passport book fees, such as:
- You must take care of your current passport book to be eligible for renewal. In that case, you will not need to pay the execution fee.
- Plan and apply for a passport book ahead of time so you do not need to expedite your passport book application. Expedite service fees can cost up to $799. If you apply months ahead of your travel schedule, you do not need a rush passport book. Thus, you save money by not paying any expedite fees.
Can a passport application be rejected?
Yes, a passport application can be rejected. It usually happens when you do not prepare your passport requirements properly.
Can I use an old passport as ID?
Yes, you can use your old passport for your passport application as your identification as long as it is valid. Your old passport is valid if:
- it is undamaged;
- it was issued within the last 15 years;
- it was issued when you were 16 years old or above; and
- it was issued in your current name, and you have your name change documents.
How long can you use an expired passport as ID?
You can use your expired passport for identification purposes or citizenship evidence as long as it is still valid, as mentioned above.
How long is a passport valid?
The validity of a passport varies depending on the age of the holder. A passport book and passport card for adults are good for ten years. On the other hand, a passport book and passport card for minors are valid for five years.
Is a photocopy of a passport valid ID?
No, a photocopy of a passport is not an acceptable form of identification. You must submit the original copy.
Does your passport book have to be valid for six months?
Although other countries may allow you to board a flight with less than six months validity on your passport book, other countries may deny you entry. The safest and recommendable remaining validity period is six months.
Your passport book must be valid for six months from the date you enter a foreign country. You can then re-enter your home country with a return visa stamped on your passport book.