Frequently Asked Questions about Passports and Passport Applications

Special page on Children's Passports

I am planning to get married. How can I change my passport to my husband's name for my honeymoon?

I need to add more blank visa pages to my passport.

I just got my new passport and there is a mistake in it. What should I do?

I am in a hurry to get my passport. Is there any way I can expedite the process?

What about passport photos?

What about renewals?

How much does it cost?

I am not sure if I will go on a trip or not. I don't want to waste my money getting a passport if I decide not to go.

Where do I go to apply for the passport? Someone told me the Post Office, or the county courthouse. Can I do it by mail?

What happens if I lose my passport, or if it is stolen or destroyed?

How can I keep my passport safe while I am traveling?

What about visas? What do I do to get a visa? Do I need one at all?

Do I need a passport to go to Mexico or Canada?

Who will look at my passport during my trip?

What are "Immigration and Customs"? Are they one agency? What do I need to know about them?

What is the difference between an embassy and a consulate? Where would I find one if I need help? 

What should I do if someone in my family dies and they had a passport?

What is a passport, anyway? What does it look like? Why do I need it?

A passport is a government document issued by the Department of State. It establishes your identity and United States citizenship to anyone who needs to know. It also guarantees your admittance to the US following an international journey. It is in the form of a little booklet. The first two pages contains information about you - your photo, your birth date, name, and other information. The next two pages are official government information, a page for you to pencil in your address and contact information.

(Note that contact information should be entered in pencil, as addresses and next of kin often change in the course of the time the passport is valid.)

There are many blank pages for foreign entry, exit and visa stamps. Finally, there are a few pages for any US government amendments. Foreign government officials will stamp various visa, entry and exit stamps on these blank visa pages, then US Immigration will stamp an entry stamp when you return. You present your passport when you cross international borders as proof of your identity and citizenship.

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What do I need to get a US passport?

You need proof of United States citizenship, proof of your own identity, a filled-out passport application, (DS-11) two passport sized photograph and the fee the State Department and passport acceptance office charge for processing the application. Fill out the application, but do not sign it until you are asked to do so by the passport acceptance officer.
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How can I get an application?

Download US passport applications, new, renewal, amendment and replacement applications from the State Department web page, free of charge. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader (available free from Adobe) to read and print the PDF files. You can also visit the passport acceptance office and ask for a blank application or request one by mail. Read carefully the State Department's rules on downloaded passport applications. They must be printed on high-quality printers, they must be free of smudges and the instruction pages must be included.

Press this button to download Adobe Acrobat Reader at no charge.
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What constitutes proof of United States citizenship?

Persons born in the United States, with rare exceptions, are US citizens. They need to submit a certified copy of their birth certificate, along with proof of any name changes. Naturalized US citizens should bring their naturalization certificates.
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I have lost my birth certificate. What should I do now?

Apply for a certified copy of your birth certificate from the state where you were born. A certified copy is the "long" form, not a shorter, wallet sized card. ("Short" forms omit potentially embarrassing information, like an "Unknown" father or the fact that the child's parents were not married. This "short" form is good for routine tasks, like enrolling a child in school or proving age for a sports team.) The "short" form is not accepted for a passport application. You need the "long" form and the raised, embossed state seal. A photocopy of the "long" form is not accepted. It must be a state certified copy. If you do not have a birth certificate, the State Department will accept other items of proof of birth in the United States. See the State Department web page for more details. Many of the state web pages give details on which types of copies they issue.
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I am not sure whom I should call in the state where I was born. I do not know how to get a certified copy.

Go to the list of states and click on the state where you were born for more information. Some states allow applications to be processed over the phone, or by e-mail. Some accept credit cards. Many states have downloadable application forms. Read the information provided by your birth state carefully and follow their instructions.

Most states require the following information:

• Child's name, and any subsequent name changes such as an adoption.
• Child's birth date
• Mother's maiden name
• Father's name
• City, sometimes county, of birth
• Your mailing address and daytime telephone number
• Your relation to the person whose record is requested.
• A photocopy of your identification, or a credit card number

Without exception, state records agencies will not provide records to anyone except the individual or their immediate family or as ordered by a court.
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I got married and changed my name. How do I change the name on my passport?

You will need to get a new passport. In the past, name changes were handled by adding an amendment to the passport. Effective Sept 26, 2005, the State Dept will no longer amend passports.

If you need a new passport within one year of issuance of the current passport, there is no charge for the service. You will need form DS-5504 (US Passport Re-Application Form), along with the current passport, new passport photos and documentation of the name change. Newlyweds should send a certified copy of the marriage license. Those with court-ordered name changes should send the court documents.

If it has been more than a year since your current passport was issued, you will need to go through the renewal by mail procedure. Get form DS-82, and send it in with new passport photos, the current passport and the required fee.

I am planning to get married. How can I change my passport to my husband's name for my honeymoon?

You cannot, not if the honeymoon is immediately following the wedding. Your name does not legally change until your marriage license is filed with the state authorities and you start the name change process. Once you are married, you can request a new passport in your new name. For honeymoon travel, you will have to get a passport in your maiden name, and make your travel arrangements under that name. Once you return you can start the legal name change process.

Note that a married woman's name does not automatically change at her marriage. She has to effect the common law change by assuming her new name.

I need to add more blank visa pages to my passport.

Adding extra blank pages is done by filling out DS-4085, Application for Additional Visa Pages. The State Dept will simply sew more pages into the middle of your passport, then send it back to you. When you get your passport renewed, you can request extra pages at the time of renewal. An unexpedited request for additional pages is free of charge.

I just got my new passport and there is a mistake in it. What should I do?

In these cases, you need to download the form DS-5504 (US Passport Re-Application Form) and submit your current passport, plus documentation supporting the correct information, to the State Department.

I am in a hurry to get my passport. Is there any way I can expedite the process?

The State Department will expedite the passport application process with the payment of a $60 fee. Information for expedited passport requests is contained in the State Department web page. Read it carefully. Walk-in Passport Agencies will accept applications for persons with evidence of impending departure. It is important to phone in advance of your visit, as you will most likely need to make an appointment. 

You are encouraged to send your renewal, amendment or application in by express courier service (such as FedEx or UPS Red) and include a pre-paid airbill to return the passport by express courier.

There are several private services who will receive your passport application by overnight courier, walk your expedited passport request through one of the national passport processing facilities, then send it back to you by overnight courier.

Finally, there is another private service called Vital-Chek that has contracted with many, but not all states and local governments to expedite requests for certified copies of birth certificates. If you were born in a state or jurisdiction that contracts with this or another private service, then, for a fee, you can get your certified copy very quickly. If you were not born in such a state or jurisdiction, then your only alternative is to phone the state agency and ask for information on expedited requests.
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What about passport photos?

Passport photos are available from many photographers and related businesses. Usually you will see a sign in the front window of the business advertising passport photos. Do not use photo machine type photos. The State Department welcomes photos in a relaxed, smiling pose. You will need two photos for the passport application or renewal, but consider getting more made at the same time.  If you are planning a trip to a country that requires an advance visa application, you are usually asked to submit passport photos along with the visa application. Check in advance, and get as many photos as necessary.

The State Department in April, 2002, instituted a new type of passport with many enhanced security features. One feature you will notice right away is that your photo is digitized and printed directly on the page. Older passports have the paper photo encased in plastic heat-sealed to the page. The digitized photos are more secure. If you lose your passport, they will be able to make a new one with the digitized photos they have stored in their database.

You are well advised to go to a photographer who specializes in passport photos. Many Auto Club offices and Kinko's copy stores take passport photos. If you get them done by a professional photographer who advertises "Passport Photos" then you are assured that the colors and sizes will be acceptable to the Passport Agency. Do not risk the delay and  hassle of having unacceptable photos returned to you.

Passport photos are required for children, even newborn infants. Get a few extras made and keep them on hand in case of emergency.

Another good reason to take passport photos is to use them for public transport passes. If you are going to London, Paris or other city with an extensive public transport system you may be able to get passes at a discount. They sometimes require the passholder to affix a small photo to the pass. Usually the public transport stations have automatic photo machines, but why not just use one of your spare passport photos?

Our thanks to Cliff Bundy for this tip on passport photos and public transport.
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What about renewals?

If you already have a adult US passport, you can renew it by mail. The passport must be either unexpired or issued within the past 15 years. If your old passport was issued more than 15 years ago, then you must apply in person for a new one. If your expired passport was obtained while you were under the age of 16 years, you must appear in person to get a new passport. See the State Department's web page for complete details. Download DS-82, Application for Passport By Mail.

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How much does it cost?

A new, adult (16 years and older) passport application is $97. For a minor (15 years and younger) is $82. A renewal application is $67. See the State Department's fee schedule for details. An additional fee of $60 is required if you need expedited services.
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I am not sure if I will go on a trip or not. I don't want to waste my money getting a passport if I decide not to go.

An adult passport is good for 10 years, so even if you decide not to go this time, the passport would be available should you decide to take another trip in the future. Consider, as well, the cost in time, money and effort, to get an expedited passport should you get an unexpected opportunity to travel internationally. In addition, your passport can be used to prove your right to employment in the United States, combining proof of citizenship with photo identification. Finally, bear in mind that several years ago when the US Government shut down non-essential services, passport services were suspended. Many people needing to go on last-minute trips were stranded. This is a crucial travel-planning detail that you can complete months or years ahead of your first international trip.

Anyone with "strange" issues, such as no birth certificate or assumption of a different legal name during childhood is well advised to start the passport application process at an early date. Get the paperwork done to legalize your name or other issue, the apply for the passport. You risk not being able to go on your trip if you wait until the last minute.

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Where do I go to apply for the passport? Someone told me the Post Office, or the county courthouse. Can I do it by mail?

Only selected US Postal Service (USPS) offices have passport acceptance officers. Usually passport office hours are shorter than the opening hours of the USPS facility. In some areas, the passport acceptance officer is the county clerk or a circuit court clerk. Call in advance to query the opening hours and the exact location of the passport acceptance clerk's office. All applicants must appear in person for a new application, even babies and children. Renewals of adult passports can be handled by mail. Go to the passport locations page for information on passport acceptance locations in your area, or if you need expedited service, go to the passport agencies page.
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What happens if I lose my passport, or if it is stolen or destroyed?

You should guard your passport carefully as it is a prime target for thieves and pickpockets. While at home in the US, keep your passport in a safe place and check frequently to see it still is where you left it. You should check to confirm its location and expiry date before making any international travel plans. If you are in the US when you discover it is missing, then go to a passport acceptance office to report its loss. If you are outside the US, then go to the nearest US embassy or consulate. Check with www.americanembassy.com in advance of your trip to get the location of an American embassy in your destination.

In either case, you should report its loss to the local police and get a copy of the police report. Remember that the passport is, legally, property of the US Government.

How can I keep my passport safe while I am traveling?

First, be aware that the laws of many countries require adults to be in possession of official identification at all times. Such countries usually issue a national identification card to their own citizens. For the foreign traveler, that legally required identification is the passport, plus any required visas. Many countries permit you to carry a facsimile (photocopy) of the passport on your person, leaving the actual document in a safe place. Some countries (notably Japan) do not permit a facsimile, but require the actual passport to be in your possession.

Before leaving home:

• Determine whether or not your destination country permits a facsimile to be carried. If so, then it is best to leave the passport in the hotel safe, along with cash, airline tickets and other important documents. Locate the tourist office or other official web page for the foreign government and look for information for foreign visitors. You should also note if the foreign government requires any advance visa applications.
• Make several photocopies of the front page of your passport. Leave one with a trusted friend or relative at home, and carry the others in your luggage. Experienced travelers often put a photocopy in each piece of luggage, and often throw in any old, expired passports as well. Check the expiry date on your passport, as many countries have a requirement for passport validity past your expected departure from their country. Make a note of this and other requirements when you visit the foreign government tourist information web pages.
• Get a security wallet, preferably a waist belt, with a waterproof lining, and use it to carry your passport, airline or other travel tickets and money. Women might consider wearing a sports bra while in transit, and tucking their passport in there.
• Consider getting electronic tickets ("E-Tickets") for your airline travel. They are more convenient as there is nothing to carry with you and nothing to lose.

During the trip:

• While in transit between stops, carry the passport in your security wallet or sports bra, secreted under your clothing. The Immigration and Customs areas in airports are usually very secure, and you will need your passport readily available. While passing through Immigration and Customs, keep your passport handy. Once you have passed Customs, and just before you leave the secured area to enter the main part of the airport terminal (or train station, etc.) replace your passport in your security wallet.
• During your stay in one location, leave your passport in the hotel safe, if you are allowed to carry a facsimile. Do not forget to retrieve the passport when you check out of the hotel.
• If you fall asleep in transit, like on a train ride, be sure your passport is in your security wallet under your clothes. Sleep with the pouch wrapped around your thigh, under your trousers. Train thieves have been known to unzip sleeping passengers' pants and help themselves to the contents of security wallets worn around the waist.
• Check frequently to see that you still have your passport with you. Similarly, check for your credit cards, travelers' checks and airline tickets. Be aware that anyone watching you as you check will know the exact location of your most valuable papers. Don't check while in public, but rather in a secure location, like in your hotel room or when visiting the restroom. (Note that travelers' checks and e-tickets from the airlines are more secure than cash and printed airline tickets.)
• Ask each adult in the group to carry their own passport, tickets and money, so if the group is separated for some reason, each adult will be able to fend for themselves. Children should be "assigned" to a certain adult, and that adult should carry the child's passport and tickets. Many families find it convenient for the father to be responsible for their sons and the mother for their daughters while in transit, making restroom visits more convenient.

If you are in an emergency situation:

• GIVE THE PASSPORT UP. It is not worth risking death or injury to yourself or anyone else to save your passport. Emergency situations might include being held up at gunpoint, knifepoint, or with any other threat, or being in a car, railway or airline accident or hotel fire. Passports can be replaced, with some hassle and some expense, but your life and the lives of those around you are irreplaceable. Report the loss or destruction to the local police, and to the nearest US embassy or consulate.
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What about visas? What do I do to get a visa? Do I need one at all?

There are, essentially, three types of visa policies that pertain to tourists from the United States:

• No requirement for a visa for short touristic stays.
• Visa application is reviewed quickly upon arrival, then the visa stamp is immediately entered in the passport within a few seconds of arrival at the Immigration desk.
• Advance application for a visa is required.

Check well in advance of your trip for visa requirements of each country you plan to visit, or even pass through. (This includes even passing through the airport, just to change flights.) Be aware that many countries require possession of a return or onward travel ticket and evidence of sufficient funds for admittance to their country, as well as passport validity beyond your proposed date of departure. Contact the embassy or consulate of the destination country for visa requirements and applications forms, then fill out the forms and send it in with your passport and any required photographs back to the embassy or consulate. There are many visa services who will hand deliver your passport and application to the embassy or consulate, then return your package by overnight courier. 

To reiterate: The best insurance against an unpleasant surprise at the Immigration desk or at the airline check-in counter is to get the correct information direct from the destination country's official embassy or consulate. Carefully read all the forms and other information, get your visa in advance, if necessary, then carry all documentation with you on your trip.

Bear in mind that many countries require permission in the form of notarized documents for children to travel without both legal parents. Check well in advance.
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Do I need a passport to go to Mexico or Canada?

No, but you will need proof of US citizenship, such as a birth certificate, and a photo ID, such as a state-issued drivers license or ID card. You are well advised to get a passport, anyway, and carry it with you to Mexico or Canada. It is the ultimate proof of US citizenship. An adult US passport is good for ten years, so if you plan a trip to Mexico or Canada, get it anyway, in case you get a chance to go to another country sometime later.

Beginning in January, 2008, passports will be required of all people entering the United States, even from bordering Western Hemisphere nations such as the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada. Avoid the rush. Get yours now.

Recently a web visitor told us of how she was detained, briefly, when returning to the United States from a trip to Canada. She had her current drivers license and birth certificate. Her birth certificate surname matches her drivers license exactly. She watched those with passports go through US Immigration without any trouble. Her friend, a married woman, was detained longer as her birth surname did not match her drivers license. The friend did not have her marriage license to prove her name change. Both women were admitted into the United States, but vowed to get passports before their next trip. In this day and age of heightened security it is best to get the passport even for trips to Canada or Mexico.
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Who will look at my passport during my trip?

• First, the airline ticket agent will look at your passport to see that the name on the passport matches the name on the ticket, that the passport is not near its expiration date and that there are no problems that will prevent your admittance to the destination country, such as a "DO NOT READMIT" stamp. In addition, some countries will not permit entry to travelers who have evidence of past travel to some third country. (One reason that airlines have instructed their ticket agents to request passports is that, incredibly, some people pack their passports in their checked luggage. Amazing.)
• Next, you should  be asked to present your passport, which works as your "official government-issued photo ID" and current boarding card at the airport security check. This is a security check performed by security personnel, not US Immigration agents. Note that US Immigration does not usually inspect any documents of departing passengers, unlike most other countries in the world. Other airline personnel may ask for your passport as you approach the departure gate.
• Upon arrival in the destination country, the Immigration officers for that country will inspect your passport, and might interview you briefly about your purposes for travel in their country. Be honest and succinct.
• Similarly, Customs officers might ask for your passport. Again, honesty and brevity are the best policies.
• You may be asked to present your passport while checking into a hotel or when changing money or cashing travelers' checks. You might be asked for identification by any official, and your passport or its facsimile (photocopy) should be presented.
• When returning home, you will again present your passport to airline ticket agent as you did before.
• Most foreign countries have an official "Passport Control" for departing passengers. Here you will present your passport and current boarding pass. (You may also be required to pay a departure tax, and the tax receipt might be collected at Passport Control.)
• Finally, you will present your passport to US Immigration and Customs upon arrival.
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What are "Immigration and Customs"? Are they one agency? What do I need to know about them?

Immigration and Customs are two different agencies charged with enforcing national laws. They work hand-in-hand, but have different purposes. Immigration officials are concerned with the people crossing a border. Customs officials are concerned with things crossing a border. You tell Immigration who you are and you tell Customs what you are bringing with you. See Immigration and Customs in the Travel Tips section for more information.

US State Department is of interest to US citizens who plan an international trip.

US Customs Service is of interest to both US and non-US citizens who enter or re-enter the United States.

Governments on the WWW can direct you to Immigration and Customs services for foreign countries, as well as tourist and visa information. Similarly, www.embassy.org will link you to embassies in Washington, DC.

Bear in mind that in the United States, the old Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) has been reorganized into the Bureau of Citizenship and Naturalization Services in the Department of Homeland Security.

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What is the difference between an embassy and a consulate? Where would I find one if I need help? 

An embassy is the official representation of a country within another country. Embassies are almost always located in the national capital of the country. Embassies in the United States are in Washington, DC. American embassies are in, for example, Mexico City, London, Paris, etc. 

Consulates can be thought of as embassy "branch offices". They are located in major cities, geographically distributed for convenience. The number of consulates in a foreign country depends on the need for representation and cost of running a consulate. For example, many governments maintain consulates in Los Angeles, California, which is a major city but not a national capital.

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What should I do if someone in my family dies and they had a passport?

Legally, the passport is the property of the US State Dept. If the holder of the passport dies, the executors of the person's estate should send the passport back to the Regional Passport Agency with a copy of the death certificate. You will have no worries about it falling into the wrong hands while its still valid.

Our thanks to Conrad Kageyama for suggesting this bit of information.

Updated 09/26/05