Getting Your US Passport for the First Time

It can seem scary to get started, but the sooner you start the process, the better. There are 4 main steps, and you can do the first three in any order:

1. Complete the online form and print it out. Find it here: Application for U.S. Passport (state.gov)

   1. If you don't have access to a printer, stop by:

      1. your local library

      2. a print shop like FedEx (FedEx - Shipping and printing locations near you), The UPS Store (Find The UPS Store Location Near You), or PostNet (Find the nearest PostNet location near you | Design, Print, Ship).

2. Get a current head shot printed of yourself.

   1. Easiest is to stop by a pharmacy that has a photo shop, like Walgreens, CVS, RiteAid, etc.

   2. You could also take your own photo and print it out on photo paper, but know there are very specific requirements as to measurement of the printed photo and the size of your face in the print (U.S. Passport Photos (state.gov)). If you can afford the $15-20, I recommend going to a photo shop that does passport photos.

   3. Some passport acceptance offices (Step 3 below) also can do your photo for a fee.

3. Make an appointment to visit a passport acceptance office.

   1. You can find offices close to you here: Where to Apply for a Passport Nationwide (state.gov).

   2. Post offices and county/city offices are often acceptance sites. To schedule at a post office: www.usps.com/scheduler

4. Attend your acceptance appointment, be sure to bring:

   1. Your printed out application

   2. Your government issued photo ID; along with a photocopy of the front and the back of the ID on one side of a letter sized sheet of paper (8.5x11)

   3. Your birth certificate; along with a photocopy of the birth certificate

   4. If you don't have your government ID or your birth certificate, see this page for alternatives: Photo ID for a U.S. Passport (state.gov)

   5. A check or money order:

      1. made payable to the US Dept of State (for first time passport book: $130)

      2. additional fee of $35 will be due to the acceptance office, each office may have their own requirement on whether they take card, cash and/or check, so be prepared to pay using any of those.