U.S. Passport Guide: How to Apply, Renew & What It Costs
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Planning an international trip is exciting, but before you can start thinking about flights, hotels, and everything you want to see, there's one pretty important thing you need to have: a passport. Fortunately, getting a U.S. passport isn't particularly complicated once you know which process applies to you.
First-time applicants generally need to apply in person, while many people with an existing adult passport can now renew either online or by mail. The process, forms, fees, and required documents depend on your age and passport history.
This guide covers how to apply for your first U.S. passport, how to renew it, the difference between a passport book and a passport card, current fees and processing times, what to do if you're traveling soon, and a few things to check before an international trip.
Important: Passport requirements, fees, and processing times can change. Always confirm the current information with the U.S. Department of State before submitting an application.
At a Glance
Passport Book vs. Passport Card: Which Do You Need?
The United States offers both a passport book and a passport card, and they aren't interchangeable for every type of travel.
U.S. Passport Book
If you plan to travel internationally by airplane, this is the one you need.
A U.S. passport book can be used for international travel by:
Air
Land
Sea
Adult passport books are normally valid for 10 years. Passports issued to children under 16 are valid for five years.
U.S. Passport Card
The passport card is a smaller, wallet-sized travel document. It can be used for land and sea travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean.
It cannot be used for international air travel.
Both a passport book and a passport card can also serve as acceptable identification for domestic air travel instead of a REAL ID-compliant driver's license.
What I'd Recommend
If you're getting a passport to travel internationally and aren't sure which one you'll need, get the passport book. The passport card can be useful for people who frequently cross nearby land borders or travel by sea, but it won't replace a passport book if you eventually decide to fly internationally.
How to Get a U.S. Passport for the First Time
If you're an adult applying for your first passport, you'll generally use Form DS-11 and apply in person at an authorized passport acceptance facility.
Step 1: Complete Form DS-11
Use the State Department's official Form Filler or complete Form DS-11. You can prepare the application before your appointment, but do not sign it until the passport acceptance agent tells you to sign it.
Step 2: Gather Proof of U.S. Citizenship
You'll need acceptable evidence of U.S. citizenship.
Depending on your situation, that might include something such as:
A fully valid, undamaged U.S. passport
A certified U.S. birth certificate
A Consular Report of Birth Abroad
A Certificate of Naturalization
A Certificate of Citizenship
You'll normally need either the original or a certified copy and a photocopy. Check the State Department's current citizenship-evidence requirements before your appointment.
Step 3: Bring Identification
You'll also need acceptable photo identification and a photocopy of it. A valid driver's license is one common option, but the State Department accepts several other forms of ID depending on your situation.
Step 4: Get a Passport Photo
You'll need a passport photo in a single color taken within the last six months. For a printed passport application, the photo must be 2 x 2 inches with a plain white or off-white background. It cannot be digitally altered, filtered, or AI-generated. You can have passport photos taken at many pharmacies, shipping stores, photography businesses, and some passport acceptance facilities. You can also take the photo yourself, but make sure you follow the official requirements exactly. An unacceptable photograph can delay your application.
Step 5: Find a Passport Acceptance Facility
First-time adult applicants must submit Form DS-11 in person.
Passport acceptance facilities include many:
Post offices
Public libraries
Clerks of court
Local government offices
Some require appointments, so check before showing up.
Step 6: Pay the Fees
DS-11 applications require two separate fees:
One application fee paid to the U.S. Department of State and one $35 acceptance fee paid to the acceptance facility.
I'll break down the current costs below.
How to Renew a U.S. Passport
Renewing a passport can be much easier than getting your first one. And unlike in the mail-only era, eligible applicants can now renew online or by mail.
Option 1: Renew Your Passport Online
Eligible U.S. citizens can currently renew a passport online for routine service. You must meet all of the State Department's eligibility requirements.
Among the current requirements:
Your passport was valid for 10 years
It expires within one year or has expired less than five years ago
You are at least 25 years old
You are not changing personal information such as your name or sex
You aren't traveling internationally for at least six weeks
You are physically located in a U.S. state or territory when you apply
Online passport renewals cannot currently be expedited. You'll upload a digital passport photo rather than mailing a printed one.
What I'd Recommend
Only renew through the official U.S. government website. The State Department specifically warns against unofficial websites claiming they can submit online passport renewals for you. The authorized online renewal system is on a .gov website.
Option 2: Renew Your Passport by Mail
If you prefer to renew by mail, or online renewal isn't the right option for you, you may qualify to use Form DS-82.
Your most recent passport generally must:
Be in your possession so you can submit it
Be undamaged other than normal wear
Never have been reported lost or stolen
Have been issued when you were at least 16
Have been issued within the last 15 years
Show your current name, or you must be able to document your legal name change
If any of those requirements don't apply to you, you'll generally need to reapply in person using Form DS-11.
For a mail renewal, you'll generally submit:
Form DS-82
Your current or most recent passport
One new passport photo
Any required name-change documentation
The appropriate fee
The State Department requires DS-82 applications to be mailed using USPS because the application addresses are P.O. boxes.
What If My Name Changed?
If your legal name changed after your passport was issued, don't use the general renewal instructions without first checking which name-change process applies to you. The correct form may be DS-5504, DS-82, or DS-11, depending on when your passport was issued, when your name changed, and whether you're eligible to renew.
I put the complete process in my separate guide: How to Change Your Name on Your United States Passport
That guide covers the forms, legal name-change documents, fees, Social Security considerations, and what to do if you already have international travel booked.
How Much Does a U.S. Passport Cost?
As of 2026, these are the current State Department fees.
First-Time Adult Applicants
Adult Renewals
The State Department currently charges an additional $60 for expedited service.
The optional 1 to 3-day delivery of an issued passport book from the State Department currently costs $23.36. That delivery option does not shorten the time required to process your application.
Because passport fees can change, always check the State Department's current passport fees before submitting your application.
What About Children's Passports?
Children under age 16 follow a different process.
A child's passport:
Requires an in-person application
Is valid for five years
Cannot be renewed
Generally requires both parents or guardians to participate in the application process
When a child's passport expires, the child applies for a new passport rather than completing a normal renewal. There are additional procedures when one or both parents cannot appear, so use the State Department's child passport instructions for your specific situation.
How Long Does It Take to Get a U.S. Passport?
Current State Department processing times are:
Routine: 4 to 6 weeks
Expedited: 2 to 3 weeks
Expedited service costs an additional $60.
But there's something important to remember. Those times do not include mailing. The State Department says it can take up to two weeks for an application to reach them and up to another two weeks for the completed passport to reach you after processing.
What I'd Recommend
Don't plan around the absolute minimum processing time. If you know you're taking an international trip, apply for or renew your passport well before you actually need it.
What If I'm Traveling Soon?
If you're traveling internationally in the near future, your options depend on how soon you're leaving.
For travelers with urgent international travel, passport agencies and centers can provide appointments when you're traveling within 14 calendar days or need a foreign visa within 28 calendar days. You'll need an appointment and proof of international travel. Appointments aren't guaranteed, so don't intentionally wait until the urgent-travel window if you already know you need a passport.
If you simply need faster service but aren't within the urgent travel window, expedited processing may be the better option.
Does Your Passport Need Six Months of Validity?
Sometimes. This is one of those travel rules that often gets oversimplified.
Some countries require your passport to remain valid for at least six months beyond the dates of your trip, while others have different rules. Airlines may also deny boarding if your passport doesn't meet the entry requirements of your destination. Don't automatically assume you're fine just because your passport hasn't technically expired. Before every international trip, check the specific passport validity and blank-page requirements for the country you're visiting.
How Long Is a U.S. Passport Valid?
For most people:
Age 16 or older when issued: 10 years
Under age 16 when issued: 5 years
Your issue and expiration dates are printed on the passport's data page. I recommend checking the expiration date before you start booking an international trip, especially if you haven't used your passport recently.
What Happens to My Old Passport When I Renew?
If you renew by mail, the State Department generally returns your old passport unless it was damaged or intentionally altered. Your new passport and your old passport or supporting documents may arrive separately. The State Department says supporting documents can arrive up to four weeks after your new passport. So don't panic if everything doesn't show up in the same envelope.
How to Track Your Passport Application
After your application is submitted, you can check its status through the State Department's official passport-status system. It may take up to two weeks after mailing or submitting your application for the status to change to In Process. If you provided an email address on your application, you may also receive automatic status updates.
Before Your International Trip
Once your passport arrives, don't simply throw it in a drawer until departure day.
Check:
Your name is spelled correctly
Your date and place of birth are correct
Your passport is signed
Your destination's passport validity rules
Whether your destination requires blank visa pages
Whether you need a visa or an electronic travel authorization
The State Department specifically instructs adult passport holders to sign their passports in blue or black ink. I also like keeping a secure digital copy of the passport information page somewhere separate from the physical passport while traveling.
Final Thoughts
Getting a U.S. passport is one of those travel tasks that seems complicated until you actually break it into steps. For your first passport, you'll generally apply in person using DS-11. If you already have an adult passport, you may be eligible to renew online or by mail. The most important thing is to give yourself enough time. Check your passport before booking an international trip, verify your destination's entry requirements, use official government sources for the latest forms and fees, and don't wait until the week before departure to realize your passport needs attention.
Once that's taken care of, you can move on to the much more exciting part: figuring out where you'll use it.
Happy travels!
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