How to Apply for Your First Adult U.S. Passport in Person With Form DS-11

First-time adult U.S. passport applicants must apply in person using Form DS-11. You can fill out the application on a computer, but you must print it, bring supporting documents and submit it at an authorized passport acceptance facility. Do not sign the form before the acceptance agent asks you to do so.

The responsible authority is the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. Start with the official adult passport application instructions. You must establish U.S. citizenship and identity before the application can be approved.

For a first-time adult application, standard government fees total $165 for a passport book, $65 for a passport card or $195 for both. Current routine processing is estimated at 4–6 weeks, excluding mailing time.

Who must apply in person with Form DS-11?

Form DS-11 is the official Application for a U.S. Passport used by first-time applicants and other people who are not eligible for the usual renewal process.

Use this procedure if you are at least 18 years old and have never received a U.S. passport. It also applies to certain adults whose previous passport was lost, stolen, damaged, issued more than 15 years ago or issued when they were under age 16.

If you already have an adult passport and qualify for renewal, you may be able to renew by mail or online instead. See the related procedure to renew a U.S. passport online.

If your existing passport was lost or stolen, the reporting and replacement process may require additional information. See how to replace a lost or stolen U.S. passport.

Should you apply for a passport book, card or both?

The correct choice depends on how you expect to travel. The Department of State offers three options on Form DS-11.

Choose a passport book if you plan to fly internationally. A passport card is not a substitute for a passport book on international flights.

For example, someone planning a flight from the United States to Europe needs a passport book. Someone who only needs an eligible land-border travel document may find a passport card sufficient, provided it meets the requirements of the intended journey.

For more information about the card as a separate travel document, see how to apply for a U.S. passport card.

How to fill out Form DS-11

The Department of State recommends completing the application using its online Form Filler, then printing it. You may also use the official downloadable form.

Open the Department of State DS-11 application page and follow the Form Filler or PDF instructions.

Provide accurate personal information, including your legal name, birth details, contact information and any other information requested by the form. Select the passport book, card or combined option you want.

Before your appointment:

• Print the completed form on single-sided paper.
• Check that all required information is complete and legible.
• Do not sign the application in advance.
• Do not attach the passport photo yourself.

The acceptance agent must witness your signature. Signing Form DS-11 before the appointment can create a problem with acceptance of the application.

What proof of U.S. citizenship do you need?

You must submit acceptable physical evidence of U.S. citizenship. The document you use depends on how you acquired citizenship.

Common acceptable documents include:

• A qualifying certified U.S. birth certificate.
• A Consular Report of Birth Abroad or another qualifying Department of State birth document.
• A Certificate of Naturalization.
• A Certificate of Citizenship.
• A qualifying full-validity, undamaged U.S. passport, when applicable.

For a first passport, a person born in the United States will commonly use a certified birth certificate issued by the appropriate government records office. The document must meet the Department of State's requirements; an ordinary photocopy is not a replacement for acceptable physical citizenship evidence.

Bring the original or acceptable certified document and a clear photocopy. The photocopy should be on white, standard 8.5-by-11-inch paper, printed on one side. Include the back if it contains printed information.

The Department of State does not accept digital citizenship evidence, such as a mobile birth certificate, for this in-person application.

Review the official passport citizenship evidence requirements.

What if you do not have your birth certificate?

If you were born in the United States and need a replacement birth certificate, request an acceptable certified copy from the appropriate issuing authority before your passport appointment.

See how to get a certified copy of your U.S. birth certificate.

Applicants born abroad or whose citizenship records are unusual should follow the Department of State's citizenship evidence guidance. Additional documentation or a records search may be necessary in some cases.

What photo ID is accepted for a first adult passport?

Applicants must present an acceptable physical government-issued photo ID. A fully valid in-state driver's license with a photograph is a common option.

Other qualifying primary identification documents may include a Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship, government employee ID, U.S. military ID or other documents listed by the Department of State.

Bring a photocopy of the front and back of each identification document you present. Copies must be on single-sided, white, 8.5-by-11-inch paper.

Mobile driver's licenses and other digital IDs are not accepted in place of physical identification for passport applications.

If you apply outside the state that issued your driver's license, the Department of State instructs you to present an additional ID. If you lack acceptable primary identification, you may need at least two qualifying secondary identification documents.

Check the Department of State photo ID requirements before visiting the facility.

What are the passport photo requirements?

You must provide one recent color passport photo with Form DS-11.

The photograph must meet the Department of State's requirements, including:

• It must have been taken within the previous six months.
• It must be a 2-by-2-inch photograph.
• Your face must be clearly visible, facing the camera.
• The background must be plain white or off-white.
• Eyeglasses generally must be removed.
• The photograph must not be digitally altered or filtered.

Do not staple the photo to Form DS-11. The acceptance agent will review and attach it as required.

Check the official passport photo instructions linked from the adult passport application guide before submitting your application.

How much does a first-time adult U.S. passport cost?

First-time adult DS-11 applicants pay an application fee to the U.S. Department of State and an acceptance fee to the facility.

Prepare two separate payments. The Department of State application fee is paid by check or money order payable to U.S. Department of State. Include the applicant's name and date of birth in the memo section.

Payment methods for the $35 acceptance fee vary by facility. Contact your chosen location before the appointment.

Optional charges include:

• $60 for expedited processing.
• $26.87 for faster return delivery of an eligible passport book after issuance.
• Additional charges for photos, photocopies or optional faster shipping of the application to the Department of State.

The official October 2026 passport fee schedule confirms the current standard charges.

Where do you submit Form DS-11?

First-time adult passport applications are submitted in person at an authorized passport acceptance facility, such as a participating post office, library or local government office.

Use the official Department of State Where to Apply guide to locate the appropriate application location.

Some facilities require appointments, while others may accept applications during designated hours. Check the specific facility's requirements before traveling.

What should you expect at the appointment?

The acceptance agent checks your application and identification, reviews supporting documents, administers the required oath and instructs you when to sign Form DS-11.

The agent also collects or processes the required fees according to the facility's procedures. The application package is then sent to the Department of State for processing.

Before leaving, make sure you understand how to track your application and when your original documents are expected to be returned.

How long does a first adult passport take?

Current Department of State processing estimates are:

These estimates do not include mailing time. It may take up to two weeks for an application to reach the processing center and up to another two weeks for the completed passport to arrive after issuance.

Apply well before booking travel that requires a passport. Expedited processing does not guarantee delivery by a specific travel date.

What if you need a passport urgently?

If you are traveling internationally in less than three weeks, the Department of State directs eligible applicants to the passport agency or center appointment process. Appointments for urgent travel generally become available within 14 days of international travel.

Passport agencies and centers require appointments and proof of travel, and an additional $60 expedited fee applies.

Use the official passport application location guide to determine the correct urgent-travel route.

Applicants outside the United States should contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate rather than using a domestic acceptance facility.

What happens after you submit Form DS-11?

The acceptance facility forwards your application to the Department of State. When processing begins, the Department may provide email status updates if you supplied an email address.

You can also use the passport status service linked from the adult passport application page.

Your passport book and card may be delivered separately. Original citizenship evidence, such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate, is also returned separately.

The Department of State advises that supporting documents may arrive up to four weeks after the passport. If they have not arrived after that period, contact the National Passport Information Center at 877-487-2778.

What if your application is incomplete or cannot be approved?

The Department of State may request additional information when an application lacks acceptable citizenship evidence, identity documents or other required details.

Common problems include:

• Signing Form DS-11 before appearing before an acceptance agent.
• Submitting a photocopy instead of acceptable physical citizenship evidence.
• Using a digital driver's license rather than physical identification.
• Failing to provide required photocopies.
• Providing a noncompliant passport photo.
• Paying the wrong fee or combining payments that must be separate.
• Using the wrong application form for the applicant's circumstances.

If the Department of State sends a request for additional information, follow that notice and its response instructions. Correcting a pending application is not necessarily the same as starting a new application.

Certain unresolved child-support or seriously delinquent federal tax debts can also affect passport issuance. The Department of State advises applicants to resolve applicable restrictions before applying.

Official forms and application resources

Use these U.S. Department of State resources when preparing and submitting your first adult passport application:

• Apply for Your Adult Passport — the main DS-11 application guide.
• Citizenship Evidence — proof of U.S. citizenship.
• Photo ID Requirements — acceptable physical identification.
• Passport Fees — current application and acceptance fees.
• October 2026 Passport Fee Schedule — detailed current charges.
• Where to Apply — acceptance facilities and urgent travel routes.