The links and resources below connect to official U.S. government agencies and authorized providers for passport requirements, acceptance facilities, citizenship evidence, and identification standards. Government rules and procedures may change without notice.

Passport Acceptance Agents

Passport acceptance facilities are designated by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of Passport Services.

Use the official locator to find a nearby acceptance agent by ZIP code, city, or state:

Acceptance Facility Search

https://iafdb.travel.state.gov/

Birth Certificates (Certified Copies)

If you need a certified copy of a birth certificate, VitalChek is an authorized and secure source for government-issued vital records.

VitalChek

https://www.vitalchek.com/

Secondary Evidence of U.S. Citizenship

Source: https://travel.state.gov/

If you cannot present primary evidence of U.S. citizenship, secondary evidence may be required, depending on your situation.

Early Public Records

(Submitted with a birth record or Letter of No Record)

Examples include:

Baptismal or hospital birth records

Census or early school records

Family Bible records

Doctor’s post-natal records

Early public records are not accepted alone.

Delayed U.S. Birth Certificate

A delayed birth certificate filed more than one year after birth may be acceptable if it:

Lists documentation used to create it (preferably early public records), and

Is signed by the birth attendant or includes parental affidavits

If not, it must be submitted with early public records.

Letter of No Record

A state-issued Letter of No Record must show:

Full name

Date of birth

Years searched

Confirmation that no birth record exists

A Letter of No Record must be submitted with early public records.

Form DS-10: Birth Affidavit

May be used when primary evidence is unavailable and must:

Be notarized

Be submitted in person with Form DS-11

Be accompanied by early public records

Be completed by an affiant with personal knowledge of the birth (preferably an older blood relative)

Birth Abroad to U.S. Citizen Parent(s)

If claiming citizenship through birth abroad, you may be required to submit:

Foreign birth certificate (with English translation)

Evidence of U.S. citizenship of parent(s)

Parents’ marriage certificate

Parent’s statement of U.S. physical presence/residence prior to birth

Unacceptable Citizenship Evidence

The following are not accepted as secondary evidence of U.S. citizenship:

Voter registration card

Military discharge papers

Social Security card

Secondary U.S. Identification

Source: https://travel.state.gov/

Combination of Identifying Documents

A combination of documents may be used to verify identity (not valid alone), such as:

Social Security card

Credit card

Employee ID

Library card

Identifying Witness

An identifying witness must:

Appear in person at the time of application

Have known the applicant for at least two (2) years

Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident

Present valid identification

Complete Form DS-71 in the presence of a passport agent

Form DS-71 is available only at passport acceptance facilities or passport agencies.

Important Notice:

Legal Passport Services is a private service provider and is not affiliated with any government agency. All requirements, procedures, and determinations are controlled exclusively by government authorities and may change without notice.