New Adult Passport

Eligibility Requirements

For Individuals who:

• never had a passport; or
• lost a valid passport; or
• passport was issued more than 15 years ago; or
• most recent passport is damaged or mutilated; or
• most recent US passport was issued prior to 16th birthday

I. Proof of Citizenship

Certified birth certificate or naturalization certificate or old passport. You can order a birth certificate or other vital record here: order a birth certificate.

II. Proof of Identification

Either a current and valid driver’s license with a photo, good for the past year, or a state I D with a photo, is required to prove your identity. If you have neither, you will have to resort to Supplemental Identification, and you can view the list of supplemental IDs. Applicants who are 16 years of age will need one parent to co-sign. Applicants 17 years old may need one parent to co-sign if they do not have a driver's license or state ID for the last year.

III. Photo Requirements

One passport photo (2×2 with white background)

Click here for Photo Requirements  Eyeglasses are not allowed.

Do you have a Picture Perfect Passport?

Read the Photo Requirements as "Rejected Photos" is the top reason for Passports being delayed.

Locate a Photo Store near you

IV. Passport Application Form

Complete DS­11 Form with required barcode on top left-hand margin.

This form must be completed online and printed on two pages (not back to back), and signed by the applicant before Acceptance Agent. The passport office will not accept hand­written DS­11 applications. When you print out the DS 11 you only have to print out pages 5 and 6 (twice) and not the first four pages of instructions.

Print 2 copies of your typed DS­11 form; One copy must be executed and endorsed by the Acceptance Agent (AA) and Sealed in a Government Envelope; and the other copy is clipped to the Outside of the Sealed Government Envelope - and/or placed inside the FedEx envelope.  If the applicant has lost a valid passport, please also complete DS­64 Form. Think hard if you had applied for and lost a passport in the last ten years.

IMPORTANT: One DS-11 Passport Application Form must be sealed INSIDE the government envelope by the Acceptance Agent.

See Section 7 below for reference.

Example of 2D Barcode on Form

IMPORTANT: Match the departure date on the DS­11 with the departure date on the travel itinerary or travel evidence.

V. Authorization Letter

Complete One (1) Letter of Authorization with original signatures.

IMPORTANT:  The Letter of Authorization (LOA) must be filled out and signed by the applicant and in black ink. The LOA will go inside the Government envelope. The courier company name is required by the government and should be printed or written in black pen on the line above where you sign your name.

VI. Proof of Departure

Computer-generated flight itinerary from the airline or a travel agency, copy of airline ticket, or a corporate letter for business travel. Proof of departure must be within 2 weeks unless you need a visa and then proof of departure can be within 4 weeks. One copy of the proof of departure should be inside the Sealed Government Envelope and one copy of the itinerary should be attached to the outside of the Sealed Government Envelope and inside the FedEx envelope.

VII. US Government Fees

Adults: $211.36 payment to the US Department of State - either a Bank Check, a Money Order, or a Personal Check (not a starter or temporary check). Print the name and the birthdate of the applicant on the Memo Line of the Money Order or Bank Check. The $211.36 payment includes return Priority Mail to the address on your application and into your mailbox with Overnight Shipping and Tracking. 

Please Note: 2-5 Days Urgent Service customers processed in San Francisco can only write a $190 Personal Check - to the US Department of State - if their $190 check has their name and birthdate printed on the check and it matches their name on the application. Otherwise, you can only use a US Postal Money Order for $190 to the US Department of State. Print name and birthdate on the Check or Money Order. Passports in San Francisco are picked up at Will Call and shipped with FedEx for $50.00.

VIII. Call to Reserve a Courier, make Payment, and receive the Shipping Address

Call (800) 238­-6662 to Reserve your Courier Appointment at the Passport Agency for your Application.

Payment To Legal Passport by credit/debit card only.

Please provide your credit card to reserve a courier time slot with the US Passport Agency – this is non­refundable, the Passport Agency has limited reservations. Payment is required to secure your reservation. This will guarantee your reservation with the US Passport Agency and expedited service. Note: The US Passport Agency determines eligibility to receive a passport based on proof of citizenship and compliance with the instructions provided.

How fast do you need your US Passport?

• Urgent: 2 - 4 Days + Shipping Time $499 ... + $21 credit card processing fee
• Rush: 5 - 20 Days + Shipping Time $399 ...  + $21 credit card processing fee
• Safe: 20 + Days + Shipping Time $299 ...  + $21 credit card processing fee

Processing and Shipping Times are based on Business Days.

State Department and Government fees are not included.

IX. Visit an Acceptance Agent

The Acceptance Agent (AA) will assist when you sign the DS­11 Passport Application at the designated AA office – at a post office or courthouse.

First, check here to find the nearest Acceptance Agent to you, either at a post office, a courthouse or library.

What happens at the AA office?

The Acceptance Agent will:

• Have you signed and then countersign and stamp the DS­11 application form.
• Record information from your driver’s license and attach photo to DS­11.
• Insert Letter of Authorization and $211.36 Bank Cashier’s Check or Money Order in Government Envelope.
• Insert copy of flight itinerary or business letter in Government Envelope.
• The Acceptance Agent will hand the Envelope to you, once you inform the AA you are using a courier service for the ‘Hand­ Carry.’
• The Hand ­Carry rule is in the AA’s rulebook and they can refer to that if they are unfamiliar with the rule. The Hand Carry is what you are doing to get a fast passport.
• You FedEx the Sealed Envelope and photocopies to the Courier.

X. Items Inside the Sealed Government Envelope

The original documents are inside the SEALED GOVERNMENT ENVELOPE. The certified birth certificate, a naturalization certificate, and/or old passport will be returned with the new passport.

Sealed government envelope documents include the following:

• DS­11 Passport Application signed and completed with a 2D Bar Code.
• Certified Birth Certificate or naturalization certificate or old passport.
• Copy of the front and back of your driver’s license or state ID.
• One Client Letter of Authorization filled out and signed.
• Travel itinerary or company letter.
• One (1) photo.
• Bank Cashier’s Check or Money Order made payable to: US Department of State for $211.36.
• Print applicant’s name and birthdate on check.
• The envelope’s STAMPED SEAL must not be tampered with or broken or the application is VOID and you will have to start all over again.

DO NOT include the extra copy of the DS-11 or the payment to Legal Passport INSIDE the sealed envelope. Keep the DS-11 copy separate and away from the AA who seals the envelope.

The copy of the unsigned DS 11 may be paper­-clipped to the OUTSIDE of the SEALED Government Envelope. In any case, but must be in the FedEx envelope for Legal Passport.

XI. FedEx Ship your Sealed Envelope to the Courier

Final checklist of what you need to Overnight FedEx:

1. Sealed Envelope for the U.S. Passport Service.
2. 2nd Copy of unsigned DS 11 with bar code on top left margin.
3. One copy of travel itinerary or company letter.

IMPORTANT: Please use the properly sized FedEx envelope, or FedEx box, to Safely and Securely Ship your Sealed Government Envelope + 2 copies.

Call (800) 238-­6662 for the shipping address to Legal Passport courier and for shipping instructions for FedEx. DO NOT USE USPS or UPS.