Florida has its year-round warm weather, beautiful beaches, and diverse population. Still, sometimes you must leave paradise to find another, more international paradise, right?
Before you embark on your new destination, you’ll need a passport. If you don’t have one, your first step to finding your new paradise is figuring out how to get a passport in Florida.
If you’re not sure where to begin getting a passport in Florida, there’s no need to worry. We’re here to break it all down for you. Keep reading on to find out how to get a passport in Florida.
Decide What Passport Services You Need
When you apply for a passport in Florida, you must apply with a passport acceptance facility. A passport acceptance is a place that is government approved to handle passport documents, verify applicants’ identities, and submit applications to the U.S. Department of State.
Passport acceptance facilities include the following:
- Court House
- Clerk of Court
- Post office
- Some libraries
- Some municipal buildings
- Private courier passport offices ( for expedited service)
Depending on the type of passport services you need, where you need to apply might change. Before you decide where to get a passport in Florida, you must first decide what kind of passport you need. Read below the requirements for the different passport applications to see which one you will be applying for.
You will apply for a new passport using Form DS-11 if at least one of the following is true:
- This will be your first U.S. passport
- You are 16 years old or younger
- previous passport was issued when you were under the age of 16
- Passport was lost, stolen, or damaged
- Your last passport was issued more than 15 years ago
If None of these requirements apply to you, you will apply for a passport renewal using Form DS-82 instead.
How To get a New Passport
You will have to go in person to a passport acceptance facility to verify your identity with a passport agent. You can apply at any of the following:
- Court House
- Clerk of Court
- Post Office (USPS)
You can apply through the state department if you need your passport expedited. The U.S. Department of state will expedite your passport to about 3-6 weeks instead of the average 6-10 week processing time. If you need your passport faster, consider applying for a passport in Florida with a private courier, like The Passport Office.
How to Get a Passport Renewal
If you are applying for a Passport Renewal in Florida, you do not need to verify your identity in person. Those applying for a passport renewal must renew their passport by mail. You will be at a Post Office, specifically USPS. The USPS has a post office locator that provides locations near you and hours of operation.
How to Get Your Passport Expedited in Florida
Do you need your passport rushed? Depending on how fast you need your passport, you have a few options for expediting your passport.
If you need your passport within 3-6 weeks, you can do so through the State Department for an extra fee. However, we understand that some travelers may want their passports faster.
If You need your passport sooner, we suggest you apply for an expedited passport through a private courier. Private couriers, like The Passport Office, can get your passport in as little as three days! How do you know that you are applying with a legit, trusted company? The Passport Office is contracted through the government to submit applications on behalf of the government. An extra fee depends on how fast you need your passport and the supply and demand of slots, as private couriers have to pay to reserve slots for expedited passport applications.
If you need a Same-day passport, you can only apply through the State Department at one of their locations. Beware of any company that claims to provide Same-day services. The only Florida location is in Miami, and you must call to make appointments. They do no accept walk-ins, and they do not guarantee you will receive an appointment.
Get a Passport in Florida with The Passport Office
As you may now be aware, There is only one State Department office in Florida that can expedite your passport. If you do not live near the Miami State Department office or need an appointment, The Passport Office is here to Help!
The Passport Office has served the Florida Travelling Public for over twenty years with all their passport needs. We offer services such as New passports, passport renewal, child passports, lost or stolen passports, getting a name change, and more!
For your convenience, we have passport offices in major Florida cities like Miami, Orlando, Hollywood, and Tampa. Save hours of your time by applying for your passport online or at one of our locations! We aim to ensure that applying for a passport is a convenient, stress-free, and fast experience for you. Let us worry, while you focus on the exciting details of your upcoming trip! Apply today by calling, or walking into one of our offices to get a passport in Florida.
