Are you looking to apply for a passport near you but need help knowing where to start? Luckily, you can look into plenty of options that all have their perks depending on what kind of services you need.
Your options for submitting a passport application include post offices, courthouses, clerks of court, and other municipal buildings including libraries and public universities. However, all of these passport acceptance facilities range in their availability for booking appointments.
Courthouses and Clerks of Court
Courthouses and clerks of court may be your best bet for walk-ins and same-day bookings because many people may need to be made aware that courthouses and clerks or courts are passport acceptance facilities. They can handle First-Time and new passports, as well as passports for minors under sixteen. These applications are required to be submitted in person.
Libraries and Public Universities
Libraries and public universities also tend to do passports, but these are hit or miss and have strange hours of operation. This also goes for various municipal offices that do passports as well. Like Courthouses and court clerks, they can handle First-Time and new passports, as well as passports for minors under sixteen.
These applications are required to be submitted in person.
The Post Office
Post offices are the most common way to apply for a passport because they are more easily accessible to the general public. Still, it can be hard to get an appointment because of their limited availability. You can apply for a First-time or new passport and passports for minors under sixteen. However, the only place you can apply for a passport renewal will be with a post office, and it will have to be submitted through a mail-in process. USPS provides a post office locator to apply for a passport near your post office locator.
A passport acceptance facility search page is provided on the U.S Department of State website.
The search engine lets you put in your zip code to find a place that does passports near you, it also has phone numbers, operating hours, how to get an appointment (or if walk-ins are acceptable), and it’ll let applicants know if photo services are available on-site.
When choosing a passport acceptance facility, remember that the location that people go to apply for the passport is not where the passport is being made and issued in most cases, and should any issues arise with the application, applicants are not advised to go back to where they applied to get more information. This is because the office where they submit their application form exists solely to verify their identity. That being said, if you have any issues that arise in your passport application, errors should be handled by the U.S. Department of State.
Regardless of your passport acceptance facility, you can find all application forms and requirements for First-time or new minors under sixteen and passport renewals at the U.S. Department of State website.
How to Apply
If you are applying for a passport near you, you should apply for international travel about three months in advance. This is because post offices can take up to six to process your application and have your passport made and delivered. Before you apply, please make sure you have all your documents to speed up the already long process.
First, find out what type of passport you are applying for– the documents required can vary depending on the type of passport you need.
First-time or New Passports ( All passport acceptance facilities)
If you are applying for a First-time or new passport, you will need to apply in person to have your identity verified.
First-time passports or new passport requirements include:
- DS-11 application form printed and filled out, but NOT signed ( You must have an employee witness your signature)
- Proof of U.S Citizenship ( a photocopy including the front and back of the document)
- Proof of identity (a photocopy including the front and back of the document)
- A passport photo that meets the U.S Department of State’s requirements for passport photos
- Payment: Post Offices will accept credit cards, checks, and money orders for acceptance fees but you will also need a check or money order written out to the “U.S Department of State” that will be mailed out with your application.
If you are applying for a new passport, you must schedule an in-person appointment.
Passport Renewal (Post Office ONLY)
Passport renewal requirements are different because you must be eligible to mail in your passport application. Post offices are the only way to renew a passport. You cannot apply for a passport renewal at a courthouse.
Make sure you are eligible to apply for a mail-in passport renewal. Your passport must be in your possession and undamaged, except for regular wear and tear. It must have been issued to you at sixteen or older. Your passport must have been issued to you in your current name, unless you can provide documents of your legal name change. If you answered “yes” to all of these requirements, then you can mail in your passport renewal application. If not, you must apply in person.
Passport renewal requirements include:
- DS-82 application form for a passport renewal printed, filled out, AND signed
- A passport photo that meets the U.S Department of State’s requirements for passport photos. ( you can schedule an appointment for a passport photo through USPS here )
- You will need your recent passport, and any name change documents, if needed
- A passport photo that meets the U.S Department of State’s requirements for passport photos
- Payment: Post Offices will accept credit cards, checks, and money orders for acceptance fees. You will also need a check or money order written out to the “U.S Department of State”. This will then be mailed out with your application.
When mailing in your passport renewal application, make sure that you pick an envelope that can fit all of the required documents without folding any of them. Be sure to address the envelope to the location of your state.
Passports for Minors Under Sixteen ( All passport acceptance facilities)
An application for minors under sixteen MUST be submitted in person.
- All applicants under sixteen must apply in person with two parents or legal guardians present
- Applicants such as parents or legal guardians must fill out the DS-11 Form. They may not sign the documents until an employee witnesses it.Provide proof of U.S Citizenship: A U.S birth certificate, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or Certification of Birth are all acceptable forms of citizenship
- You will need to provide a photocopy of the proof of citizenship. It must be printed on 8.5×11 white paper, must be single-sided, and printed in back and white.
- Show proof of parental relationship(s) or legal guardian(s) by providing an ORIGINAL copy of one of the following: U.S birth certificate, Adoption Decree, Divorce/custody Decree, or a foreign birth certificate.
- The parent(s) or legal guardian(s) must provide a form of I.D: a list of acceptable I.D can be found here.
- You must also provide a photocopy of the I.D
- You must be able to show parental consent: requirements and forms may be found here.
- A passport photo that meets the U.S Department of State’s requirements for passport photos
- Payment: Post Offices will accept credit cards, checks, and money orders for acceptance fees, but you will also need a check or money order written out to the “U.S Department of State.” You will then mail this with your application
How to Apply for a Passport Near You if You Need it Expedited
If you need a same-day or expedited passport, your application process may change.
The U.S. Department of State is where you can get a same-day passport. One must call for an appointment, and walk-in service is currently not available. Because of limited availability, it is not guaranteed that you will get an appointment. Also, there are only twenty-six U.S. locations, so you may have yet to have one in your state. You must also be within 14 days of travel before you can call to make your appointment.
Apply With a Private Courier
If you’re looking to apply for a passport near you and need it expedited, go ahead and apply with a private courier. The requirements are almost the same as The U.S. Department of State process because these couriers are contracted through them.
Couriers like The Passport Office can rush the passport process as fast as three to five days! Applicants can apply online and mail their supplemental materials to receive their expedited passports. The main difference is that private couriers charge a higher fee for their services.
Apply for a passport near you at one of The Passport Office’s many locations. Get your expedited passport in Miami, Hollywood, Tampa, or Orlando.
