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email Frequently Asked Questions: Passports and Citizenship Documents
- Where do I get a passport application?
- Where are the instructions for filling out the passport forms?
- I have a life or death emergency. What should I do?
- I am traveling very soon. How do I get a passport in a hurry?
- How do I renew my passport?
- I have never had a U.S. passport. / My passport was lost or stolen. How do I get one?
- How long is a passport valid and when should I renew my passport?
- I was recently married/divorced. How do I change my name on my passport?
- My passport was lost or stolen. How do I report it?
- I was born abroad. How do I get a birth certificate?
- What should I do if my baby is born abroad?
- What do I do if there is no birth record on file for me?
- I'm renewing my passport. Do I get the old one back?
- My child is too young to sign his/her own passport. How do I sign my child's passport?
- How do I get information about my child's passport, or, prevent passport issuance to my child?
- How do I find out about the status of my passport application?
- How do I get a certified copy of my birth certificate?
- Who should maintain a valid U.S. passport?
- What if there is an error in the passport I just received?
- My child who is under 18 needs a passport. How do I get it?
- It it true that passport applications for minors under 14 require the consent of both parents or legal guardians?
- What is the Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP)?
- How many blank visa pages do I need to travel?
- How long does it take to get a passport?
- Do I have to provide my Social Security Number?
Where do I get a passport application?
- You may download forms from this web site.
- Forms are also available at public offices like Post Offices, courthouses or municipal offices where passport applications are accepted. We have a searchable list of convenient locations where you can apply for a passport.
Where are the instructions for filling out the passport forms?
Instructions are on the back of the forms.
I have a life or death emergency. What should I do?
Life or Death Emergencies involve serious illness, injury, or death in your immediate family that require you to travel within 24-48 hours to a country that requires a passport. Customers must appear in person at a passport agency for emergency service and documentation of the emergency may be requested.
Please call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 (TTY/TDD 1-888-874-7793) to schedule an appointment at the nearest Passport Agency. Our automated appointment system is accessible every day, 24 hours a day.
If an appointment that will meet your needs is not available and you are calling from 7:00 a.m. to 12 midnight, ET, Monday-Friday, except federal holidays, please stay on the line and follow instructions to speak to a Customer Service Representative (CSR). The CSR will give you guidance on what to do.
If an appointment that will meet your needs is not available and you are calling on a weekend, federal holiday, or during hours the CSRs are not available, please call 202-647-4000 and explain your situation to the operator.
I am traveling very soon. How do I get a passport in a hurry?
See How to Get Your Passport in a Hurry .
See How to Apply for a Passport Renewal .
I have never had a U.S. passport/My passport was lost or stolen. How do I get one?
See How to Apply in Person for a Passport .
My child who is under 18 needs a passport. How do I get it?
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If your child is: |
Then.... |
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Under 14 |
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14 to 17 |
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Effective July 2, 2001, Public Law 106-113, Section 236 requires that U.S. passport applications for children under the age of 14 require both parents' or legal guardians' consent. Read additional information on the Two-Parent Consent Requirement.
What is the Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP)?
Separate from the Two-Parent Consent requirement for U.S. passport issuance for minors under the age of 14, parents may also request that their children's names be entered in the U.S. passport name-check system. The Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program provides:
- Notification to parents of passport applications made on behalf of minor children, and
- Denial of passport issuance if appropriate court orders are on file with CPIAP.
For more information, contact the Office of Children's Issues at 202-736-7000, or, by fax at 202-312-9743. Go to more information on the Office of Children's Issues.
I was recently married/divorced. How do I change my name on my passport?
You will need to complete DS-5504, U.S. Passport Re-Application Form , within one year of the issuance date of your current valid passport and submit along with the following:
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The passport to be replaced
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Certified documentation of your name change (e.g., marriage certificate, divorce decree with your new name); and
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Two recent passport photos.
After one year of the issuance date you must submit a DS-82, Application for Passport by Mail, your current passport, certified documentation of your name change, two recent passport photos, and pay all applicable fees.
See How to Change Your Name in Your Valid Passport
My passport was lost/stolen. How do I report it?
Please apply for a new passport immediately. You may report your lost or stolen passport when you apply for the new one. Along with your application, you must submit the Statement Regarding Lost or Stolen Passport , Form DS-64. We have more information on the DS-64. You can print the DS-64 .
If you decide not to apply for a new passport immediately, you may report your lost or stolen passport by completing Form DS-64 and mailing it to:
US Department of State
Passport Services
Consular Lost/Stolen Passport Section
1111 19th Street, NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20036
Or call us 24 hours/day at: (202) 955-0430
Voice mail - For non-business hours, Eastern Time
I was born abroad. How do I get a birth certificate proving my U.S. citizenship?
If one or both of your parents was a U.S. citizen when you were born abroad, your parent(s) should have registered your birth at a U.S. embassy or consulate, and, received a Consular Report of Birth Abroad , Form FS-240. This form is acceptable legal proof of birth and U.S. citizenship.
We have information about how to request a certified copy of a Consular Report of Birth Abroad .
What should I do if my baby is born abroad?
As U.S. citizen parent(s), you should report your child's birth abroad as soon as possible to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to establish an official record of the child's claim to U.S. citizenship at birth. The official record will be the Consular Report of Birth of a Citizen of the United States of America , Form FS-240. This document, know as the Consular Report of Birth Abroad , is a basic United States citizenship document. An original FS-240 document will be given to you at the time registration is approved. ( We have more information on these documents. )
A Consular Report of Birth can only be prepared at a U.S. embassy or consulate. It cannot be prepared if the child has been brought back into the United States, or, if the person is 18 years of age or older at the time the application is made.
What do I do if there is no birth record on file for me?
If you were born in the U.S. and there is no birth record on file, you will need several different documents to substantiate your citizenship. You will need:
A letter from the Vital Statistics office of the state of your birth with your name and what years were searched for your birth record. An official of the Vital Statistics office needs to issue a letter of no record found.
In addition, you will need early public records to prove your birth in the U.S.
If you were born outside the U.S. and your U.S. parent(s) did not register your birth at the U.S. embassy or consulate, you may:
Apply for a U.S. passport.
You will need:
Your foreign birth certificate that includes your parents' names; and
Evidence of your parent(s) U.S. citizenship; and
Your parents' marriage certificate.
I'm renewing my passport. Do I get the old one back?
Yes, we return the old, cancelled passport to you. It is a good idea to keep it in a safe place as it is considered proof of your U.S. citizenship.
My child is too young to sign his/her own passport. How do I sign my child's passport?
In the space provided for the signature, the mother or father must print the child's name and sign their own name. Then, in parenthesis by the parent's name, write the word (mother) or (father) so we know who signed for the child.
How do I find out about the status of my passport application?
See Online Application Status-Check
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How do I get a certified copy of my birth certificate?
Contact the Vital Statistics office in the state where you were born .
How long is a passport valid and when should I renew my passport?
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If you were ____ when the passport was issued |
Then your passport is valid for |
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16 or Older |
10 Years |
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15 or Younger |
5 Years |
Who should maintain a valid U.S. passport?
Passport Services recommends that the following U.S. citizens maintain valid U.S. passports.... Those
- with family living or traveling abroad
- thinking about a vacation abroad, or
- with a job that could require international travel.
In the event of an emergency involving a family member abroad, a short-notice airfare bargain, or an unexpected business trip, already having a valid U.S. passport will save time, money and stress.
What if there is an error in the passport I just received?
Passport Services apologizes for the error in your passport. In order for us to correct the error as quickly as possible, please submit the following:
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The passport to be replaced;
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A completed DS-5504, U.S. Passport Re-Application Form;
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Two new photographs; and
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Evidence to document the correct information, such as a certified birth certificate, previous U.S. passport, certified marriage certificate, or naturalization/citizenship certificate.
Please include your departure date on Form DS-5504.
Mail the above to:
If using U.S. Postal Service -
National Passport Processing
P.O. Box 13290
Philadelphia, PA 19101-3290
If using delivery other than U.S. Postal Service -
National Passport Processing
ATTN: Department 13290
1617 Brett Road
New Castle, DE 19720
How many blank visa pages do I need to travel?
Some countries require your passport have two (2) to four (4) blank visa/stamp pages. Some airlines will not allow you to board if this requirement in not met. See Add Extra Pages for how to request more visa pages.
How long does it take to get a passport?
Processing times can vary depending on workload and occasional unforeseen cirucmstances such as natural disasters. During busier times, such as the summer travel season, we encourage customers to expedite their applications if traveling in less than 8 weeks. See Processing Times for more information.
Do I have to provide my Social Security Number?
Section 6039E of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 6039E) requires you to provide your Social Security Number (SSN), if
you have one, when you apply for a U.S. passport or renewal of a U.S. passport. If you have not been issued a SSN, enter zeros
in box #5 of the passport application form you are completing. Contact the Social Security Administration to request a Number.
If you are residing abroad, you must also provide the name of the foreign country in which you are residing. The U.S. Department
of State must provide your SSN and foreign residence information to the Department of Treasury. If you fail to provide the
information, you are subject to a $500 penalty enforced by the IRS. All questions on this matter should be directed to the
nearest IRS office.
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