Passports & Traveling Abroad

Passports

Whether you’re applying for a passport for the first time or renewing an existing one, the U.S. State Department’s Office of Passport Services provides a wealth of information on the application process. Forms can be downloaded from this site or obtained at a local Passport Acceptance facility, usually a Post Office or municipal office.

If you are traveling within the next two weeks or need a passport for a visa, you can apply for expedited processing at the National Passport Center in Portsmouth, NH, or at the Boston, MA, Passport Agency. You must make an appointment using their automated service at 1-877-487-2778 and you will be asked to show proof of travel.

You may also obtain information, including the status of a pending application, by calling the National Passport Information Center toll-free at 1-877-487-2778.

Travel Abroad

For general information on travel and living abroad, the U.S. State Department provides a wide range of information. This includes details on how to apply, if necessary, for visas to other countries, country background notes, and travel warnings. Another useful source is the websites of our U.S. Embassies and Consulates around the world.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection lists what items you can and cannot bring back into the country. On that site you will also find current entry wait times at U.S. border crossings and airports.