U.S. Senator Pat Roberts

If you are a United States citizen and plan to travel abroad, you will need a passport issued by the State Department. Here is some information to help you get started:

New Passport

To obtain a passport for the first time, you must go in person to one of the 7,000 passport acceptance facilities located in the United States. 

You will need to bring:

• two photographs of yourself (most facilities can do this for you for a fee)
• proof of citizenship (See acceptable evidence listed below)
• a valid form of photo identification such as a driver’s license (see acceptable photo identification listed below)

Renewing Passports

You can renew by mail if:

• your most recent passport is not damaged and is available to submit
• you received the passport within the past 15 years
• you were over age 16 when it was issued
• you still have the same name or can legally document your name change

You can download a passport renewal application from the U.S. Department of State Passports Home Page. If your passport has been altered or damaged, you must apply in person. For a renewal, you will need 2 new passport photos to submit.

For the most up-to-date fee information, please visit the State Department's website.

Evidence of U.S. Citizenship

1. Certified U.S. Birth Certificate (must meet all of the following requirements):
• Issued by City, County, or State of birth
• Lists bearer's full name, date of birth, and place of birth
• Lists parent(s) full names
• Has date filed with registrar's office (must be within one year of birth) (If your birth certificate was issued more than one year after your birth, the passport agency will require additional documentation.  If that’s your situation, please plan ahead and allow an additional four weeks for passport issuance.)
• Has registrar's signature
• Has embossed, impressed, or multicolored seal of registrar
2. Previous U.S. Passport (may be expired, must be undamaged)
3. Consular Report of Birth Abroad
4. Certificate of Naturalization/Citizenship

Photo Identification

When you submit your application, you must present one of the following primary photo identification documents, and submit a photocopy of that document:

• Valid Driver's License (plus a second ID if issued in a different state than where you apply)
• Undamaged U.S. Passport (if issued less than 15 years ago)
• Certificate of Naturalization
• Valid government ID (city, state, or federal)
• Valid Military ID

Your Photograph Must Be:

• In color
• 2 x 2 inches in size
• Printed on thin, photo-quality paper
• Taken within the past 6 months, showing current appearance
• Full face, front view with a plain white or off-white background
• Between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head
• Taken in normal street attire:
• Uniforms should not be worn in photographs except religious attire that is worn daily
• Do not wear a hat or headgear that obscures the hair or hair line
• If you normally wear prescription glasses, a hearing device, wig or similar articles, they should be worn for your picture
• Dark glasses or nonprescription glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable unless you need them for medical reasons (a medical certificate may be required)
• Articles worn for religious or medical reasons should be accompanied by a statement to that effect.

Please note:
You may send your application via first class mail.  However, if you want to ensure that your documents are protected, you are encouraged to send your application by overnight mail and request that your completed passport and documents be returned to you via overnight mail.