If you have never left the country, applying for a passport for the very first time can be a very overwhelming experience. I first applied for my passport when I was 31 years old, so I can tell you that it is never too late. Here are some tips to apply for a new passport in the United States.
Click the links below to skip to any of the following sections:
Fill Out Your U.S. Passport Application
How Much Does a Passport Cost?
How to Take a Good Passport Photo?
What Passport Documents Are Needed To Apply for Your Passport?
Find a Passport Service Location
Fill Out Your U.S. Passport Application
First, you will want to visit the U.S. Department of State website to download or form fill out your Application for a U.S. Passport (DS-11). The form is for people to apply for a passport for the first time, if you’re applying for someone under 16, or if you do not meet the requirements to renew your passport. But if you’re a first-time applicant, this is the form for you.
How Much Does a Passport Cost?
If you are an adult (16 and over) and applying for your passport for the first time, your passport book will cost (as of 2022) around $165. This is $130 for the passport and $35 for administrative fees.
There are a number of different costs for passports, for instance if you are under 16, applying for a renewal, if you are expediting the process, etc. But for first-time passport applications with no rush, the cost will be $165.
How to Take a Good Passport Photo?
You can spend all day trying to take a good passport photo, but I would recommend leaving it to the experts. When I first applied for my passport, I spent some time taking what I thought was an amazing photo, based on their rules. But it was rejected anyways.
What I would recommend is going to one of the approved vendors for taking a photo. I finally went to Walgreens and had them take my photo. They know what they’re doing, and they know what is more likely to get approved.
Here are the tips from the U.S. Department of State on requirements for your photo:
- Submit a color photo, taken in the last 6 months
- Use a clear image of your face. Do not use filters commonly used on social media.
- Have someone else take your photo. No selfies.
- Take off your eyeglasses for your photo.
- Use a plain white or off-white background.
What Passport Documents Are Needed To Apply for Your Passport?
When submitting your application, you’ll want to make sure to have all the required passport documents so you don’t have to go back.
The documents you need will prove evidence of U.S. citizenship include:
If you were born in the United States, you will need to submit:
A U.S. birth certificate that meets the following requirements:
- Issued by the city, county, or state of birth
- Lists applicant’s full name, date of birth, and place of birth
- Lists parent(s)’ full names
- Has the signature of the city, county, or state registrar
- Has the date filed with registrar’s office (must be within one year of birth)
- Has the seal of issuing authority
And also: A photo ID, which can include:
- In-state, fully-valid driver’s license or enhanced driver’s license with photo
- Certificate of Naturalization
- Certificate of Citizenship
- Government employee ID (city, county, state, or federal)
- U.S. military or military dependent ID
- Matricula Consular (Mexican Consular ID) – commonly used by a parent of a U.S. citizen child applicant
- U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) – commonly used by a parent of a U.S. citizen child applicant
- Trusted Traveler IDs (including valid Global Entry, FAST, SENTRI, and NEXUS cards)
- Enhanced Tribal Cards and Native American tribal photo IDs
- In-state, fully-valid learner’s permit with photo,
- In-state, fully-valid non-driver ID with photo
- Temporary driver’s license with photo.
If you were born outside the United States, you will need to submit one of the following:
- Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
- Certificate of Naturalization
- Certificate of Citizenship
And also: A photo ID, which can include:
- In-state, fully-valid driver’s license or enhanced driver’s license with photo
- Certificate of Naturalization
- Certificate of Citizenship
- Government employee ID (city, county, state, or federal)
- U.S. military or military dependent ID
- Matricula Consular (Mexican Consular ID) – commonly used by a parent of a U.S. citizen child applicant
- U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) – commonly used by a parent of a U.S. citizen child applicant
- Trusted Traveler IDs (including valid Global Entry, FAST, SENTRI, and NEXUS cards)
- Enhanced Tribal Cards and Native American tribal photo IDs
- In-state, fully-valid learner’s permit with photo,
- In-state, fully-valid non-driver ID with photo
- Temporary driver’s license with photo.
Find a Passport Service Location
You likely have many U.S. Passport Application locations near you. Whether you are looking for emergency, urgent travel, expedited, or routine passport applications, you can find a location near you at the U.S. Department of State website here.
Applying for Your U.S. Passport For the First Time
Applying for your passport for the very first time can seem like an overwhelming process, but once you organize all your documents together, you can get it done pretty quickly and easily.
