How to Get Your First Passport: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide
Updated: Aug 1
If you are wondering how to get your first passport, the process is easier than many people expect.
Most of the work involves gathering the correct documents, completing one form, having a passport photo taken, and submitting everything in person. The hardest part may simply be waiting for your new passport to arrive.
Here is the process broken down into simple steps.
This guide is for U.S. citizens applying for their first U.S. passport. Passport fees and processing times were last checked on July 21, 2026. Always verify current information with the U.S. Department of State before applying.
How to Get Your First Passport in 9 Simple Steps
First, Decide Whether You Need a Passport Book or Card
Before completing your application, you will need to decide whether you want a passport book, passport card, or both.
Passport book
A passport book can be used for international travel by:
Air
Sea
Land
For most travelers, especially those planning cruises or international vacations, the passport book is the most useful choice.
Passport card
A passport card is a wallet-sized identification card that can be used when entering the United States by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and certain Caribbean destinations.
However, a passport card cannot be used for international air travel. If an emergency occurs during a cruise and you need to fly home from another country, the card will not replace a passport book.
You can compare the two options through the U.S. Department of State’s passport book and card guide.
How long is a passport valid?
Passports issued to applicants age 16 and older are generally valid for 10 years. Passports issued to children under age 16 are valid for 5 years.
Step 1: Complete Form DS-11
First-time passport applicants must complete Form DS-11: Application for a U.S. Passport.
You can complete the form using the U.S. Department of State’s Form Filler or print a blank form and fill it out by hand.
When completing the form:
Print it on regular white paper.
Print on only one side of each sheet.
Use black ink if completing it by hand.
Answer every question that applies to you.
Do not use correction fluid.
Do not sign the application yet.
⚠️ Important: Do Not Sign the Form Yet
Do not sign Form DS-11 before your appointment.
You must sign the application in front of the passport acceptance agent when you submit it.
Step 2: Gather Proof of U.S. Citizenship
You must provide an original or certified document proving your U.S. citizenship.
Acceptable documents may include:
A certified U.S. birth certificate
A previous full-validity, undamaged U.S. passport
A Consular Report of Birth Abroad
A Certificate of Naturalization
A Certificate of Citizenship
A hospital souvenir birth certificate is not acceptable. A certified birth certificate should have the seal or stamp of the government agency that issued it.
You must bring the original citizenship document and a photocopy. The original document will be returned separately after your application is processed.
⚠️ Bring the Original Document
Digital photographs, scans, and mobile copies are not accepted. Bring the original or certified physical citizenship document and the required photocopy.
Step 3: Bring a Physical Photo ID
You will also need to show a physical photo ID.
The most common option is a valid, in-state driver’s license. Other acceptable identification may include:
A valid state-issued identification card
A previous U.S. passport
A government employee ID
A U.S. military or military-dependent ID
A Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship
Certain trusted-traveler identification cards
A digital driver’s license or mobile ID is not accepted for a passport application.
Bring a photocopy of the front and back of your identification. Copies should be printed on one side of standard 8½-by-11-inch white paper.
⚠️ Bring a Physical Photo ID
Digital driver’s licenses and mobile IDs are not accepted. Bring the original physical photo ID and a photocopy of both the front and back.
When applying in a state other than the one shown on your driver’s license, you may be asked to provide an additional form of identification. Review the official passport photo-identification requirements before your appointment.
Step 4: Get a Passport Photo
You must submit one recent color photograph with your application.
Your passport photo must:
Have been taken within the last six months
Measure 2 by 2 inches
Show you directly facing the camera
Show your full face with both eyes open
Have a plain white or off-white background
Have even lighting without shadows
Be printed on matte or glossy photo-quality paper
Be free of filters, retouching, and digital alterations
Do not staple or attach the photo to your application. The passport acceptance agent will review and attach it for you.
Many pharmacies, post offices, shipping stores, and passport acceptance facilities offer passport photo services. Having the photo taken professionally may help prevent a delay, since unacceptable photos are a leading reason passport applications are placed on hold.
You can review examples on the U.S. Department of State’s passport photo page.
Step 5: Calculate Your Passport Fees
First-time applicants using Form DS-11 make two separate payments:
An application fee paid to the U.S. Department of State
A $35 acceptance fee paid to the facility where the application is submitted
First-time applicants age 16 and older
As of July 21, 2026:
Passport book: $130 application fee plus $35 acceptance fee — $165 total
Passport card: $30 application fee plus $35 acceptance fee — $65 total
Book and card: $160 application fee plus $35 acceptance fee — $195 total
Children under age 16
Passport book: $100 application fee plus $35 acceptance fee — $135 total
Passport card: $15 application fee plus $35 acceptance fee — $50 total
Book and card: $115 application fee plus $35 acceptance fee — $150 total
The application fee is generally paid by check or money order made payable to U.S. Department of State. Write the applicant’s full name and date of birth in the memo section.
The acceptance facility collects its fee separately and may accept different payment methods. Contact the facility before your appointment so you know which payment methods to bring.
You can confirm the current amount with the official passport fee calculator and form guide.
Step 6: Find a Passport Acceptance Facility
First-time applicants cannot submit Form DS-11 entirely online or through the mail. You must apply in person at an authorized passport acceptance facility.
These facilities may be located inside:
Post offices
Public libraries
Clerk-of-court offices
Municipal or county government offices
Use the official Passport Acceptance Facility Locator to search by ZIP code, city, or state.
Some locations require appointments, while others accept walk-ins. Some also provide passport photo services. Check the location’s instructions before visiting.
Step 7: Attend Your Appointment
Bring the following items with you:
Your completed but unsigned Form DS-11
Your original proof of U.S. citizenship
A photocopy of your citizenship document
Your physical photo ID
A photocopy of the front and back of your ID
One acceptable passport photo
Payment for the application fee
Payment for the acceptance fee
The acceptance agent will review your documents, administer an oath, and ask you to sign the application in front of them.
Check everything before leaving home. A missing photocopy, incorrect payment, unacceptable photograph, or unsigned supporting document could delay the application.
Step 8: Wait for Your Passport
As of July 21, 2026, current processing times are:
Routine service: 4–6 weeks
Expedited service: 2–3 weeks
These estimates do not include mailing time. Mailing your application to the processing center and receiving your finished passport may add up to approximately two additional weeks.
Expedited service costs an additional $60 per application. You may also pay $23.36 for one-to-three-day return delivery of a passport book after it has been issued.
Do not wait until the last minute. Appointments for urgent passport services are limited and may not be available when you need one. Current estimates are posted on the U.S. Department of State’s processing-time page.
Step 9: Track Your Application
After submitting the application, it may take up to two weeks before its status appears online.
You can monitor it through the official U.S. Passport Application Status page.
Your new passport and original citizenship documents may arrive in separate envelopes. Do not panic if your birth certificate or other supporting document does not arrive with your passport. Supporting documents may arrive several weeks later.
Applying for a Child’s First Passport
Children must have their own passports. They cannot be included on a parent’s passport.
For a child under age 16:
The child must appear in person.
Both parents or legal guardians must generally appear with the child.
Both parents must bring physical photo identification.
Documents must show the parents’ or guardians’ relationship to the child.
A child’s passport is valid for five years.
A child’s passport cannot be renewed; the child must apply in person again.
When one parent cannot attend, additional consent and notarized documents may be required. The exact process depends on custody and guardianship circumstances.
Because children’s applications involve extra documentation, parents should carefully review the official instructions for passports for children under 16 before making an appointment.
Applicants who are 16 or 17 must also apply in person using Form DS-11 for their first adult passport and show that at least one parent or legal guardian is aware of the application. Passports issued to applicants age 16 and older are generally valid for ten years.
Common Mistakes That Can Delay an Application
Before attending your appointment, check for these common problems:
Signing Form DS-11 before the appointment
Bringing a hospital souvenir birth certificate instead of a certified government-issued copy
Forgetting photocopies of citizenship evidence or identification
Printing copies on both sides of the paper
Bringing only a digital driver’s license
Submitting an old, filtered, shadowed, or incorrectly sized photograph
Bringing only one form of payment when two separate payments are required
Forgetting that children must appear in person
Waiting until shortly before the trip to apply
Spending a few extra minutes checking your documents can prevent weeks of avoidable delays.
The Hardest Part Is Usually the Wait
Getting your first passport is not as intimidating as it may seem. Once you gather the documents and attend the appointment, most of the work is complete.
The part that requires the most patience is waiting for it to arrive.
Apply as early as possible—even before you have selected a specific international trip. Once that passport is in your hands, you will have far more freedom when choosing cruises, destinations, and future vacations.
Having a passport does not mean that you must immediately travel around the world. It simply means that when the right opportunity appears, you will be ready.
For more information about cruising without a passport, read Do You Need a Passport to Go on a Cruise?
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