How to Apply for a Passport

By the Between the News desk · researched with AI tools, checked and edited by a human editor

First-time applicants must apply in person — not online or by mailApply at over 7,000 acceptance facilities (post offices, libraries, etc.)You'll need Form DS-11, proof of citizenship, ID, and a passport photoStandard processing: 4-6 weeks, plus mailing timeSource: travel.state.gov

👁Decoded

Getting a passport for the first time requires showing up in person — there's no online or mail option available to first-time applicants, no matter how simple your situation seems.

The application itself is Form DS-11, which you can fill out online and print, download and complete by hand, or pick up at a passport acceptance facility. You bring the completed but unsigned form to your appointment, since it has to be signed in front of the acceptance agent, not beforehand.

Alongside the form, you'll need proof of U.S. citizenship — an original or certified copy of a birth certificate, a naturalization certificate, or a prior full-validity U.S. passport — plus a valid photo ID, most commonly a driver's license. If your ID was issued by a different state than the one you're applying in, bring a second form of photo ID as backup. You'll also need a passport photo meeting specific requirements: 2x2 inches, full color, plain white or off-white background, no shadows.

Acceptance facilities are more common than people expect — over 7,000 locations nationwide, including many post offices, public libraries, and local government offices. Not every location takes walk-ins, though, so it's worth calling ahead to check if an appointment is required.

Standard processing runs 4 to 6 weeks once your application reaches the State Department — but factor in mailing time on both ends, roughly 2 weeks each way, and the realistic total from submission to holding your new passport is closer to 8 to 10 weeks.

“There's no online shortcut for a first passport — even in an age of digital everything, showing up in person is still required.”