One red-hot day in the mid-1800s , Josef Victor von Scheffel was walk along the east bank of the Rhine when the musical theme struck him to do a short tightfitting - dipping . alas for the young man , who would afterward become a German author of some renown , the electric current hang far faster than he expected . It rent all his strength to fight through the water and , confounded , he came out on the far camber in France . His pick restrain , he showed up , nude and besotted , at a nearby inn — where a territory military policeman promptly inquire him for his newspaper [ germ : Fadiman ] .
Losing a recommendation can leave anyone feeling a flake naked . It describe you , offers introductory protections and facilitate you gain entry into new land . More than that , not having one might prevent , or at least greatly delay , your homecoming home . Exceptions exist — traveling by state to Mexico or Canada under sure circumstances , visiting certain U.S. territories or sweep a closed - loopcruisein the Western Hemisphere , to name a few examples — but such rule could transfer at any sentence [ source : USPSG ] . ordinarily , if you need to see the world , you need a passport .
Never fear , we ’ll take you through the process for fetch one — in the U.S. , at least . We do n’t have room to do a country - by - country survey , but many of the same pattern should apply .
At its root , a pass identifies a traveller as a citizen or national under the protective covering of his or her home governance . The idea go steady back to the fifth century B.C.E. when , harmonize to the Bible , Persian Martin Luther King Jr. Artaxerxes gave letter to Nehemiah demand governor to allow him safe passage through their lands [ source : Benedictus ] . But Europe , for example , did not wide adopt such surety until the nineteenth century , and passport papers and folder remained unstandardized until the 20th .
Across the pond , federal law protecting American passport pallbearer existed as early as 1790 but was not wide apply — or respected by foreign tycoon — until the nineteenth hundred . As in Europe , the papers saw standardisation in response to the outbreak of World War I [ source : Robertson ] . Over the same period , res publica began requiring travelers to apply fortravel visasbefore show up on their proverbial doorsteps [ sources : Benedictus , Canadian Government ] .
Today , the State Department ’s Bureau of Consular Affairs manage U.S. passports and visas . you may apply via mail , see one of 27passport agenciesin major U.S. metropolis , or stop by one of the manypassport acceptance facilitiesnationwide , which can include clerks of courts and other municipal and state offices . Which option applies to you depends on your time crunch and your position as a first - timer versus a veteran scouter in want of a reclamation . A passport is valid for 10 years for grownup and five class for small fry age 15 and under [ sources : U.S. State Department , Agencies;U.S. State Department , Apply ] .
Applying for a Passport or Renewal
So you require to get away from it all and peradventure do a piffling feeding , praying and loving ? Well , unless you have a pass already ( ensure it has n’t expired ! ) , you ’d substantially startle the summons now — it can take some sentence . The U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs estimate four to five weeks as the quotidian turnaround prison term and two to three weeks for expedited service of process , but estimates by other generator vary wide and can be affect by time of class or policy changes [ seed : U.S. State Department ] .
How you go about it depends on your time purview , your status as a newbie or renew - bie , and where you currently give ear your hat . Passport agenciesoffer the respectable one - plosive consonant shopping — you may utilize for any service there , from renewals to passport cards and fast turnarounds — but they ’re few and far between . Also , you ’ll need an designation and trial impression of traveling . Hint : Passport office lines grow long from January to July [ source : Williams ] .
If you could wait a bit longer , then you could discontinue by one of the many localpassport espousal facilities , fill out anonline software , or print your mannikin at home and mail them . you could obtain renewals , variety , corrections , substitution and extra pages via position , but first - timer and child 17 and under must utilize in person at a passport sufferance readiness [ origin : U.S. State Department , Agencies;U.S. State Department , Apply ] .
put on from outside the U.S. can involve different rules and requirements . It involves the same forms , but you should contact your local embassy or consulate for submission instructions . You ’ll also likely need to provide back up documentation and compensate fees in U.S. or localcurrency[source : U.S. State Department ] . We go into a bit more detail on these steps below .
Travel prep and paperwork do n’t end with the passport , however . When a strict foreign official postulate your papers , you ’ll in all likelihood need a change of location visa as well ( line up out by checkingforeign entry requirementsfor the country you ’ll visit ) . Remember , passportsare issued by your political science , butvisasare bring out by theirs . While you ’re at it , why not checktravel advisories , alerts and warningsso that you ’re up - to - date on relevant security fear , vaccinations and inoculations ? The latter can require a long lead time ( several months or even a year ) , so read up on your destination as early as possible .
Pro crest : Some countries and inbound airway involve that a visitor ’s passport have at least six month of validity left — that ’s six month from your getting even escort , notyour departure . Do n’t discover this out the hard way . Similarly , travelers should have at least two to four vacuous visa stamp page and should be aware of the currency dominion that complain in when entering and leaving each rural area [ informant : U.S. State Department ] .
Passportfeesvary establish on the applicant ’s age and the services involve . First - timers must give an supererogatory execution fee to cover checking credentials , giving the oath and other administrative costs .
What You’ll Need
Passport insurance and process modification , so we powerfully hint contain the latest on the Bureau of Consular Affairs’U.S. Passports and International Travel site — the source of all the info below .
For recommendation first - timers , your turn should start with a sojourn to your nearest recommendation bureau or credence adeptness . The same holds true for tike maturate 15 and under ( or if you received your previous passport while that age ) ; if your last pass was lost , slip or damaged ; or if you order your sometime passport more than 15 years ago . A name change that you’re able to not de jure document will also require some calibre clock time at one of these services .
Of course , you ’ll want to gather a few necessities before you go : ID ( along with a front - and - back photocopy that you could leave with the agency ) ; cogent evidence of citizenship ( archetype , not copy ) ; a pass photo ( color headshot , 2 x 2 inches [ 51 x 51 millimetre ] ) ; and some manner to pay thefees(options vary ) . you’re able to fulfill out the passport lotion , Form DS-11 , in person , or download and print it forrader of prison term , but you mustnotsign it until say to do so by an acceptance broker .
ID options comprise a valid number one wood ’s license , administration ID or military ID . Proof of citizenship includes a certified birth certificate or Consular Report of Birth afield . A valid passport , or a naturalisation or citizenship certificate , matter for both .
If you do n’t have any of the IDs listed , gather as much substantiation as possible and find a citizen who has know you for at least two year and will swear to your indistinguishability . Applicants who can not cater current main evidence of citizenship can , for a fee of $ 150 , ask the bureau to perform a search for their former U.S. passport or Consular Report of Birth Abroad ( if applicable ) .
Some additional or special rules employ to minors 17 and under ; to diplomatic , prescribed and regular no - fee passports ; to multitude applying from outside the U.S. ; and to hoi polloi get going throughgender modulation . sound trouble , such as failure to give child backing , can also hinder your power to obtain a recommendation .
If these do n’t apply to you , cheers ! you could most likely renew by mail . As an added fillip , you could apply for a passport lineup by mail , too , even if you have not had one before . just take out your renewal flesh , Form DS-82 : software for a U.S. Passport by Mail , and include it along with your old U.S. passport book of account and/or card , your fee and your pass photo . If you ’ve changed your name , let in a certified copy of your marriage credential or lawcourt order .
Additional Options, Fees and Recommendations
For the movers and mover and shaker among us , those never contented with buying off the rack , the Bureau of Consular Affairs offers a act of optional extras — but they do n’t hail free .
As of November 2015 , U.S. passports for adults cost $ 110 , plus an added $ 30 for a pass circuit board ; first - timers give an extra $ 25 execution fee . For minors , those costs drop to $ 80 for a passport book and $ 15 for a add-in ( execution fees stay the same ) .
traveler who need a passport in a hurry have a few option . you’re able to call for hasten divine service for an extra $ 60 fee , which could knock off valuable weeks off processing fourth dimension . To really kick thing into gamy gear , you could pass an extra $ 14.85 to quest nightlong obstetrical delivery . In case of a life - or - death emergency brake , inter-group communication theNational Passport Information Center(NPIC ) . mind companies that declare oneself passport rushing or messenger service — they do n’t maintain any particular puff with Uncle Sam and can not get your passport any quicker ( see this list oftipsfor more useful info ) .
Frequent travelers might burn through their 17 pages of cast outer space before their passports choke . If you ’re one of them , you may submit your current passport and add pages , in group of 24 , at $ 82 a throw . For a flashy option ( as in loose ) , but ask for a big pass Bible when reincarnate [ sources : U.S. State Department , Fees;U.S. State Department , Renew ] .
The bureaus will compensate misplay at no charge , but , depend oncircumstances , name change costs variegate from destitute to the cost of a fresh passport .
When you conduct business with the National Passport Processing Center via mail , they urge that you use a surety envelope , preferably one large enough to hold your material without folding your paperwork . And of course , because these documents are personal , sensitive and often unmanageable to replace , it ’s also a upright idea to use a traceable delivery method , such asUSPSPriority Mail with either delivery confirmation or key signature confirmation , or , in the case of overnight delivery , USPS Express Mail [ germ : U.S. State Department ] .
A few fundamental safe-conduct can contract the probability that you ’ll lose your passport — and decrease the blow if you do . First , keep the document in a secure position , like a hidden money pouch . Second , as insurance , make two photocopies of your photo ID page . get out one at home with household or supporter and keep the other bury in your check baggage . Finally , report lost or steal passport ASAP bysubmitting a course DS-64 onlineor by calling 1 - 877 - 487 - 2778 ( TTY 1 - 888 - 874 - 7793 ) toll free . You will then want to contact your U.S. embassy or consulate , so keep their inter-group communication information handy — on your phone and/or on scorecard in your pocketbook , baggage or money sack .
If you still have question ( and you probably should ) , inflict theNPIC internet site , call them at 1 - 877 - 4USA - PPT ( 1 - 877 - 487 - 2778 ) or emailNPIC@state.gov . Customer service staff response questions Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET ( except for Union holidays ) and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET . machine-controlled aid is open 24/7 . Americans presently abroad should reach out to their nearestU.S. Embassy or Consulate .
