US Passport Guide: Applying, Renewing, and Expediting

Getting a US passport comes down to one early question: are you applying for the first time, or renewing a passport you already hold? That answer decides the form, whether you must appear in person, and how much you pay. The second question is timing, because a late start is what pushes many travelers into paying for rush service.

This guide is for adults and parents planning international travel. You will learn how to choose between the in-person application (Form DS-11), renewal by mail (Form DS-82), and online renewal, what documents to gather, how the fees add up, and when expedited or urgent options make sense. Fees and processing times change, so each figure below is tied to the State Department's official pages, which you should check before you apply.

Which application do you need?

Work through these in order and stop at the first one that fits.

1. You have never had a passport, or your last one was issued before age 16, or it was lost or stolen. Apply in person with Form DS-11.
2. You are under 16. Children must apply in person with a new application, and their passports are valid for five years, according to the State Department. Renewals are not available for children.
3. Your passport was issued within the last 15 years, when you were 16 or older, is undamaged, and is in your current name (or you have legal name-change papers). You can generally renew by mail with Form DS-82.
4. You meet the additional online rules. The State Department's online renewal requires that your passport was issued within the last 10 years and expires within a year or expired less than five years ago, that you are 25 or older, that you are not changing personal information, that you are in a US state or territory, and that you are not traveling for at least six weeks.

If more than one applies, online renewal is the fastest to complete because you skip the mail and photo-printing steps. Use the official renewal page to confirm eligibility, since the criteria can change.

What to bring for an in-person application

A first-time application requires a bundle of documents. The State Department lists the following for adults:

• Form DS-11, completed with the online Form Filler and printed. Do not sign it until you are in front of the acceptance agent.
• Proof of citizenship, such as a US birth certificate or a previous passport, as an original or certified document, plus a photocopy. If you do not provide a photocopy, you must submit a second original, which the State Department keeps.
• Photo ID and a photocopy of it. If your ID is from a different state than where you are applying, bring a second photo ID.
• One passport photo that meets the State Department's photo requirements.
• Two payments: a check for the State Department's application fee, and the execution fee paid to the facility.

Applications are accepted at designated facilities such as post offices, some libraries, and county clerk offices. Many require appointments, so check before you go. If you cannot find or do not have a citizenship document, the State Department's citizenship evidence page lists alternatives.

Your original documents are mailed back separately and may arrive after your passport, up to about eight weeks after, according to the State Department.

Fees: what you actually pay

When this article was written, the State Department listed these amounts for first-time and in-person applications. Fees were last updated October 9, 2025 on the official page, and they are adjusted from time to time, so confirm the current schedule on the passport fees page.

Online renewal uses the same application fees as the table shows for adults ($130 for a book, $30 for a card, $160 for both) and has no execution fee. The State Department lists its optional faster return delivery at a different price, so check that page too.

Here is a hypothetical example. Say a family of three applies in person for passport books, one adult and two children. The adult pays $130 + $35 = $165, and each child pays $100 + $35 = $135, so the total is $165 + $135 + $135 = $435. Adding expedited service to all three applications adds $180, for a total of $615. Optional return delivery would add more.

Processing times and expediting

Processing times are published on the State Department's Get Your Passport Fast page. When this article was written, that page listed routine service at 4 to 6 weeks and expedited service at 2 to 3 weeks, not counting mailing time, which can add up to two weeks. Those figures change with demand and staffing, so look at the live page and not at an article, including this one.

To expedite, you pay the $60 fee with your application, and you write "EXPEDITE" on the envelope if you mail a renewal. You can also choose faster return delivery for an additional fee. Online renewals cannot be expedited.

Here is a timing example, also hypothetical. You leave in 10 weeks. Using the longer end of routine service (6 weeks) plus up to 2 weeks of mailing leaves about two weeks of cushion, which is enough if nothing is wrong with the application. If you leave in 5 weeks, expedited service (up to 3 weeks plus up to 2 for mailing) fits, but with no margin.

Urgent travel appointments

If you must travel within 14 calendar days (or 28 days if you need a foreign visa), the State Department offers urgent travel appointments at passport agencies. These are not guaranteed, you cannot walk in, and you book online or by calling the contact center. For a life-or-death emergency involving an immediate family member, there is a separate appointment type. The page spells out who qualifies.

Passport book versus passport card

The passport book works for international travel by air, land, and sea. The passport card is cheaper and fits in a wallet, but it is limited to land and sea entry at certain nearby destinations and cannot be used for international flights, so confirm the current rules on travel.state.gov. If you ever expect to fly abroad, get the book. Cards are mailed by First Class Mail only, not by the 1-2 day option, per the State Department.

A passport issued to an adult is valid for 10 years. Some countries require several months of remaining validity beyond your travel dates, so check your destination's entry requirements on travel.state.gov before booking.

Common mistakes

Waiting until the trip is booked. Book flights after you have a passport timeline, or choose refundable fares. Our guide on finding cheaper flights explains how to compare fare terms.

Using a third-party site that charges extra. Only travel.state.gov and the official online renewal site process applications. Sites that look official and add service fees are not required.

Sending the wrong photo or an unsigned form. An application with a problem can be held up while the State Department writes to you for more information. The online renewal page says to respond within 90 days of the letter or email date, but replying quickly keeps your application moving.

Mailing your only copy of a document. Include a photocopy of citizenship evidence so the State Department does not have to keep a second original.

Skipping insurance on an expensive trip. If a passport delay could force you to cancel, read how travel insurance treats that situation before you buy, since a delayed passport may not be a covered reason.

Frequently asked questions

Can I renew my passport if it expired a few years ago?

Possibly. Online renewal allows passports that expired less than five years ago, if the other criteria are met. Renewal by mail requires that the passport was issued within the last 15 years. If you do not qualify, you apply in person with Form DS-11.

Do I need an appointment?

For an in-person application, many acceptance facilities require one. Check with the facility. Urgent travel appointments at passport agencies are separate and must be booked through the State Department.

Can I track my application?

Yes. The State Department says your status should show as "In Process" about two weeks after you apply, and you can sign up for email updates. If you have waited more than eight weeks for documents, the contact center is 1-877-487-2778.

Do kids need both parents to apply?

Applications for children under 16 have additional requirements. The State Department's child passport pages explain who must appear and what to bring.

Next steps

1. Decide which form you need using the list above, and confirm on the State Department's renewal page whether you qualify for online or mail renewal.
2. Gather your documents and photocopies, and book an appointment at an acceptance facility if you need to apply in person.
3. Check the current fees and processing times on travel.state.gov the day you apply, and add mailing time to your estimate.
4. Set a reminder for the date your passport expires, and check your destination's passport validity rule before booking.