How Do You Apply for a First U.S. Passport?

The first-time rule in one table

| Form | DS-11, in person only, at an acceptance facility | | Who files here | First-time adults 18 and older, plus adults who cannot renew because the passport was lost, stolen, or damaged, was issued over 15 years ago, or was issued before age 16 | | Citizenship evidence | One of: a U.S. birth certificate, a full-validity undamaged U.S. passport, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad or other State-issued birth document, or a naturalization or citizenship certificate | | Photo ID | A physical photo ID, most often a fully valid driver's license or enhanced driver's license with a photo | | Fee, adult book | 130 dollars application fee plus a 35 dollar facility acceptance fee, 165 dollars in total | | Fee, adult card | 30 dollars plus 35 dollars, 65 dollars in total | | Fee, adult book and card | 160 dollars plus 35 dollars, 195 dollars in total | | Processing | Routine 4 to 6 weeks, expedited 2 to 3 weeks, mailing times excluded |

What makes first-time different

Every first-time application happens in person, and the signature waits. The acceptance agent verifies identification, administers an oath, and witnesses the signature, so the form stays unsigned until the agent asks. That one rule separates this track from every mail track on this site.

The second difference is paper. Citizenship evidence must be physical paper. Digital or mobile evidence is not accepted. Bring the original or a replacement bearing the seal or stamp, plus a photocopy of it, and front-and-back photocopies of the photo ID, all on single-sided 8.5 by 11 inch paper. An ID from a different state than the application state means bringing a second photo ID.

The process, step by step

1. Complete Form DS-11 with the Form Filler on a computer and print it single-sided only. Do not sign it.
2. Gather one citizenship document from the table, plus a photocopy, and a physical photo ID, plus front-and-back photocopies of the ID.
3. Get one photo. Do not attach or staple it. The agent reviews it and staples it.
4. Appear in person at an acceptance facility. The agent verifies the ID, administers the oath, and witnesses the signature.
5. Pay two fees. The application fee goes by check or money order payable to the U.S. Department of State, with the applicant name and date of birth in the memo. The 35 dollar acceptance fee goes to the facility, and its accepted payment methods vary by facility. Expedited service adds 60 dollars. Return delivery in 1 to 3 days adds 26 dollars and 87 cents.
6. Wait for the passport and the supporting documents. Supporting documents come back by mail up to 4 weeks after the passport. The application fee and the acceptance fee are not refundable, even if no passport is issued.

Related passport guides

A child under 16 follows a separate track with both parents involved: see U.S. Passport for a Child Under 16. A 16 or 17 year old follows the one-parent-awareness track. For every passport track side by side, see the U.S. Passport Guides by Situation directory.

Source

Who files here, the evidence rules, the fee split, and the processing times on this page come from the U.S. Department of State: the adult first-time application page and the Passport Fees page. The totals in the table are arithmetic sums of the two stated fees, since the fees page prints no total column. Facts verified 2026-10-27.

This page explains how the process works and what the official rules say. It is general information, not legal advice. For a dispute about your specific situation, talk to a lawyer or your government agency.