Straight answers on passports

How Long Does It Take to Get a Passport?

Current U.S. passport processing times explained: routine vs. expedited service, what the clock actually measures, and how to get a passport faster when travel is close.

Passport photo being taken against a plain white background

Photos & documents

U.S. Passport Photo Requirements: The Complete Checklist

Every U.S. passport photo rule in plain English — size, background, expression, glasses, head coverings, and baby photos — plus how to take a compliant photo at home for free.

Airport departures hall with travelers heading to international gates

Can You Travel With an Expired Passport?

Whether an expired U.S. passport works for international travel, domestic flights, and border crossings — and the fastest ways to replace it before your trip.

U.S. passport book and passport card side by side

Fees & processing

How Much Does a U.S. Passport Cost?

Every U.S. passport fee explained — application and execution fees, passport book vs. card, expedited service, fast shipping, and what first-time applicants pay vs. renewals.

Passport renewal application prepared for mailing

How to Renew Your U.S. Passport Online

Who qualifies for the State Department's online passport renewal, how the process works step by step, and when you must renew by mail or in person instead.

Identification documents including a U.S. passport and driver license

Photos & documents

REAL ID vs. Passport: Which Do You Need to Fly?

The difference between a REAL ID driver's license and a passport for domestic and international flights, what TSA accepts in 2026, and when you need both.

Counter at a passport acceptance facility inside a post office

Applying first time

What Is a Passport Acceptance Facility?

What a passport acceptance facility is, what the acceptance agent actually does, which offices qualify (post offices, clerks of court, libraries), and how to find one near you.

Traveler abroad reporting a lost passport

Lost or Stolen Passport Abroad: What to Do

Step-by-step: how to replace a lost or stolen U.S. passport overseas, what the embassy can issue, what to bring, and how to protect yourself from identity misuse.

Traveler rushing to expedite a passport before urgent travel

How to Get a Passport Fast: Every Expedited Option Ranked

All legitimate ways to speed up a U.S. passport — expedited service, regional agency appointments, and registered couriers — with realistic timelines for each.

Traveling Within 14 Days? How to Get a Regional Passport Agency Appointment

How regional passport agency appointments work when your international trip is within 14 days: who qualifies, the proof of travel you must bring, and how to book.

Expedited Passports at an Acceptance Facility vs. by Mail vs. by Courier

How expedited service works for each application channel — in person at an acceptance facility, by mail, and through a registered courier — and which is worth paying for.

Do You Need a Passport to Fly Within the U.S.? REAL ID and Passport-Free Destinations

What ID you need for domestic flights under REAL ID rules, and the U.S. destinations — Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and more — where U.S. citizens can travel without a passport.

How to Renew Your Passport by Mail with Form DS-82: Complete Walkthrough

Step-by-step DS-82 mail renewal: the eligibility checklist, photo rules, how to pay, which envelope to use, and how to expedite.

Passport Name Change: DS-5504 vs. DS-82 vs. DS-11 Explained

Which form to use when your name changed — marriage, divorce, or court order — depending on when your passport was issued and what documents you have.

Your Child's Passport at 16: Why It Cannot Be Renewed and What to Do Instead

Passports issued under age 16 are never renewable by mail. Here is the DS-11 path to a teen's first 10-year adult passport, and how much parental consent is still required.

Lost Your Passport Right Before a Trip? The Step-by-Step Replacement Plan

What to do when your passport is lost or stolen days before departure: report it on Form DS-64, apply in person on DS-11, and use expedited or agency options to make your flight.

What Counts as a 'Damaged' Passport — and Why It Cannot Be Renewed by Mail

Water damage, torn pages, unofficial markings and a loose cover all make a passport 'damaged' — which means an in-person DS-11 replacement, not a DS-82 renewal.

Life-or-Death Emergency Passports: Who Qualifies and How the Process Works

The State Department's emergency appointment process for travelers with an immediate family member who has died, is dying, or has a life-threatening illness or injury abroad.