What Is a Passport Acceptance Facility?
Short answer
A passport acceptance facility is an office designated by the U.S. Department of State — usually a post office, clerk of court, or public library — where first-time applicants, children, and people replacing lost passports present form DS-11 in person. The acceptance agent verifies your identity, watches you sign the form, collects the execution fee, and seals your application for mailing to the State Department.
What the acceptance agent actually does
The agent is a trained, officially designated witness. They check your proof of citizenship and photo ID, administer an oath, witness your signature on the DS-11, and collect the $35 execution fee. They do not approve or deny your application — that decision belongs to the State Department — and they cannot tell you whether your documents will pass.
After your visit, your sealed application is mailed to a processing center. That's why processing times start when the application arrives, not the day you apply.
Which offices are acceptance facilities
Most are U.S. post offices, but thousands of clerks of court, public libraries, and municipal offices are designated too. Many require appointments — sometimes booked weeks out in busy seasons — and hours for passport service often differ from the office's general hours.
Our directory covers every designated facility nationwide with filters for state, city, appointment requirements, and on-site photo service.
Who must apply at a facility
You must apply in person with DS-11 if this is your first passport, your last passport was issued before age 16 or more than 15 years ago, your passport was lost or stolen, or you're applying for a child under 16. Everyone else can usually renew by mail or online.
For children under 16, both parents or guardians generally must appear or provide documented consent — our child passport guide covers the consent rules in detail.
Acceptance facility vs. regional passport agency
Acceptance facilities are for routine applications and cannot issue passports. Regional passport agencies — about two dozen nationwide — are State Department offices that can issue passports quickly for urgent travelers by appointment.
If your travel is within 14 days, skip the acceptance facility and go straight to an agency appointment.
PassportOffices is an independent resource, not a government website. Rules, fees, and processing times change — always confirm details at travel.state.gov before you travel.