DS-11 — Application for a U.S. Passport
Short answer
The in-person application used for first passports, all children under 16, and anyone who cannot renew by mail.
- Who it's for
- First-time applicants, children under 16, applicants whose prior passport was lost, stolen, damaged, or issued before age 16 or more than 15 years ago.
- How it's filed
- In person at an acceptance facility or regional agency. Never mailed by yourself.
- Fees
- $130 book / $30 card for adults, plus a $35 execution fee paid to the facility. Expedited service adds $60.
- Timing
- Routine 6–8 weeks, expedited 2–3 weeks, plus shipping time in each direction.
How to complete it
- 1
Fill it out, but leave the signature blank
The acceptance agent has to witness your signature. Print the completed form single-sided and sign only when the agent tells you to.
- 2
Proof of citizenship
Certified birth certificate with a raised or embossed seal, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, Certificate of Naturalization, or Certificate of Citizenship — original plus one photocopy.
- 3
Proof of identity
Driver's license, military ID, or government employee ID, plus a photocopy of the front and back on separate sides of plain white paper.
- 4
Photo and payment
One 2x2 inch photo taken in the last six months. Two separate payments: a check or money order to 'U.S. Department of State' for the application fee, and the execution fee to the facility.
Tricks of the trade
- Use the online Form Filler — it prints a barcode that speeds up data entry and cuts typos.
- Print single-sided on plain white paper. Double-sided prints are rejected at the counter.
- Black ink only. Blue ink and correction fluid can void the form.
- Apply for the book and the card together — the card only costs $30 more and covers land and sea trips to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
- Write your travel date in item 21 even if it is months away; it helps the agency triage.
Mistakes that cause rejections
- Signing the form before the agent witnesses it.
- Bringing a hospital souvenir birth certificate instead of a certified state-issued copy.
- Combining the application fee and the execution fee into one payment.
- Using a photo with glasses, a hat, or a shadowed background.
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What to bring
0 of 10 items readyWatch out: Double-sided printing, half-size paper, and stapled pages are common reasons a packet is returned unprocessed.
Watch out: A pre-signed DS-11 must be filled out again from scratch at the counter.
Watch out: Hospital souvenir certificates, photocopies, and abstracts without both parents' names are refused. The original is mailed in and returned separately.
Watch out: Copies must be single-sided, black and white, and not reduced or enlarged.
Watch out: The ID copy is required even though the agent sees the original in person.
Watch out: Glasses, hats, uniforms, shadows behind the head, filters, and reprints of an old photo are all rejected. Do not staple, paper-clip, or write on the photo.
Watch out: Cash is not accepted for the application fee, and it cannot be combined with the execution fee on one check.
Watch out: Many post offices take only a check, money order, or card for this fee — call ahead.
Watch out: Walk-in capacity varies a lot; the agency route requires proof of travel within 14 days.
What it costs
- Passport book
- $130
- Execution (acceptance) fee — separate payment
- $35
Where it goes
In person at an acceptance facility or regional agency. Never mail a DS-11 yourself.
Common rejection pitfalls
- Signing the form before the agent witnesses it.
- Bringing a hospital souvenir birth certificate instead of a certified state-issued copy.
- Combining the application fee and the execution fee into one payment.
- Using a photo with glasses, a hat, or a shadowed background.
Other forms
PassportOffices is independent and not affiliated with the U.S. government. Official forms are free and download from the Department of State site.