1) Passport Application Form DS-11
Complete this form in advance but do NOT sign the form until the passport acceptance agent instructs you to do so. (Online form can be found at www.travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds11/ds11_842.html.)

2) Proof of U.S. citizenship (one of the following documents):

• Certified U.S. birth certificate* - a certified copy can be ordered via OfficialTravelDocuments.com



• Previous fully valid U.S. Passport + Certified U.S. birth certificate* - can be ordered via OfficialTravelDocuments.com

*A certified birth certificate has a registrar's raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, registrar's signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar's office, which must be within 1 year of your birth. Instead of sending your original certificate, you can order a certified copy via OfficialTravelDocuments.com.

• Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240)
  Please contact the United States Department of State or visit the travel.state.gov website for information on obtaining a Report of Birth Abroad.
  
  
• Certification of Birth Abroad (Form DS-1350)
  Please contact the United States Department of State or visit the travel.state.gov website for information on obtaining a Certificate of Birth Abroad.
  
  
• Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization from INS
  Please contact the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services or visit the http://uscis.gov/graphics/index.htm website for information on obtaining a copy of your Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization.

If you do not have a previous U.S. passport or a certified birth certificate, you will need:

• Letter of No Record issued by the state which indicates your name, date of birth, years which were searched for a birth record and that there is no birth certificate on file for you. A Letter of No Record can be obtained from the Vital Statistics office in the state in which you were born.



• As many of the following as possible: baptismal certificate, hospital birth certificate, census record, early school record, family bible record, doctor's record of post-natal care.

NOTES:  A Social Security card is not proof of U.S. citizenship.

A Delayed Birth Certificate filed more than one year after your birth may be acceptable if it listed the documentation used to create it and is signed by the attending physician or midwife, or, lists an affidavit signed by the parents, or shows early public records. You may also submit an Affidavit of Birth (Form DS-10A) from an older blood relative, i.e., a parent, aunt, uncle, sibling, who has personal knowledge of your birth. It must be notarized or have the seal and signature of the acceptance agent.
The DS-10 Form can be downloaded from the State Department website at http://www.travel.state.gov/Publications/DS-0010.pdf

3)  Evidence of Child's Relationship to Parents/Guardians (submit one of the following):

• Certified U.S. birth certificate (with parents' names) - can be ordered via OfficialTravelDocuments.com

*A certified birth certificate has a registrar's raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, registrar's signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar's office, which must be within 1 year of your birth. Instead of sending your original certificate, you can order a certified copy via OfficialTravelDocuments.com.

• Certified Foreign Birth Certificate (with parents' names and translation, if necessary)
• Report of Birth Abroad with parents' names (Form FS-240)
• Certification of Birth Abroad with parents' names (Form DS-1350) - please contact the United States Department of State or visit the travel.state.gov website for information on obtaining a Report of Birth Abroad.
• Adoption Decree with adopting parents' names
• Court Order Establishing Custody
• Court Order Establishing Guardianship

NOTES: If the parent(s)'/guardian's name(s) is/are other than that on these documents, evidence of legal name change is required. Marriage and Divorce Certificates can be ordered via VitalChek.com.

Previous U.S. passports are not acceptable as proof of relationship to the applying parent(s)/guardian(s).

4)  Parental Identification (each parent or guardian must submit one of the following):

• Valid Driver's License
• Valid Official U.S. Military ID
• Valid U.S. Government ID
• Valid U.S. or Foreign Passport with recognizable photo
• Naturalization/Citizenship Certificate from INS with recognizable photo
• Alien Resident Card from INS

NOTE: Social Security Card is not acceptable to prove identity.

If none of these are available, you will need:
1) signature documents (i.e. combination of documents such as your Social Security card, credit card, bank card, library card, etc..) AND
2) a person who can vouch for you (Person must have known you for at least 2 years, be a US citizen or permanent resident, have valid ID and fill out a Form DS-71 in the presence of the passport agent.)

The DS-71 Form can be downloaded from the State Department website at http://www.travel.state.gov/Publications/DS-0010.pdf

5)  Parental Application permission documentation
Both parents must appear together and sign OR
One parent appears, signs and submits second parent's Statement of Consent: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age 14 (Form DS-3053) authorizing passport issuance for the child OR
One parent appears, signs and submits primary evidence of sole authority to apply (one of the following):

• Child's certified US birth certificate -- can be ordered via OfficialTravelDocuments.com
  
  *A certified birth certificate has a registrar's raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, registrar's signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar's office, which must be within 1 year of your birth. Instead of sending your original certificate, you can order a certified copy via OfficialTravelDocuments.com.

• Foreign birth certificate (with translation if necessary) listing only applying parent
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) or Certification of Birth Abroad (Form DS-1350) listing only applying parent. Please contact the United States Department of State or visit the travel.state.gov website for information on obtaining a Report or Certificate of Birth Abroad.
• Court order granting sole custody to the applying parent (unless child's travel is restricted by that order)
• Adoption decree (if applying parents is sole adopting parent)
• Court order specifically permitting applying parent's or guardian's travel with the child
• Judicial declaration of incompetence of non-applying parent
• Death certificate of non-applying parent

If none of these are available, the applying parent/guardian should submit (Form DS-3053) Statement of Consent: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor.

The DS-3053 Form can be downloaded from the State Department website at http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/DS-3053.pdf .

NOTE: A third-party in loco parentis applying on behalf of a minor under the age of 16 must submit a notarized written statement or affidavit from both parents or guardians authorizing a third-party to apply for a passport. When the statement or affidavit is from only one parent/guardian, the third-party must present evidence of sole custody of the authorizing parent/guardian.

6)  Social Security Number
If you do not provide the Social Security Number for your child, the Internal Revenue Service may impose a $500 penalty. If you have any questions please call your nearest IRS office.

7)  Two (2) passport-type photographs
Photographs must be 2x2 inches in size, identical and taken within the past 6 months showing current appearance.   Color or black and white photos are acceptable.  Full face, front view with a plain white or off-white background is required. 

• One check for for Rush/Emergency processing made out to the U.S. Department of State.
• One check for the witnessing station - the passport acceptance agent at the witnessing station will instruct you on the amount of the check and to whom to make the check payable.

9)  Proof of Departure (Rush or Emergency Processing)
An acceptable form of Proof of Departure (such as an airline ticket or an original itinerary) will be needed for rush or emergency processing. This document must indicate travel to an international destination.

Acceptable forms of proof of departure include an international air itinerary, a photocopy of an international air or cruise ticket, or a letter from your employer stating you need a passport for imminent international business travel.

Without a scheduled itinerary or documented travel plans government regulations do not allow expedited processing in less than 2 weeks.