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

• A certified United States birth certificate* – a certified copy can be ordered via OfficialTravelDocuments.com
• An expired United States passport
• Original naturalization papers

*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.

NOTE: A voter registration card or Social Security card is not proof of U.S. citizenship.

2) Proof of identification issued by the government or state

• State-issued driver's license (at least 6 months old) bearing a photo
• Military I.D. bearing a photo
• Government I.D. bearing a photo

NOTE: A voter registration card or Social Security card is not proof of identity.

3) 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.

4) Two (2) identical passport-type photographs
Photographs must be official passport-type only, approximately 2" x 2" with a plain white or off-white background. Photos must be sufficiently recent to be a good likeness and need not be signed. Glossy or matte finish photographs are acceptable. Machine or home photographs are not acceptable. Do not wear a hat or any item that covers the face (except prescription glasses). Face forward only; no side shots or profiles will be accepted.

More information about passport photograph composition can be found in our Passport Information Center.

5) Passport Application Form (Form DS-11)
This required government application should be completed 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.)

• One check for Rush/Emergency processing, made out to 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.

Authorized Passport Acceptance Facilities can typically be found at Unites States Post Offices, public libraries and other state, county, township and municipal government offices. To find a list of Passport Acceptance Facilities on the Internet, please visit http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/.