The passport requirements for a United States of America passport are simple for those who are a U.S. citizen or resident. The requirements vary depending on the age of the applicant and which type of passport is being applied for (passport book and or passport card). Apart from the usual form, one may use when applying for a passport, others may need additional passport application forms. Regardless if it is one U.S. form or more, the same requirements go for everyone. The identifications use as proof of identity are the same for everyone, and need to find an acceptance agent location in your area.
2019 U.S. Passport Requirements
If you were born in any of the United States or a U.S. territory, an original birth certificate or an old passport can be used as a form of identification. If you are a naturalized citizen, then the original certificate of naturalization can be used as proof of citizenship. In addition to these primary documents, there are secondary documents which an applicant can use as proof of identity.
The required documents for a minor varies and that is dependent on who is applying for the passport. Nevertheless, here is a list of documents the State Department requires to process a passport application:
Some Requirements for A Passport
- Complete DS-11 Application Form for New Passport
- 2 Passport Photos
- Childproof of citizenship (Birth certificate issued by city, county or state of birth)
- Evidence of parental relationship
- Parental Consent (If one parent/guardian is applying)
- Passport fee
For an adult, here are the requirements:
- Fully-valid, undamaged U.S. passport (the passport can be expired)
- Original U.S. birth certificate
- Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
- Certification of Naturalization
- Certificate of Citizenship
(Photocopies and notarized copies will not be accepted)
In the event that you changed your name due to marriage or divorce, you will need to bring in a certified copy of your marriage certificate or a court decree that shows your name change.
If the applicant does not have a birth certificate or previous U.S. passport, then other forms of proof can be used, including doctor’s record of postnatal care, baptismal certificate, census record, hospital birth certificate, the early school record, or family bible record.
Here is additional information to obtain any of the missing documents may not have to start the application right away. That is if you lost your passport or do not have a copy of your original birth certificate. You can apply separately for any of these documents than for a new passport.
U.S. Passport Requirements Information
- How to Renew a Lost Passport?
- Best Way to Renew a Passport?
- Missing Birth Certificate
- No Glasses Allow for a New Passport Photo
- Consular Report of Birth Abroad
- Duplicate Birth Abroad
- Dual Citizenship & Traveling with Two Valid Passports
- How much does a passport cost?
The documents provided should show date and location of birth and must have been created within the first five years of the applicant’s life.
Applicants that were born outside of the United States that do not have a birth certificate or consular report of birth abroad and have only one parent that is a U.S. citizen can use proof of citizenship of your parent, foreign birth certificate, a state-issued document indicating that there is no birth certificate on file for you or an affidavit stating all of the locations your U.S. parent lived in the U.S. and abroad before you were born.
If both parents are U.S. citizens, then you can bring in their marriage certificate as an alternative to the aforementioned documentation. Minors and first-time adult applicants must apply for passports in person. Adults are considered to be 16 years old and older.
Identification and proof of citizenship must be provided, which includes the following forms of documentation: driver’s license, birth certificate, marriage certificates, I.D. card, military I.D. or previous U.S. passport that isn’t altered or damaged.
You will need to fill out the proper form and a fee will be required. You can choose between getting a passport book or passport card.
Two passport photos will also be needed and must comply with regulations regarding proper passport photo specifications.