Passport for an Adult 16 or Older

The adult passport application is for anyone aged 16 or older who has never held a United States passport book or card. It also applies to adults whose only previous passport was issued before they turned 16, or more than 15 years ago, since neither can be renewed. Applicants aged 16 and 17 complete the application in their own name and sign for themselves, but at least one parent or guardian must be aware of it. That awareness is shown most simply with a signed note from the parent and a photocopy of the parent's photo identification. A notarized statement of consent may still be requested, so we prepare one with the application as a precaution.

Citizenship is shown with an original or certified copy of one primary document. For someone born in the United States, that is a birth certificate issued by the city, county, or state. It lists your full name, date and place of birth, both parents' full names, the registrar's signature, the date it was filed, and the seal of the issuing office. For someone born abroad, it is a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, a Certificate of Naturalization, or a Certificate of Citizenship. Electronic and mobile birth certificates are not accepted, and a birth certificate filed more than a year after the birth may need to be supported by early records such as a hospital or baptismal record.

Identity is shown with a current photo identification such as a driver's license, a state identification card, a military identification, or a Certificate of Naturalization that carries a photo. A license issued by a different state from the one where you live should be accompanied by a second identification. Digital and mobile identifications and screenshots are not accepted; the physical card is required. A photocopy of the front and back of each document is included with the application.

A first passport requires no eligibility questions, so the application begins directly with your details. It takes about 20 minutes and asks for your personal information, your parents' names, dates and places of birth, and citizenship, your Social Security number, and your choice of a passport book, a passport card, or both. Travel plans and an emergency contact are optional. Our team prechecks your answers for completeness and consistency, checking that names and dates agree across the application. Once your application has been processed, your completed documents are available in your account, with a checklist of the evidence described above and instructions for the remaining steps.

A passport issued at age 16 or older is valid for ten years from its issue date. The passport book is required for international air travel. The passport card is a wallet-sized alternative valid only at land border crossings and seaports when entering from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. It cannot be used for international air travel. A full-validity passport, kept undamaged, serves as primary evidence of citizenship and identity in later applications, even after it expires, which is one reason to keep it safe. Your original citizenship document is returned to you separately from the new passport.