What Passport Requirements are Needed to Get a U.S. Passport?
Updated As of

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.
you must have your original/certified copy birth certificate and valid drivers license
I am applying for my first passport. I can’t seem to find my birth certificate,but I have my marriage license. Do I need any other identification?
as long as you have no pending warrants.
what if u have a court date pending. can u still travel and return for court
Tamara Milby if this is a first time passport you only need your most recent marraige certificate
Us passport help guide please answer thanks!
I have been divorced 3 time 3 different names and am currently married a fourth time.. different name again. So do I just need to bring my current marriage certificate or are they going to ask for all of them? This is such a pain!! Should’ve kept my maiden name from the beginning
she must provide 5 forms of ID and bring a blood relative
My daughter is 17 and we are going to get her a passport. She does not have a state ID. We have her birth certificate and I have my driver’s license. Is that sufficent?
Bonnie Parker Jones than you will only need your most recent marriage certificate along with all documents required for a new passport
U.S. Passport Help Guide This would be a first time passport and the name on my drivers license is my third husband’s last name which differs from my birth name
Hello, is this a first time passport? What name is on your drivers license?
I’ve married 3 times, divorced twice. Will I need 3 marriage licenses, two divorce decrees and my birth certificate. Currently I am legally married and when I divorced my two previous husbands I kept my married names. I’m getting a passport in lieu of Real ID
Amanda Stewart Conard you just need your most recent marriage certificate
hello, yes you must submit the original or certified copy marriage certificate
If i recently got married and my name on my driver’s license and social security card are in my married name, but my passport is in my maiden name. Do i need to show the marriage license? If so, does it have to be the original? Our’s is with his parents (out of town), but i need to my passport changed for an upcoming Thanksgiving trip.
This is my first passport. But my current married name is on my DL
you can get your photos done at CVS/Walgreens the photos must meet all guide lines – please visit http://www.uspassporthelpguide.com/passport-photo/
what name is on your current passport and drivers license?
The information above mentions two photos that must compl with passport phot regulations, what are those regulations? Do you take photos at the office or reccomend a place near by where I can get photos that comply? The last office I went do was at a univeristy and they did everything in house.
If I have been divorced once and then remarried do I need my divorce decree or will proof of my current marriage and original birth certificate be enough?
What if I have non-extraditable misdemeanor warrant in another state ?
U.S. Passport Help Guide I have several times, and all they say it is processing, just what it says on line too..
hello, please contact the US Department of State for a status 877-487-2778
My Hubby and i filed for a new passport at the same time, and I got mine in 3 weeks, its been 6 weeks and he still doesnt ahve his. Is this normal that one is back sonner than the other? thanks
You must provide 5 forms of ID, please visit – http://www.uspassporthelpguide.com/proof-of-identity/
My ID was expired and now it’s lost. I’m not living in the current state I last has an ID. Will I be able to use any other form of identification?
Suzette Marquez Alvarado what name is on your drivers license?
I don’t have a passport . I need to get one for an oct trip
Hello, what name is on your current passport? What year does the passport expire?