Proof of Identity – Documents for a U.S. Passport
Updated As of
When you apply for a United States Passport for the first time, you will be required to prove that you are a citizen of the United States of America. There are several different forms of identification that you can use as your proof of identity, and the following documents can all be used as primary evidence that you are a citizen:
Primary Identification:
• Drivers License
• State Issued ID
• Non Drivers Identification
Supplemental Identification:
• Learners Permit
• Social Security Card
• Marriage License
• Baptismal Certificate
• High School Year Book
• Voters Registration
• Work Identification
• Military Identification
• Prior U.S. Passport
• Tax Records
• Utility Bills
Proof of Citizenship:
• A certified birth certificate issued by an American city, county, or state
• A Consular Report of Birth Abroad or a Certification of Birth
• Naturalization Certificate
• Certificate of citizenship
You must submit at least one of these forms of identification with your passport application, and it is important to ensure that you submit a certified birth certificate rather than a mere copy. After you submit your proof of citizenship, the evidence will be returned to you. It may be returned with your US Passport or in a separate mailing.
If you have already had a U.S. passport in the past, you can use your old passport as your proof of your citizenship.
These forms are considered to be primary evidence of your citizenship. If you do not have any of these forms, you will need to submit secondary evidence of your citizenship. There are several different forms that can be accepted as secondary evidence of your citizenship.
Some applicants use early public records including birth records, baptismal certificates, or doctor’s records, but early public records are not acceptable when used on their own. These records must be paired with other secondary evidence of citizenship like delayed birth certificates, letter of no records, birth affidavits, or foreign birth documents with evidence of parental citizenship.
you must have a valid drivers license, if not you will need to bring 5 forms of ID, anything with your name on it for example Social security card W-2 health records high school yearbook work ID health insurance card etc
I just moved one week ago from out of state and have lost my passport. I don’t have any state ID, or a driver’s license. Will my birth certificate and social security card suffice?
most acceptance agents will accept the prior passport as proof of citizenship. he may need his birth certificate depending on where he gets processed. He will need proof of ID such as a drivers license as well
We are applying for a passport renewal because the first passport was issued for my son when he was under 16 and it has expired. He is now 21, so I am submitting for a new passport for him. I was making sure that submitting the old passport was sufficient for the primary identification which would be the same as the proof of citizenship- Is the expored passports sufficient alone without anything else.
no you must have an original/certified copy birth certificate
yes you must show your original/certified marriage license.
The name on my birth certificate is not the same name on my driver’s license. Do I need to show my mariage license? I am no longer married to this person, although I have not legally changed my name back again to my maiden name.
Can you use a military ID as a form of citizenship if you only have copies of a birth certificate
if your son is 21, no parents have to present, please bring old passport and copy of birth certificate
I can’t find my son’s original copy of his birth certificate. I do have a copy of it, along with his expired more then 15 years ago passport, his social security card, and his DMV issued picture ID. My ex husband and I have co guardianship. Does my ex husband have to sign anything? My son is 21 so there is no custody agreement.
you must have your court order legal name change documents
you must have proof of citizenship, please order a long form certified copy on vitalchek.com
you must bring 5 forms of ID along with your birth certificate if you do not have a drivers licesne
So I can use my learners permit and my birth certificate to apply for my passport?
What if i only have a valid state drivers license and tax documents? Would those two items be sufficient enough to obtain a passport? I lost my social security card and birth certificate in a move along with other documents.
My maiden name on my birth certificate is different from my name now is there another form I need or will my drivers license and social work.
How about if the only Identification I had was foreign passport and not a US ID? Im a dual citizen, but do not have any form of US ID except for the other country that I am from.
hello, you must provide 5 forms of ID Supplemental Identification: • Learners Permit • Social Security Card • Marriage License • Baptismal Certificate • High School Year Book • Voters Registration • Work Identification • Military Identification • Prior U.S. Passport • Tax Records • Utility Bills Library card, health insurance card etc.
I don’t have a driver’s licence but I do have a temporary permit and my s.s. card will that suffice as proof of identifacation?
It will just be a front and back copy of the drivers license
If I give my drivers license what do I use while I drive?
yes you will need your marriage certificate (original/certified copy)
Hello, please contact immigration
The US Deparment of State has updated the law, a state ID is secondary proof, you must submit 4 other forms, examples are listed above.
yes, it is reccomended to bring a copy of the birth certificate just incase the Government wants more information
Hello, what name is your drivers license under?
I’ve been married and divorced. Still use my married last name. Have birth cert and I’d with current last name. Do I need anything else
My daughter lost Naturalization certificate. She applied for duplicatefrom USCIS office. They are asking for Certificate # which she don’t have. I know when we applied for her first US passport in 1985, we send naturalization certificate. Is there any possibilty to get that certificate # from the passport office. Thanks
I applied for my passport with my state ID at the post office I was told it wasn’t enough and was asked to bring 4 more proofs including statement of identification from a 3rd party at 3 different usps location mind you I love in NYC how was this possible if state ID is supposed to be primary?
Can I use an expired child’s passport as proof of citizenship?