Planning a trip abroad—whether for travel, study, or an unexpected emergency—usually involves a long checklist: packing, itineraries, must-see spots… But the most important item is often overlooked—a valid U.S. passport book.
Whether you’re applying for the first time, renewing an expiring passport, or replacing a lost one, you’ll need to gather the right documents before you can travel internationally.
To help make the process easier, we’ve created a simple checklist of everything you need to get your passport—starting with the photo.
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What Is Needed for a Passport: Documents for Adults
For first-time passport applications, U.S. citizens must fill out Form DS-11. Applicants can find it on the State Department’s website, but also at passport acceptance facilities and passport agencies across the country.
Applicants can now complete the form online, but it still must be printed and signed in person at a passport acceptance facility, with an agent present to witness the signature.
If an applicant decides to fill out the form by hand, they must use black ink. The form will ask for personal information such as:
- Social Security number
- Current address
- Parental or birth information
Along with completed Form DS-11, every applicant must also provide the following documents:
- Proof of U.S. citizenship, along with a certified photocopy
- Proof of identity, with a certified photocopy
- Compliant passport photo
- Money order or check for the applicable passport fees
Applicants can prove their U.S. citizenship with one of the following:
- Passport book (Type P passport)
- Birth certificate issued in the U.S.
- Certificate of Citizenship
As for photo identification, accepted documents include:
- U.S. passport book/card
- Driver’s license
- Valid foreign passport
Keep in mind that both citizenship and photo ID documents must be printed. Digital copies will not be accepted at passport appointments.
If the applicant is unable to present primary proof of citizenship or photo ID, they may be asked to provide additional documentation, but only in special cases. These may include records issued within the U.S., such as:
- Hospital-issued birth certificate
- Early school records
- Baptismal certificate
- U.S. Census record
Keep in mind that these secondary documents are only considered when standard evidence is unavailable, and you may need to provide multiple records or additional affidavits.
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Renewing Your Passport: Mail, Online, and In-Person Options Explained
Most U.S. citizens can renew their passports by mail using Form DS-82—provided they meet certain eligibility requirements, such as having a passport issued within the last 15 years and being at least 16 at the time of issuance.
If you don’t meet these criteria, you’ll need to apply in person using Form DS-11.
In either case, it’s important to prepare all required documents to avoid delays in processing. See exactly what documents are needed for a passport renewal.
Note: As of 2022, the U.S. government began piloting an online passport renewal system. Today, online renewal is available to eligible applicants who meet certain criteria, such as having a previous passport issued within the past 15 years and no changes to name, gender, or other personal data. If you prefer to renew your passport online, be sure to check the official State Department website to see if you qualify.
Documents for a Passport: Babies and Minors
Every U.S. citizen—regardless of age—must have a valid passport for international travel.
That means parents are also responsible for securing passports for their children when planning trips abroad. While the application form (Form DS-11) is the same one adults use, there are additional requirements that parents must follow when applying for a child’s passport.
- Child’s in-person appearance: The child must be present at the appointment, along with both parents or legal guardians.
- Proof of U.S. citizenship: This can include a certified U.S. birth certificate, a previous passport, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Citizenship.
- Proof of parental relationship: A certified birth certificate showing both parents’ names, adoption decree, or custody documents must be presented.
- Parental identification: Both parents must show valid government-issued photo ID (e.g., passport, driver’s license) and provide photocopies.
- Parental consent: If one parent can’t be present, the applying parent must submit a notarized Form DS-3053 (Statement of Consent) and a copy of the non-applying parent’s ID. In cases where one parent is unavailable or deceased, proper legal documentation must be provided.
- Passport photo: A compliant 2” × 2” passport photo of the child must be submitted. For infants, special care should be taken to meet all official photo requirements.
- Application fees: Fees must be paid via check or money order. A $35 execution fee applies in addition to the standard passport fee.
Make sure all documents are printed—digital copies won’t be accepted. Preparing these ahead of time will help make the appointment quick and stress-free.
Passport photo guidelines
Every passport application requires a compliant photo—and if it doesn’t meet official guidelines, your application may be rejected, even if all your other documents are in order.
Let us help you avoid this problem.
With Passport Photo Online, you can take, crop, and resize your photo. No need to worry about the background—our advanced AI will automatically adjust it to meet official requirements.
Passport Photo Online is easy to use—even kids can handle it. It’s also ideal for taking passport photos of babies and toddlers, right from home.
But don’t stop at just your passport. Passport Photo Online can also help you create compliant photos for driver’s licenses, visas, and many other types of ID.
We also have an app for Android or iOS.
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FAQ
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Sources
Karolina’s passion for law, technology and photography led her to PhotoAiD S.A., where for the past 3 years she has been an expert in the implementation of passport photo compliance procedures in +80 countries around the world.
