The forms required for an American passport vary depending on your exact circumstances.
Generally, the majority of law-abiding U.S. Citizens will qualify, though there are special rules that apply to minors.
All necessary U.S. passport forms can be completed online through the U.S. Passports and International Travel Office, part of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. You can also apply in person at any Department of State Passport Agency as well as through a Passport Acceptance Facility. If you are looking to renew your passport, make a correction to a current passport, or replace a limited passport, you may do so by mail.
The cost for acquiring your new passport may vary from no cost for data corrections and name changes within the first year to $140 plus an additional $25 execution fee.
First Time Adult Passport Application
When applying for your first U.S. passport, or your previous passport has been expired for five or more years, you will need to prepare the DS-11 New Passport Application Form. The DS-11 is two pages long including the space for your passport photo. Completing the form requires specific information to help confirm your identity as an eligible citizen.
First, you will provide information regarding yourself, such as your full legal name as it appears on your birth certificate or other legal name change document, such as a marriage license, along with your Social Security number. Certain physical descriptors are necessary including your eye color, hair color, and height.
Contact information must be filled in. This includes your current residential address and a minimum of one contact phone number. Not only will this serve as the delivery information for your new passport, it also provides a way to reach you in the event more information is required. Information regarding your parents, including their full names, dates of birth and places of birth are also required to confirm eligibility. The name and address of an emergency contact is also required. Once all of the information is complete, it is important to not sign your application at this time. You will be instructed to do so by the Passport Acceptance Agent when it is appropriate.
Additional documentation is required along with your DS-11. You will need to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship (most commonly a birth certificate is provided), a photo for your new passport that meets all standing rules and regulations, a photocopy of a current state-issued ID, and the necessary payments required for processing. If you are having your passport expedited, proof of your pending travel plans must be provided.
First Time or Renewal Child Passport
A DS-11 New Passport Application Form is also required when requesting a passport for a minor child under the age of 16. All of the same information that is required for an adult is required for the child. In addition, the parents or legal guardians of the child are requested to accompany the child to the Passport Acceptance Facility.
If only one parent of guardian can be present, and there is a second parent or legal guardian, the one that is not appearing must complete a Form DS-3053 Statement of Consent, with an original ink signature that has been notarized, confirming consent. If either parent or guardian does not consent to the application being filed, a passport cannot be issued.
In situations where the parent who cannot attend also cannot complete a DS-3053, a DS-5525 Statement of Exigent/Special Family Circumstances Form is required. Examples of a scenario requiring a DS-5525 include; when a custodial parent cannot reach the other parent, when the other parent is overseas and in a situation where finding a notary is not possible, when the other parent is currently incarcerated, when there is a critical emergency that does not allow for the time required for the completion of a DS-3053, or when a legal guardian cannot reach either parent.
Additional documentation that must be presented includes Proof of U.S. Citizenship, a new passport photo, photocopies of both parent's or guardian's current passports or state-issued IDs, the previous minor passport (if one was issued), and the required fee.
Adult Passport Renewal Application
If you have a current passport, or your passport expired less than five years ago, you can proceed with a passport renewal. The U.S. Passport Renewal Form is called the DS-82.
Much of the required information for the DS-11 New Passport Application Form is also required for the DS-82. You will provide your legal name, either as it is listed on your current passport or as stated on a legal name change document, and a list of previous legal names used, such as maiden names or married names that are no longer in use.
Your Social Security number, eye color, hair color, and height will be required, along with current contact information. The current passport's number and issue date will be required to confirm your eligibility for the renewal process instead of the new passport process.
The name and address of an emergency contact is also required.
Along with the application, you will need to provide your current passport, a new passport photo, a photocopy of a current state-issued ID, proof of a name change (if your new passport will display a name differing from your current one), and required payments. As with the new passport, you will need to provide a travel itinerary in order to have the passport expedited.
Replace a Lost or Stolen Passport Application
In the event your passport is lost or stolen, you must complete a DS-11 New Passport Application Form with all of the information required of a new applicant, along with all of the required supporting documents. Further, you will need to complete a DS-64 Statement Regarding a Lost or Stolen Passport Form.
The DS-64 lost passport form requires your identifying information, as well as information regarding the lost or stolen passport. This includes the previous passport number, details regarding when and where the loss occurred (to the best of your recollection), and confirm if this is the first time you have had a passport lost or stolen.
Replace Damaged Passport Application
Which forms are required in order to replace a damaged passport depends on the level of damage present. If the passport is damaged to the point that any of the information recorded on it is unreadable or unidentifiable, you will need to complete the same form as new passport applicants, the DS-11. If you are replacing a passport early due to signs of wear or minor damage not obscuring the any of the identifying information, you can proceed with the regular renewal process with the DS-82.
In either case, you must supply the supporting documentation that is required with the associated form.
Name Change Passport Update
In order to have a passport that has been issued for less than a year updated to reflect a legal name change, you will need to complete a DS-5504. You will need to provide your previous legal name (as listed on your current passport), your new legal name as it appears on the legal name change document, and a list of other legal names that have been previously used. Your current passport's number and issue date are required, along with confirmation of your Social Security number, your physical descriptors, current contact information, and an emergency contact's information.
Supporting documentation is required as with all other applications, but, unless you are requesting expedited service, the fee is waived if your passport is less than a year old. If your passport is over a year old, you will need to proceed with the same process as required for a standard passport renewal application form, including the associated fee.
Error/Correction Passport Update
If an error is noted on your current passport, a DS-5504 is required to request the correction. The same information is required as with a legal name change aside from the legal name change documents. If the passport is less than a year old, it will be replaced at no cost.
Application for Additional Passport Pages
In cases where you require additional pages prior to the need to renew your passport, you can complete a DS-4805 to request additional pages. The form only requires your legal name (as listed on your passport), the passport's number and issue date, your Social Security number, your current contact information, and the information for your emergency contact.
The required supporting documents include your current passport and a check for the associated fee. No other information is required unless you request expedited service, which requires proof of your upcoming travel plans, and comes with a higher fee.
Second Passport Application
You may request a second passport using the same document as required for a passport renewal, the DS-82, containing the same information. The supporting documentation is also the same when requesting a new second passport. If you are renewing a second passport, both your primary and current secondary passport must be supplied.