Obtaining a Passport

• To obtain a U.S. Passport you must submit a completed form DS-11 in person at a passport agency or acceptance facility. With this you will need to show proof of citizenship (like a birth certificate), a current form of identification (like a driver's license) with a photocopy, pay fees and have two acceptable photographs prepared.
  
  

Passport Photos

• When you apply for a passport in person have available two photographs. These must be identical color photos 2 x 2 inches in size. They have to have been taken within the last six months and show the full face of the applicant. The applicant should be in normal street attire. No hats or sunglasses are permitted except for religious or medical exceptions.
  
  

Time Frame

• Receiving a passport can take 10 weeks or more from the application time. It is possible to expedite the process for an additional $60. A U.S. Passport or Passport Card is valid for 10 years. It is only valid for five years for minors 15 or younger. Many airlines will require your passport to be valid for at least six months after the date of your trip.
  
  

Costs

• A regular passport for someone 16 years or older is $75 plus $25 to the facility where you apply, so the total cost of a regular passport is $100. People younger than 16 pay a total of $85. A passport card, which can be used to go to and return from Mexico, Canada, The Caribbean and Bermuda, is a total of $45 for people 16 and older and $35 for those younger.
  
  

Renewal

• You can renew your passport from inside the United States or Canada by mail by submitting form DS-82 at http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/renew/renew_833.html. If your most recent passport has been damaged or altered you cannot apply by mail and you must apply in person. Passports renewed by mail in the United States or Canada will only be mailed to addresses in the United States or Canada. U.S. citizens outside the United States or Canada must renew their passport at the nearest U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate
  
  

Lost or Stolen Passport

• Any passport that is lost or stolen needs to be reported immediately. To do this call toll free to 1-877-487-2778. If the passport is lost or stolen abroad seek the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Once a passport is reported lost or stolen it cannot be revalidated. To replace a lost or stolen passport the applicant must submit form DS-64 which includes a statement regarding the loss or theft of the passport.