2024 United States Passport Guide
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Road tripping through Spain, eating pasta in Italy, backpacking in Thailand. All of that sounds amazing, right?! Well, one of the not so fun but most important steps is getting your passport. At least once you get it done, you don’t have to worry about renewing it for a whole 10 years. I am going to outline below how to get your passport if you are a citizen of the United States and how to go through the renewal process if you’re ready for that. Remember, most countries won’t let you enter the country if your passport is expiring in less than 6 months, or if you have too few pages left over!
Summary
Types of Passports
How to Get a Passport for the First Time
How to Renew Your Passport
Pricing Breakdown - Standard & Expedited & More
TLDR - Just Give Me the Prices
Types of Passports
Did you know there was more than one type of passport? There’s the U.S. Passport Book, which is great for international travel by air, sea, or land. And there is the U.S. Passport Card, which is great for land and sea entry from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
NOTE - To enter Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by air, the card is invalid, and a passport book is required.
Additionally, for domestic flights within the United States, we will soon need to use Real IDs (the updated ID cards with the star on the front) in order to fly. Both a passport book and a passport card can also be used instead.
Credit: travel.state.gov
How to Get a Passport for the First Time
First things first… get excited! You’re getting your passport and, hopefully, going somewhere fun. In order to get your passport, you are going to have to apply in person.
To start the process, click here to find your nearest location. Most post offices, clerks of court, public libraries, and other local government offices have the ability to accept your application. Also, double check if you need an appointment before heading down.
To save time, I would download the application online and fill it out beforehand, just remember not to sign yet! Click here to find which form applies to your situation. Most commonly when getting your passport for the first time, you will use Form DS-11.
Your application must be accompanied with evidence of citizenship. See more about this here. If you have an old passport that is too old to be renewed and is undamaged, this can be used, or a birth certificate. If you are unable to supply these items, there are secondary forms of proof listed here. Make sure you have the document along with photocopies of the front and back with you.
Passport photos! You can have these done at your local CVS, Walgreens, or similar style store that has a photo department. There are also many apps that let you take your photo at home. Just make sure you follow the strict guidelines. Also, you may be able to have your photo taken when handing in the application, but not all locations do this.
Make sure to leave enough time before your trip! Normal processing times are currently 6-8 weeks plus delivery time. You can pay a fee to have it expedited with a turnaround time of currently 2-3 weeks plus delivery time. You can also pay an additional fee to shorten the delivery time, more on that below.
Lastly, make sure you have some way to pay for your application. I go more into how much down below.
How to Renew Your Passport
If you already have gone through the process above, you’ll be happy to hear that renewing is much easier. Luckily, you do not have to go in person and can complete the process completely through the mail. (Note - you cannot go in person to renew your passport. It must be done through the mail.) Passports expire 10 years after the date of issue. You can find these dates on the first page of your current passport. Make sure to keep this date in mind if you’re getting towards the end of those 10 years because most countries will not admit you into the country if your passport is less than 6 months away from that expiration date.
To renew your passport, download and print form DS-82 to fill out.
Next, have new passport photos taken. As I said above, you can have these done at your local CVS, Walgreens, or similar style store that has a photo department. There are also many apps that let you take your photo at home. Just make sure you follow the strict guidelines.
Your previous passport will also be sent in along with your application. It will be sent back to you, just with a hole punched through it to show that it is no longer valid.
Lastly, don’t forget to pay! Since you are sending it through the mail, a check or money order needs to be submitted along with the application. I go more into how much to pay below.
Pricing - Standard & Expedited & More
I find that the absolute easiest way to see how much you will have to pay, tailored to your specific situation, is to use their calculator. The calculator asks you questions to try and determine what you should apply for and gives you all the options on how soon you will receive it.
If browsing through a chart is more your thing, luckily, they also make this very helpful chart below along with the form that is needed like I mentioned above.
Credit: travel.state.gov
TLDR - Just Give Me the Prices
Finished with shifting through everything and just want to know how much it’ll cost you to get your basic passport?
First Time Passport Applicants - $130 Application Fee + $35 Execution Fee = $165 Total
Renewal Applicants - $130 Total
Expedited Fee - $60 (To make processing time be 6-9 weeks instead of 10-13 weeks)
1-2 Day Delivery Fee - $19.53 (Delivery time is not included in the processing turnaround time)
Hi, I’m Karen!Travel Blogger & Photographer + Founder of The Everyday Adventure
Here I share travel tips, packing guides, planning help, and photography from many different parts of the world. I help other working 9-5 adventurers get out into the world and see as much as they can with the little time they have available.
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