What are 4 items you need to obtain a US passport?

Answer 1

I am not sure what you are asking for, but to get a US Passport by yourself, you must be a U.S. Citizen age 16* or older. (16 & 17 Year-olds must provide parental consent notarized letters or proof of state-ordered emancipation). Younger minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at the time of the application.

The following sounds daunting, but it is really very easy and painless for a US citizen to get a US Passport. Filling out the form and submitting the application takes no more than 15-30 minutes. In this writer's case it took longer to drive to the office than to complete the form and submit it along with associated materials

To obtain a first-time US passport within the US you must apply in person at an application acceptance, or approved passport agency (see travel.state.gov for closest locations). You must bring the following with you:

1) Completed BUT UNSIGNED DS 11 Passport Application Form. You sign it in the presence of the person taking your application after an oath is administered.

2) Evidence of U.S Citizenship. The primary form is a certified, state-issued copy of your Birth Certificate(Original must have been filed with the state registrar within 1 year of your birth) containing your full name and the names of both your parents, place and date of birth, and the registrar's signature with a raised embossed color state seal.

If you do not have a birth certificate or it does not meet the requirement (like your parents didn't file it until you were more than 1 year old) other accepted proof of citizenship:

Previously issued, undamaged U.S. Passport

Certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state*

Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth

Naturalization Certificate

Certificate of Citizenship

Baptismal Records from the Catholic Church in conjunction with the "late" birth certificate is also sometimes acceptable if the baptism happened within days of birth and include the same date of birth as the suspect birth certificate. (this is the way this writer's brother was able to obtain his birth certificate)

NOTE: The proof of citizenship will be sent to the state department along with the application for verification, but it will be returned within a few weeks.

3) You must present current valid Identification. Accepted forms of ID are:

Previously issued, undamaged U.S. passport

Naturalization Certificate

Valid State- Issued Driver's License (Undamaged)

Current Government ID (city, state or federal)

Current Military ID (military and dependents)

4) You must provide a current color Photograph of you taken within 6 months of application, printed on photo quality paper. The photo must be 2 x 2 inches in size with the image of the head the top of the head to the bottom of the chin is between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches. There are specific requirements to the framing as well. The picture must also be taken within the last 6 months in front of a plain white or off-white background in a full-face view with you directly facing the camera. You must have a neutral facial expression (no smiles) and both eyes open while wearing clothing that you normally wear every day. If you wear glasses on a daily basis you can take your picture with them on, but there must not be any reflection or glare in the picture.

5) Pay Passport fees at the time of application which are currently about $135. Payment must be made by personal check or money order in most cases. Check for complete details with your "acceptance Facility" before you make out your check.

Once you present all this to the applications office, you should receive your passport in about a month.