If you have dreams about taking that dream vacation abroad, one of your first steps should be to get a passport. Need to know how to get a passport for that dream vacation? With some preparation and a little effort, the process should not be too frustrating or complicated.

You can obtain a passport application from a local post office, or you can download them from the State Department website. Follow the directions carefully and finish filling out the form. It is Form DS-11, and you should bring it with you when you apply for the passport.

Next, you will need documents that prove your United States citizenship. You are required to obtain a certified official birth certificate from the city, county or state of your birth. This should not be a copy. The certified certificate of birth remains the most accepted proof of U.S. citizenship.

If you do not have or cannot obtain a certified copy of your birth certificate, it makes it more difficult to apply for a passport. You can obtain a letter of no record from the state you were born in. This is an official document stating that there is no birth certificate on file for you. You could also try to obtain a hospital birth certificate, baptismal record, census records, early school record and any record of early doctor care. Another way is to get an affidavit of birth form from an older blood relative who has personal knowledge of your birth. This should be signed and notarized.

If you were born in a foreign nation to one or two United States parents, you need to get a foreign certificate of birth. It would help to also get proof of U.S. Citizenship for your parents. Your parents can also sign an affidavit which lists the places they have resided for different time periods prior to and after your birth. The next step to take in getting a new passport is to prove your identity. This can be proven by bringing with you an old passport, a valid state drivers license, a government ID card, or a military ID card.

You are almost there, but there are a a few more steps. Next, you need to have two photographs taken. These passport photos should be taken in regular everyday clothing. You should not wear a cap or anything covering your head. You should not wear uniforms or anything that is not normal everyday clothing. You can locate merchants that take passport photos on the Internet or in the phone book. The photos should be of your full face, two by two size and absolutely identical. Merchants who take passport photos are usually aware of the proper requirements, but familiarize yourself with these requirements as well so there are no mistakes. Incorrectly snapped photos will slow down the entire application process.

Before you go to apply for your passport, write down your social security number. It is a requirement to know it when you apply. Next, the government wants your money! Do a search online prior to your visit to the passport acceptance facility and know what fees you will be required to pay.

You can look online to find the nearest passport acceptance facility location. There are 7000 facilities nationwide. They include post offices, probate courts, public libraries and county offices. Also search the government pages on how to get a pasport. After following all the steps, you should expect your new pass port to take between two weeks to two months to arrive. If you are willing to spend $60 or more, you can get it quickly. Once you have your passport in hand, you are ready to go see the world!