Applying for a passport can be a mysterious process for those who have never held one. Many applications are turned down due to errors made by the applicant. Arriving at the passport agency without the proper documents is one key reason for rejection. The information presented here will help you to get your passport application approved without a frustrating waste of time.

First of all, consider whether you can renew your passport by mail. If your current passport is less than 15 years old and is undamaged, you may qualify. However, you must be at least 16 years old now and when the original passport was issued. If your current name differs from your passport, you can still renew by mail but you must provide legal proof, such as a marriage license, that documents your new name.

Renewals by mail usually take a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks to process unless expedited service is requested. During summer months, the time can stretch to 10 or 12 weeks. The application and passport forms should be mailed using a method that allows you to verify delivery. It is also recommended that you use a waterproof mailer that will protect all items from damage and weather. Expedited renewals are normally processed in half the time as standard applications. There is an additional charge of $60 for expedited services.

If you have never had a passport, or if your old one is beyond the time frame of 15 years, you must appear in person. You must also make a personal application if under age 16 either at the present time or when the prior passport was issued. If your previous passport was stolen, lost, or damaged, you cannot renew by mail but must go in person to make the application. Name changes for which you do not have legal documentation also require that you complete the application process in person.

The most popular places to apply in person are county clerk offices and post offices. Regional passport agencies can also issue passports, but many states do not have an agency. Each type of operation will have different business hours, but all will require that you furnish the same documentation. Proof of citizenship is one requirement. This can be provided in the form of an official birth certificate (the type with an embossed seal) or a certificate of naturalization or citizenship. Your old passport can be accepted if it is undamaged. For U.S. citizens born abroad, a consular report or certificate of birth can be used.

You must also prove your identity. A passport can do double duty and fulfill this requirement as well as proving your citizenship. A state issued ID card or driver’s license will also suffice. However, if your license is from a different state than the one in which you are applying for a passport, you must provide secondary identification. The agency will accept a social security card, a credit card in your name, or an identification card from your employer. Whatever forms of identification you plan to use, take along a photocopy of both sides of the document. Do not make two sided copies.

You will need two color photographs of yourself. They must be identical and no more than 6 months old. Your appearance cannot vary significantly from the photograph. Each must be 2 x 2, taken against a white or nearly white background, and be a front view of your full face. The space between bottom of chin and top of head cannot be less than 1 inch or greater than 1-3/8 inches. You should dress in your normal manner for the picture, and if that includes a wig or glasses, they should be worn in the photograph. However, do not wear a hat or hair trim that hides the hairline.

There are different requirements for special passports, such as for children or dignitaries. However, most adults who need passports should now have a good idea of what will be required to complete a new passport application. Accurately completing the passport application form forms and providing the proper documentation are the most crucial elements for success.