How to Get a US Passport in NYC

Which way should you apply?

Your situation	How to apply
First passport, age 18 or older	In person with Form DS-11 at an acceptance facility
Your passport was lost, stolen or damaged, issued over 15 years ago, or issued when you were under 16	In person with Form DS-11. You cannot renew
Child under 16	In person with Form DS-11. All children must apply in person, and children's passports cannot be renewed
Renewing, and you meet the renewal requirements	By mail with Form DS-82, routine or expedited. Or online, routine service only, if you are eligible
International travel within 14 calendar days, or a foreign visa needed within 28	Appointment at the New York Passport Agency, with proof of travel and the $60 expedite fee

Traveling in less than 3 weeks? The State Department says to make a passport agency appointment once you are within 14 days of travel.

Applying in person: what to bring

First-time adults and anyone who cannot renew submit Form DS-11 at an authorized acceptance facility. The agent verifies your ID, gives you an oath and has you sign the application.

1. Form DS-11, filled out and printedUse the State Department's Form Filler and print on single-sided paper. Double-sided forms are not accepted. Do not sign it until the acceptance agent asks you to.
2. Evidence of US citizenship, plus a photocopyA US birth certificate, a full-validity undamaged US passport, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship. Bring the original with its seal or stamp. Paper only: digital or mobile birth certificates are not accepted.
3. A physical photo ID, plus a photocopy of the front and backMost commonly a fully valid driver's license. If your ID is from a different state than the one you apply in, bring a second photo ID.
4. Photocopies on the right paper8.5 by 11 inch paper, one side only.
5. 1 passport photoDo not attach or staple it. The acceptance agent reviews the photo and staples it for you.
6. Two paymentsThe application fee by check or money order to "U.S. Department of State," with the applicant's name and date of birth in the memo, and a separate $35 fee paid to the acceptance facility in whatever form it accepts.

Renewing by mail

You can renew by mail with Form DS-82 if all of these are true:

• You can send your most recent passport with your application
• It has never been reported lost or stolen
• It was issued within the last 15 years
• It was issued when you were 16 or older and was valid for 10 years
• It is in your current name, or you can show a marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order
• It is not damaged, other than normal wear and tear

• Photo. Staple 1 photo to the application with four staples, vertically in the corners, as close to the outer edges as possible. Do not bend it.
• Payment. A personal check or money order payable to the U.S. Department of State, with the applicant's full name and date of birth on the front. Do not send cash.
• Sign and date your renewal form before mailing it.
• At the post office. You must mail a DS-82. Postal employees should not charge you a $35 facility fee or review your form before you mail it.

Mail with USPS. Your old passport is returned in a separate mailing, which may take up to 2 weeks after your new passport arrives.

Renewing online

• Who can renew online. You are 25 or older, your current passport was valid for 10 years and expires within a year or expired less than 5 years ago, and your name and sex are not changing.
• Timing. You are in the US when you apply and not traveling for at least 6 weeks. Online renewals are routine service only and cannot be expedited.
• Payment. Credit or debit card.
• Photo. You upload a digital photo instead of mailing a print. ThisPix can email you the digital file of your passport photo.

Passport fees

Document	First time, adult (DS-11)	Renewal (DS-82 or online)	Child under 16 (DS-11)
Passport book	$130 + $35	$130	$100 + $35
Passport card	$30 + $35	$30	$15 + $35
Book and card	$160 + $35	$160	$115 + $35

The $35 is the facility acceptance fee, paid to the acceptance facility. Optional extras: expedited service $60, and 1 to 3 day return delivery $26.87 (not available for a passport card only). If you cannot get evidence of citizenship, a file search costs $150. The application fee and the acceptance fee are not refundable, even if a passport is not issued.

How long it takes

• Routine processing takes 4 to 6 weeks, and expedited 2 to 3 weeks for an extra $60.
• Add mailing time. It may take 2 weeks for your application to reach the State Department, and 2 more weeks for your passport to reach you.
• Plan ahead. The busiest time is between late winter and summer. October to December is quieter.
• Track it by email updates or at passportstatus.state.gov.

Urgent travel: the New York Passport Agency

If you have international travel within 14 calendar days, or need a foreign visa within 28 calendar days, you can apply in person at the New York Passport Agency, by appointment only. It accepts first-time and renewal applications.

• If you have not applied yet. Book through the State Department's Online Passport Appointment System, for up to 7 people in your household. You confirm with codes sent by email and text, and the system holds your slot for 15 minutes.
• If you already applied. Call 877-487-2778, Monday to Friday 8 AM to 10 PM Eastern, or weekends 10 AM to 3 PM.
• Appointments are free. Any request to pay for an appointment should be treated as fraud, and the agency may not honor appointments booked through third parties.
• Bring your printed appointment confirmation, printed proof of international travel, your application form, the original and a photocopy of your citizenship evidence and photo ID, a passport photo, and your application and expedite fees.
• Payment. Credit card, debit card (not ATM cards), or contactless payment such as Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay.
• Children under 16. Both parents or guardians and the child must come to the appointment.
• On the day. Arrive 15 minutes early for security, with valid government ID. No weapons or sharp objects, and no food or drinks except water in a sealable bottle. Your appointment may be cancelled if documents are missing.

Where to apply in Manhattan

For DS-11 applications, there are over 7,500 acceptance facilities across the United States, including post offices, clerks of courts, public libraries and other local government offices. They accept new passport applications for adults and children, offer routine or expedited service, may require appointments, and charge a facility acceptance fee. They do not accept forms to renew or correct an existing passport.

Use the State Department's acceptance facility locator to find one near you, and check whether it needs an appointment before you go.

Questions, answered

How long does it take to get a passport in NYC?

Routine processing takes 4 to 6 weeks and expedited processing 2 to 3 weeks, plus up to 2 weeks for your application to reach the State Department and up to 2 weeks for your passport to reach you.

Can I get a passport fast in New York?

If you have international travel within 14 calendar days, or need a foreign visa within 28, make an appointment at the New York Passport Agency at 376 Hudson Street. Bring proof of travel and pay the $60 expedite fee. The agency discusses your options based on your travel date.

Where is the passport office in NYC?

The New York Passport Agency is in the Greater New York Federal Building at 376 Hudson Street, 10th floor, one block from the Houston Street subway station. It is open Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, by appointment only.

What do I need to bring to a passport appointment?

Your printed DS-11 (unsigned), your original citizenship evidence and a photocopy, a physical photo ID and a photocopy of the front and back, 1 passport photo, and your fees. At the passport agency, also bring your printed appointment confirmation and proof of international travel.

Can I renew my passport at the post office?

No. A DS-82 renewal is mailed to the State Department, and acceptance facilities do not accept renewal forms. Postal employees should not charge you the $35 fee or review your renewal before you mail it.

How much does a US passport cost?

For an adult passport book, $130 plus a $35 acceptance fee when you apply in person for the first time, or $130 when you renew. A child's passport book is $100 plus $35.

Where can I get a passport photo in Midtown Manhattan?

At ThisPix, 805 3rd Avenue, 2nd Floor, at East 50th Street. Walk in Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Your photo is ready in minutes, and we can also email you a digital file for an online renewal.

Before your appointment, read the US passport photo rules, what to wear and whether you can smile.