Academics

Study Abroad

How to Get a Passport

You will need a passport for travel. Application for a passport should be made at least three months before your planned departure date. To obtain a passport, you must be able to prove U.S. citizenship (birth certificate, naturalization papers or a previous passport), and you must be able to present an acceptable government-issued document to prove your identity (driver’s license or previously issued passport) or you must be accompanied by a witness over age 21 who has known you for at least two years. You will also need to provide two recently taken duplicate passport photos (full face with a light background). You can get these photos taken at the U.S. Post Office and most Walgreens stores.  The current passport fee is $85.

For your first passport, you must appear in person with a completed Form DSP-11, Passport Application, at one of the 13 U.S. passport agencies, at federal/state/county courts or at U.S. post offices authorized to accept passport applications. Forms and more information are available on the U.S. State Department website.

If you have had a previous passport and wish to obtain another, you may be eligible to apply by mail using Form DSP-82. Contact your local passport authority or ask your travel agent for more information.

Photocopy the data page of your passport and keep it in a separate place. Leave the pasport number, date and place of issuance with a relative or friend in the United States.

Before You Travel

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