Note: American Citizens living in Canada are eligible for passport renewal by mail. The DS-82 form is not correct where it states that passports may be renewed by mail only if the applicant is using a U.S. mailing address. In fact, an exception is made for residents of Canada.
You may submit this application form by mail only if you meet ALL of the following requirements:
- You are at least 18 years old; and
- Your most recent passport was issued when you were 16 years of age or older; and
- Your most recent passport was issued within the last 15 years; and
- Your most recent passport was not limited (i.e. it was issued for its full five-year or ten-year validity); and
- You can submit the passport with the application; and
- You are not requesting a change in the passport data, other than a name change and you submit original documentation to reflect a legal name change, such as a marriage certificate or a certificate of name change.
Important: Please read the following instructions carefully before downloading the application forms. Applications which are incomplete, or which make use of the wrong form, or which are directed to the wrong office, will be returned to the applicant for correction. If you wish to print this list then it is recommended that you use the Print Version linked at the bottom of this page.
1. Completed and signed Form DS-82.
Forms are also available at the nearest U.S. Embassy/Consulate.
2. Your most recent U.S. Passport issued less than 15 years ago.
3. Evidence of Name Change - if applicable
If you would like your U.S. passport printed with a different name from the one that appears on your most recent passport, you must present evidence to reflect a legal name change, such as your marriage certificate or certificate of name change.
4. Photographs
Note that this supplements the information on the form itself.
- Two recent, identical passport photographs.
- Two inches by two inches (5 cm by 5 cm) in size, exclusive of any white borders.
- The image size, from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head (including hair), should measure between one inch and one and three-eights inches.
- There should be at least one-half inch between the top of the head and the top of the photograph's border.
- The photographs must be in color. No black and white photographs will be accepted.
- The background must be light in color, preferably white or off-white. Photographs should not be grainy.
- You may smile for your passport photograph if you wish.
5. Fee:
Enclose with your application the fee of US$75. You may pay by personal check drawn on a U.S. bank, or by international money order. The fee must be in U.S. dollars only and made payable to U.S. Department of State.
If you are renewing in person outside the United States, personal checks are not acceptable.
6. Mail your application package as follows:
Routine Processing / Mailing Address:
National Passport Processing Center
Post Office Box 90155
Philadelphia, PA 19190-0155Expedited Service / Mailing Address (additional fee applies):
National Passport Processing Center
Post Office Box 90955
Philadelphia, PA 19190-0955
All documents submitted must be originals and must bear the official seal of the issuing authority. The original documents will be returned to you after processing.
If you have an emergency and need a passport immediately, you will need to apply in person at the consular section nearest you. You may still use Form DS-82 Passport Application. You will need to present evidence, such as an airline ticket, that an emergency exists.
U.S. Embassies and Consulates will continue to issue passports in emergency cases. Such passports will be limited in validity, and cannot be extended. Bearers will be required, however, to exchange their limited validity passports for a full-validity photo-digitized passport upon completion of their emergency travel, either through Passport Acceptance Facilities in the U.S. or through a U.S. Embassy and Consulate abroad.
Applications for the renewal of a U.S. passport should be made in person at the U.S. Embassy or the nearest U.S. Consulate only in the following circumstances:
- if you are less than 16 years old
- if you were less than 16 years old when your old passport was issued
- if you need to replace a lost, stolen or mutilated passport then also complete Form DS-64 Statement of Lost or Stolen Passport.
- if your passport was issued over 15 years ago then use Form DS-11
- or in the case of an emergency
