Step-by-Step Passport Process

I only had bright pink hair for about a month, but its memory lives on in my passport photo.

 ​Have you been procrastinating on getting your passport? It can seem intimidating, but it's really just a few simple steps. We thought we'd break them down, to make it as easy as possible for you. Because, of course, having a passport is the first step that leads to you, for example, eating a pain au chocolat in a Parisian boulangerie.

These steps are to get a new passport or a renewed passport in person. There are also renew-by-mail options, and (rolled out as a test last year) online renewal options. But this traditional process is currently the most straightforward and reliable at this time, in our opinion. 

This is also the process to get a passport at the "routine" or "expedited" rate, but is NOT the procedure if you need a passport for an emergency or for urgent travel. You can learn more about what to do in those cases at this link.

So, let's get you a passport!
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1. Go to this link and click on "Fill out or Download your Form," and then choose either Option 2 "Renew Your Passport" (if you got your last passport within the last 15 years) or Option 1 "Application For A U.S. Passport" (if it's been more than 15 years since you got a passport, or if you have never had one). You can either use the "form filler" option or the pdf option. You'll fill out the form (it's stuff like name, address, etc., plus it also wants a bit of info about your parents) and print it out.
   
   --note: if you don't have access to a printer, you could drop in at a post office and ask for a paper copy of this form.
   --note: if you'd like to select a different gender marker on your passport than was on your previous one, that's totally fine, and you can read more about that here. They have the options F, M, and X.
   
   
2. Go to this website to schedule an appointment at a post office to get your passport renewed. I recommend choosing the type of appointment "new passport with photo services" so that you don't have to get your photo taken separately, but if those aren't available in your area, you can get your photo taken separately (Walgreens, for example, takes passport photos). You'll search for a location and make the appointment thru the website. Some post offices do have drop-in services if you don't want to make an appointment. You can check the ones in your area here.
   
   
3. Your fee (as of March 2023) will be $130 for renewal or $130 + a separate $35 if you have to do a new one (if it's been more than 15 years). You can also pay extra to expedite the processing, and to expedite the shipping. Typically they don't allow you to pay by card (though some will, apparently, I would ask first as it's not common). You generally must use a check or money order (yes, in 2023 :-) ). 
   
   
4. When you go to your appointment, bring your expired passport (or other document(s) from this list), your filled-out form, and your checkbook (and your passport photo, if you had it done elsewhere in advance). You can check the current average processing times here.

And of course, once you have that passport, it's time to use it! Fill out our Travel Interest Form and we can begin building you the perfect vacation!

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