If you were shocked and dismayed by the presidential election results, you may be looking for property in Belize, or to join the many Black Americans who have moved to Portugal. Or maybe you swore that you’d quit America if Trump won.
If you are among those who are thinking about leaving, or just planning a restorative trip overseas before returning to fight the good fight, you will need a U.S. passport (assuming you don’t have one from another country).
Getting a passport has never been easier
Let’s start with the basics: You can renew a U.S. passport in person or via mail. If you are applying for the first time, or are under the age of 16, you need to apply in person, which you can do at any U.S. Post Office location or at a passport acceptance facility. You can search for your closest location here: https://iafdb.travel.state.gov/ .
But you can’t just rock up and get a passport — you need to get your documents together and make sure you meet the requirements. If you are applying in person, you must answer “yes” to one of the following:
- I am applying for my first U.S. passport book or card.*
- I am applying with my child who is under age 16.
- My most recent U.S. passport was issued when I was under age 16.
- My most recent U.S. passport was lost, stolen, or damaged.
- My most recent U.S. passport was issued more than 15 years ago.
*You may not have to apply in person if you want to get your first passport card and already have a passport book, or if you want to get your first passport book and already have a passport card.
You can apply by mail if your most recent passport:
- Can be submitted with your application,
- Is not damaged (other than normal wear and tear),
- Has never been reported lost or stolen,
- Was issued within the last 15 years,
- Was issued when you were age 16 or older, and
- Was issued in your current name (or you can provide a document like a marriage certificate or divorce decree to show you have changed your name)
Whether in applying in person or via mail, you will still need to fill out some forms. You can find the passport application page here: https://pptform.state.gov/
Proof of Citizenship
To successfully apply for a U.S. passport you must be able to prove that you are a U.S. citizen. According to the State Department, you must provide an original or replacement copy of one of the documents and the “document must have the official seal or stamp of the office which issued it.”
- U.S. birth certificate that meets the following requirements:
- Issued by the city, county, or state of birth,
- Lists your full name, date of birth, and place of birth,
- Lists your parent(s)’ full names,
- Has the date filed with registrar’s office (must be within one year of birth),
- Has the registrar’s signature,
- Has the seal or stamp from the city, county, or state which issued it
- Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
- Certificate of Naturalization
- Certificate of Citizenship
- Full validity, undamaged U.S. passport
- Full validity means the document is or was valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for children under 16.
If you don’t have or cannot submit one of these documents, visit the State Department’s Citizen Evidence webpage: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/citizenship-evidence.html
It’s important to note that it takes up to four weeks for your documents to be returned to you.
You will also need to provide a passport photo. More info on that here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/photos.html
Sadly, passports are not free, so you should take a moment to figure out how much you will pay: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/fees.html
Combined fees start at $165.
You can now apply for passport renewal online
Some people can renew their passports online!
According to the State Department, you can renew online if you meet all these requirements:
- The passport you are renewing is or was valid for 10 years, and you are age 25 or older.
- We issued the passport you are renewing between 2009 and 2015. The passport was issued over 9 years but less than 15 years from the date you plan to submit your application.
- You are not changing your name, gender, date of birth, or place of birth.
- You are not traveling for at least 6 weeks from the date you will submit your application.
- You are applying for a regular (tourist) passport.
- You live in the United States (either state or territory).
- You have your passport with you, and it is not damaged or mutilated, and you have not reported it as lost or stolen. Keep your most recent passport and do not mail it to us.
- You can pay for your passport using a credit or debit card.
- You can upload a digital passport photo.
- You are aware that we will cancel the passport you are renewing after you submit your application.
If you don’t meet these requirements, you may still be able to apply via mail or in person.
What if I need my passport right away?
If you really feel the urge to flee — erm, head out on vacation — the government can help you with that. You can apply for expedited passport processing if you have a life-or-death emergency or are traveling internationally within 14 days of your appointment (you need to provide printed proof, like an airline ticket).
You can make an appointment online here: https://passportappointment.travel.state.gov/. You cannot walk in, and there is an additional $60 fee.
There are private companies that can expedite your passport application for an additional fee, but we highly recommend you do the process yourself.
Now you wait
If you didn’t apply for expedited service, you’re going to have to wait a bit. During the Trump administration, and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a months-long backlog which has since been cleared. Routine passport applications can now be processed in 4-6 weeks. As of this writing, there are eight weeks until Jan. 20, 2025. Just in case that information happens to be important to you.
Having a passport literally opens up the world to you, so don’t delay — apply for or renew your U.S. passport today!