The U.S. Department of State’s Passport Services Directorate issues U.S. passports to traveling Americans. Passports are a request to foreign governments to permit you to travel, and also allow you to re-enter the United States.
A passport book or card is proof of identity and U.S. citizenship. U.S. citizens can use each as follows:
n The passport book for all international travel by air, land, or sea.
n The passport card to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda, and at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry. U.S. citizens cannot use the passport card for international air travel. The wallet-size passport card is convenient and less expensive than the passport book.
Whether you plan to apply for a first-time passport book, passport card, or both, submitting your passport application is easy. The United States Postal Service® makes it convenient to apply for a passport with the Retail Customer Appointment Scheduler (RCAS) tool. Customers now have the opportunity to self-schedule a first-time passport application appointment through a variety of options:
n Online or on a mobile device at usps.com/scheduler.
n At any one of the 2700 Self-Service Kiosks (SSKs).
n At the Retail counter of more than 17,000 select Post Offices.
The RCAS tool guides you through the appointment process in four easy steps:
1. Choose a service.
2. Find available appointments.
3. Select your appointment time.
4. Provide contact information.
The RCAS tool will display available appointment times for participating Post Office™ locations that offer passport appointment services within the selected radius. Users will receive notifications of their scheduled appointment via email or text.
If you are renewing your passport, you do not need to make an appointment for the renewal. Simply take your documents and payment to the nearest Post Office and mail everything to the U.S. Department of State using Priority Mail® or Priority Mail Express® service. You may also be able to renew online at travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html.
For best results, follow these passport and international travel tips:
n Apply for your passport book or card early.
n Check the expiration date of your current passport. U.S. passports are issued to adults for 10 years and children under the age of 16 for 5 years.
n Visit the Department of State website (travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html) for the following information:
n Find out how to apply for or renew your passport.
n Get passport fees and forms.
n Track your application.
n Report your passport lost or stolen.
n Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program at step.state.gov/step. U.S. citizens and nationals who travel and live abroad can use this free service to register their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
n For up-to-date information on when you will get your passport, see processing times at travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/processing-times.html.
n If you need your passport quickly, see Get My Passport Fast at travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/get-fast.html.
— Retail Services,
Delivery and Retail Customer Service Operations, 1-26-23
