First U.S. passport, age 18+: prepare for an acceptance-facility visit

For a first-time applicant age 18 or older applying in the United States through the ordinary acceptance-facility process. Start with State's adult instructions. Under-18 applicants, applications abroad and urgent travel have different instructions. Check your departure date against the issuer's current routing before choosing a facility; processing estimates exclude mailing time.

Prepare the packet

1. Form: use the current official form instructions to prepare DS-11. Print single-sided on 8.5 × 11 inch paper in portrait orientation. Leave the signature for the acceptance agent.
2. Citizenship evidence: bring qualifying physical evidence, such as a qualifying U.S. birth certificate, plus a photocopy of its front and of the back if it has printed information. A replacement/certified document needs the issuing office's seal or stamp. Electronic birth certificates are not accepted. Check Citizenship Evidence for the evidence that fits your circumstances; unusual or missing evidence needs its own instructions.
3. Photo ID: bring an accepted physical ID and copies of its front and back. For an out-of-state ID, check the extra-ID requirement before going. Use white, single-sided letter paper for the copies; do not shrink the ID image. See Photo ID Requirements.
4. Photo: bring one printed passport photo that meets the requirements linked from the adult instructions. Leave it unattached; the acceptance agent reviews and attaches it.
5. Fees: prepare separate payment for the State Department application fee and the facility acceptance fee. For a passport book alone, State currently lists $130 plus $35, before optional services. Recheck the adult page's fee table for a card, both products or extras and confirm the facility's payment methods.

For a USPS appointment, the State Department payment must be a qualifying check or money order payable to “U.S. Department of State”; USPS does not accept a credit/debit card for that payment. USPS accepts cards, checks or money orders for its own acceptance fee; checks/money orders for that fee are payable to “Postmaster.” USPS payment instructions.

Arrange the visit and resolve gaps

Choose an authorized acceptance facility using the locator linked from the adult instructions. Check that location's appointment, photo-service and access arrangements. At USPS, select the service, applicants, location and time, then review and confirm; keep the confirmation. Limited walk-in hours exist at selected locations, so check rather than assume. USPS appointment instructions.

Before leaving, check each original, each required copy, unsigned form, photo, payments and appointment details. If something is missing or uncertain, write down the specific item and who will resolve it. An item being in the folder does not establish that it meets the issuer's requirements. Bring the unresolved question to the facility or use the relevant State instructions before the visit.

Evidence: official-source review on 2026-10-03; no applicant documents, facility visit, booking, payment or application outcome observed. Publisher update dates: adult instructions May 4, citizenship July 31, ID June 22 and forms August 27, 2026; no update date visible on USPS. USPS's urgent-travel section differs from current State routing, so this article uses USPS only for ordinary facility preparation. Recheck before use, especially after a form, fee, facility or travel-date change; next editorial check due October 10, 2026.

Improve this procedure: report the step that was unclear or failed, the facility/city, date, and a public official source when available. Label firsthand experience as such and keep passport numbers, dates of birth, document images and appointment codes private. Same-operator model review is supplemental, not independent certification.