If your most recent passport was issued more than 15 years ago, you cannot use Form DS-82 to renew it. You must submit a new adult passport application in person using Form DS-11, the same form used by anyone applying for a passport for the first time. That means a visit to an authorized acceptance facility, a different set of documents, and a $35 acceptance fee on top of the standard $130 application fee.
The good news: your old passport can still serve as proof of U.S. citizenship in most cases, so you may not need to track down your birth certificate. GOv+ can help you determine whether that’s true, prepare your docs, and guide you through the passport application process.
Form DS-82 is the commonly used passport renewal form. It works for eligible adults who have an existing U.S. passport in hand. To use DS-82, ALL four of the following must be true:
A passport from 20 years ago fails the first condition. It doesn't matter when it expired. The State Department looks at the issue date, not the expiration date. And if the issue date was over 15 years ago, you need to apply with DS-11.
DS-11 is used by first-time adult applicants and by anyone who doesn't qualify for DS-82 renewal. The key difference is the process: DS-11 requires in-person submission at an authorized acceptance facility, with an acceptance agent who verifies your identity and witnesses your signature.
The quick comparison:
In-person application means visiting an authorized passport acceptance facility to submit your DS-11 package. These are different from passport agencies and centers. They are usually post offices, public libraries, clerks of court, or other local government offices authorized by the State Department to accept applications.
The State Department's acceptance facility locator lets you search by ZIP code.
Many facilities require appointments. Post offices especially tend to book slots in advance rather than accepting walk-ins. Check the specific facility's scheduling requirements before you go; showing up unannounced often means a wasted trip.
Do not sign Form DS-11 before your appointment. The form instructs you explicitly not to sign it ahead of time. Your acceptance agent will administer a brief oath and then witness your signature in person. Signing early can void your application.
The acceptance agent handles verification. They review your documents, confirm your identity, collect your completed form, fees, and photo, and then mail the full package to the State Department on your behalf. Their job is to catch problems before submission. If something is missing or incorrect, you'll find out at the facility rather than weeks later.
With GOV+ guidance, you can submit DS11 error-free, without wasting time on navigating government websites.
If travel is coming up soon, take a different route. Standard acceptance facilities process routine and expedited applications, both of which have processing windows measured in weeks. If you're traveling internationally within 14 calendar days, you need an appointment at a U.S. passport agency or center instead, a more limited network with specific appointment requirements.
If you need your passport faster, our GOV+ Courier service Through Premier Passports LLC can get you back on the road in as little as 3 business days from the time we receive your documents.
A complete application package prevents a second trip. DS-11 has seven components, and a missing item at the facility means your application can't be submitted that day.
1. Form DS-11, completed but unsigned
Fill it out using the State Department's Form Filler tool on a desktop or laptop computer. Print it single-sided. Do not double-side print; the State Department won't accept double-sided forms. Again, do not sign it until your acceptance agent tells you to.
2. Proof of U.S. citizenship
You need one of the following, in original form:
3. A photocopy of your citizenship evidence
Whatever document you use to prove citizenship, you also need a photocopy of it. If you're submitting your old passport, bring a photocopy of the bio data page.
4. A government-issued photo ID
A driver's license is the most common. A U.S. military ID, government employee ID, and certain other forms are also accepted. Bring a second photo ID if your license was issued in a different state from where you're applying.
5. A photocopy of your photo ID, front and back
On 8.5" x 11" single-sided paper.
6. One passport photo
Passport photo requirements are specific: 2 inches by 2 inches, taken against a white or off-white background, within the last six months, with a neutral expression. Some acceptance facilities offer photo services on site; others don't. Confirm before your appointment to avoid scrambling.
7. Payment
Two separate payments are required. The State Department application fee is paid by check or money order made out to "U.S. Department of State," with the applicant's name and date of birth written on the memo line. The $35 acceptance fee is paid separately to the facility. Accepted payment methods vary by location, so check ahead.
Unlike DS-82 renewal by mail, which has no acceptance facility fee, DS-11 involves two payments: one to the State Department for processing, and one to the acceptance facility for submitting your application. These must be paid separately.
The $35 acceptance fee is charged once per DS-11 application. If you apply for a passport book and a passport card at the same time, both are submitted as a single DS-11 application, so you pay the $35 acceptance fee once rather than twice.
For a full breakdown of passport fees across every scenario, including what's refundable and what isn't, the GOV+ fee guide covers the complete picture.
The State Department's current stated processing times for DS-11 applications are:
Mailing time adds to both estimates. It can take up to two weeks for your application to reach the processing center after the facility mails it, and another two weeks for your new passport to reach you after it's issued. For routine service, the realistic total window from appointment date to delivery runs 8-10 weeks.
If you have a trip coming up within a few weeks, plan around the expedite option at minimum. Expediting moves you to the faster processing window and many travelers choose expedited service when they need the passport sooner.
For applicants traveling internationally within 14 calendar days, a different path opens: an appointment at a U.S. passport agency or center, where same-day or next-day processing is available. These appointments are more limited than acceptance facility slots and need to be booked as soon as your travel timeline becomes urgent..
Yes, in most cases. An expired U.S. passport qualifies as proof of citizenship on Form DS-11 as long as it was originally issued for full validity and is undamaged. You don't need your birth certificate if the old passport meets both conditions.
Full validity means the passport was issued for 10 years, the standard term for adult passports. Passports issued for limited validity, typically 1-2 years for applicants with certain restrictions, do not qualify.
Undamaged means no water stains, significant tears, missing pages, or unauthorized markings on the data page. Normal wear from carrying it in a wallet or bag doesn't count as damage.
When you apply using your old passport as citizenship evidence, you submit the original. The State Department returns it separately after your new passport is issued, typically within a few weeks of that mailing. It comes back with a hole punch through it to indicate it's been cancelled, but the data pages remain readable.
If your old passport is missing, damaged, or was only issued for limited validity, you'll need to provide alternative citizenship evidence. A certified birth certificate is the most common substitute.
GOV+ makes the in-person passport process straightforward. Fill out a simple online form and we'll prepare your complete DS-11 application package, so your acceptance facility visit goes smoothly the first time.
Start your DS-11 passport application with GOV+.
Yes, as long as it was originally issued for 10 years (full validity) and is undamaged. You submit the original with your DS-11 application, and the State Department returns it separately after your new passport is issued. If your old passport is damaged, missing, or was only issued for a limited period, you'll need a certified birth certificate or Certificate of Naturalization instead.
It depends on the facility. Many post offices and libraries require appointments and don't accept walk-ins. Some local government offices do take walk-ins, but confirming ahead of time saves a wasted trip. The acceptance facility locator shows contact details for each location so you can check their current scheduling policy.
You'll need an appointment at a U.S. passport agency or center rather than a standard acceptance facility. The State Department limits these appointments to applicants with international travel within 14 calendar days. Agency appointments are more limited than acceptance facility slots and can be hard to get on short notice, so book as soon as you know your trip is coming. GOV+ can help you with expedited processing, being a Registered Passport courier with the U.S. Department of State.
A passport card is valid for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and some Caribbean countries. It cannot be used for international air travel. If you apply for both the book and card together, the combined adult application cost is $195 before any expedite fee. Whether it's worth adding depends on how often you cross into those destinations by land or sea.
The State Department returns it in a separate mailing, usually within a few weeks of issuing your new passport. It comes back with a hole punched through it to show it's been cancelled, but the pages remain intact. Keep it. It documents your citizenship evidence submission and serves as a record of your travel history and any visa stamps from that period.
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