Form DS-11, Application for a U.S. Passport, is the U.S. Department of State form for applying for a passport book, a passport card or both. You use it if you are applying for your first passport, are under age 16, or your previous passport was issued under age 16, issued more than 15 years ago, or lost, stolen or damaged. On FillingPDF you can fill out the form online and download or print the completed PDF; the Department of State publishes the original at eforms.state.gov, and you present the form in person at your appointment.
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What is DS-11?
Form DS-11, Application for a U.S. Passport, is the U.S. Department of State form used to apply in person for a U.S. passport book, a U.S. passport card or both. The passport is a travel document attesting to identity, issued to U.S. citizens and non-citizen U.S. nationals.
The form is submitted in person to an authorized agent at an acceptance facility, at a passport agency (by appointment only) or, if you are abroad, at a U.S. embassy, consulate or consular agency. It has two application pages and four pages of instructions, under OMB Control No. 1405-0004. The agent administers the oath, watches you sign and collects the passport fee.
The instructions explain the choice of product. The passport book is valid for international travel by air, land and sea. The passport card is not valid for international air travel; it is good only for entry at land border crossings and seaports of entry when traveling from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. The form also offers a Regular Book (Standard) and a Large Book (Non-Standard), the latter for frequent international travelers who need more visa pages.
Form DS-11 is not the only passport application. If none of its eligibility statements apply to you, the form says you may be eligible to apply with form DS-82 or DS-5504, depending on your circumstances. Applicants for no-fee regular, service, official or diplomatic passports may use it too, but must first ask their sponsoring agency about routing.
Who needs to file DS-11?
You must apply in person with Form DS-11 if at least one of these is true:
- you are applying for your first U.S. passport;
- you are under age 16;
- your previous U.S. passport was issued when you were under age 16;
- your previous U.S. passport was issued more than 15 years ago;
- your previous U.S. passport was lost, stolen or damaged.
If none of these applies, the form says you may be eligible to use form DS-82 or DS-5504 instead. If you have changed your name and are not eligible for DS-82 or DS-5504, you must use DS-11.
Applicants under age 16 must appear in person with their parent(s) or legal guardian(s). For applicants ages 16 and 17, at least one parent or legal guardian must know that you are applying. Applicants for no-fee regular, service, official or diplomatic passports may use the form if they meet all listed provisions, after consulting their sponsoring agency.
The form warns that you may be ineligible to receive a passport if you owe child support or have unpaid federal taxes.
When to file DS-11
You use Form DS-11 when you need a passport and one of its eligibility statements applies: a first passport, an applicant under age 16, or a previous passport issued under age 16, issued more than 15 years ago, or lost, stolen or damaged. The form prints no filing deadline. It is presented at an in-person appointment, so schedule the appointment first, on the Department of State website or by calling the National Passport Information Center (NPIC). Complete the form before you go but do not sign it until the authorized agent asks you to. The photo you attach must have been taken less than six months ago. For current processing times, visit travel.state.gov or contact NPIC. Expedite service is available for an additional fee, but only for passports mailed in the United States and Canada.
Documents you need
- Proof of U.S. citizenship: an original or certified copy plus a photocopy of the front and back (if printing is on the back), such as a U.S. birth certificate meeting the form's requirements, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship.
- A fully valid, undamaged U.S. passport (it may be expired) can serve as proof of citizenship.
- Secondary evidence of citizenship, only if the U.S. birth certificate was filed more than one year after birth or no birth record exists: a registrar's letter for no record, plus a combination of records such as a hospital birth record or early baptismal certificate.
- If born outside the United States: the documents listed for your basis of citizenship, such as parents' Certificates of Naturalization, a foreign birth certificate with an official translation if not in English, or Form DS-5507 for birth abroad to a U.S. citizen parent.
- Proof of identity: your original photo identification, such as a driver's license (not temporary or learner's permit), a previous or current U.S. passport, military ID or a government employee ID, with a front and back photocopy.
- One color photograph, 2x2 inches, taken less than six months ago, meeting the form's requirements.
- For applicants under age 16: evidence of the child's relationship to the parent(s) or guardian(s), and each parent's original government-issued photo ID with a front and back photocopy.
- If only one parent or guardian appears with a child under 16: a second-parent consent (notarized statement or DS-3053, signed and notarized the same day and no more than three months old, with photo ID copy), a death certificate, evidence of sole authority, or a statement or DS-5525 explaining why the second parent cannot be reached.
- If you do not have a Social Security number: a signed and dated statement with the phrase the instructions give, and zeros entered in the SSN field.
- If your most recent passport was lost or stolen: an explanation on Application Page 2, and a copy of the police report if one was filed and is available.
- Only if you wear a head covering or eyewear in the photo: a signed statement on religious attire or a doctor's statement for a head covering, or a doctor's statement explaining why you cannot remove glasses.
- If any of the "Acts or Conditions" listed on the form apply to you: a supplementary explanatory statement under oath or affirmation.
How to fill out DS-11
Choose your passport type
At the top of Application Page 1, mark U.S. Passport Book, U.S. Passport Card or Both. For a book, choose Regular Book (Standard) or Large Book (Non-Standard).
Enter your name
Item 1: enter the name to appear in the passport (Last, First, Middle), consistent with your proof of citizenship and identification. For a passport card, shorten one given name if both together exceed 24 characters.
Enter date of birth, sex and birthplace
Item 2: use MM/DD/YYYY. Item 3: select M or F, matching your biological sex at birth. Item 4: city and state if born in the U.S., or city and country as presently known.
Provide your Social Security number
Item 5: enter your SSN if you have been issued one. If you have none, enter zeros and attach a signed, dated statement with the required phrase; if you live abroad, also give the foreign country of residence.
Add A-Number and email
Item 6: enter your nine-digit USCIS A-Number only if you have one, otherwise leave it blank. Item 7: your email address, which lets the Department of State send status messages and travel information.
Enter your mailing address
Item 8: line 1 takes the Street/RFD #, P.O. Box or URB, plus apartment or suite. Line 2 is for the "In Care Of" name if you do not live there; for a minor, include the parent or adult registered to receive mail.
List phone number and other names
Item 9: enter your primary contact phone number, which also allows text messages about your passport. List all other legal names used, including birth, maiden and previous married names, in spaces A and B; attach a separate sheet if you need more.
Skip the bottom of page 1
Leave the identifying documents and signature blocks at the bottom of Application Page 1 as the instructions direct, and go to Application Page 2. Do not sign.
Complete Application Page 2
Fill in the remaining items. If you submit a previous passport, enter the name printed on your most recent book or card and mark its status; for a lost or stolen one, explain in detail with the number, date and location of the loss.
Review, download and print the PDF
Check every entry, leaving the signature blank. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF, staple your 2x2 photo where indicated, and add your supporting documents for the appointment.
How to submit DS-11
Form DS-11 is submitted in person, at an appointment, with your supporting documents. The channels are:
- Acceptance facility (inside the United States): find the nearest designated facility and schedule an appointment at travel.state.gov or by calling NPIC at 1-877-487-2778 (TDD/TTY: 1-888-874-7793). You can also write to [email protected].
- Passport agency: by appointment only.
- U.S. embassy, consulate or consular agency (outside the United States): in most countries you must apply in person for all passport services. Procedures differ, so check your embassy or consulate webpage through travel.state.gov.
At the appointment, present the completed form, one 2x2 inch color photograph and your supporting documents. The agent administers the oath, witnesses your signature and collects the passport fee. The form gives no mailing address for applications.
Passport fees are set by law, collected when you apply and non-refundable. The execution fee is paid separately, payable to the acceptance facility in the payment method it accepts. See travel.state.gov/passportfees for current amounts and payment methods. Track your application at Passportstatus.state.gov. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Signing the form before the authorized agent asks you to; the instructions say not to sign until the agent administers the oath.
- Correcting or whiting out an error. The form says to complete a new form instead, and to print legibly in black ink only.
- Choosing a sex marker that does not match your biological sex at birth; item 3 requires M or F corresponding to it.
- Leaving the Social Security number blank. If you have none, enter zeros and attach the signed, dated statement with the required perjury phrase.
- Submitting only a photocopy of your citizenship evidence; the instructions call for an original or certified copy plus a photocopy.
- Attaching a photo older than six months, or one with eyeglasses, a head covering or a uniform and no supporting statement.
- Bringing a child under 16 with only one parent and no second-parent consent, death certificate, sole-authority evidence or explanation statement.
- Paying the execution fee to the wrong payee; it is paid separately and made payable to the acceptance facility.
- Writing given names longer than 24 characters in item 1 when applying for a passport card; one of them must be shortened.
- Entering a name in item 1 that differs from your proof of citizenship and identification.
Frequently asked questions
What is Form DS-11 used for?
Form DS-11 is the U.S. Department of State application for a U.S. passport book, passport card or both. You use it when you apply in person for a first passport, when you are under age 16, or when your previous passport was issued under 16, issued over 15 years ago, or lost, stolen or damaged.
Can I mail Form DS-11?
No mailing option is printed on the form. Form DS-11 is presented in person to an authorized agent at an acceptance facility, a passport agency (by appointment only) or, abroad, a U.S. embassy or consulate. The agent administers the oath and witnesses your signature.
Should I sign Form DS-11 before my appointment?
No. The instructions say not to sign until the authorized agent asks you to, because the agent administers the oath and witnesses the signature. Complete the rest of the form beforehand and leave the signature areas blank.
What is the difference between Form DS-11 and DS-82?
DS-11 is for first-time applicants, applicants under 16, and those whose previous passport was issued under 16, over 15 years ago, or lost, stolen or damaged. The form says that if none of these applies, you may be eligible for DS-82 or DS-5504 instead.
What documents do I bring with Form DS-11?
Bring proof of U.S. citizenship (original or certified copy plus a photocopy), your original photo ID with a front and back photocopy, and one 2x2 inch color photo taken less than six months ago. Applicants under 16 also need proof of the parental relationship.
How much does a passport cost with Form DS-11?
Fees are set by law and regulation and are collected when you apply; they are non-refundable. The execution fee is paid separately to the acceptance facility. See travel.state.gov/passportfees for current amounts and payment methods.
Can a child apply with only one parent?
Yes, with extra documents. The parent must also submit one of: the second parent's notarized consent or DS-3053, the second parent's death certificate, evidence of sole authority, or a statement or DS-5525 explaining why the second parent cannot be reached.
Can I fill out Form DS-11 online on FillingPDF?
Yes. You can fill out the fillable PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not submit the form to the Department of State; you present it in person at your appointment.
What if I do not have a Social Security number?
Enter zeros in item 5 and submit a signed, dated statement containing the phrase: "I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the following is true and correct: I have never been issued a Social Security Number by the Social Security Administration."
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