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Passports

Entering a Foreign Country

You need to prove your citizenship and identity when you enter a foreign country. Generally, you satisfy this requirement by presenting your passport. Certain countries, such as Canada and Mexico, allow Americans to present other documents that prove citizenship and identity. Your passport must remain valid for the time you are staying abroad.

NOTE: Some countries require the passport to be valid at least six months beyond the return date.

Passport Application

Complete instructions and applications for obtaining or renewing a passport are provided by the U.S. Department of State at: http://travel.state.gov/passport/index.html. Generally, first time application is done by mail.

Passport Application Locations

There are many public locations where you may apply for a passport. To search for one in your area, visit: http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/

Timeline

The time for processing a passport application averages six weeks but can range from four to eight weeks, depending on the season.

If you need a passport in less than two weeks, you should contact a passport agency. Appointments are usually required, and there is an additional fee for expedited processing.

Click here for a list of passport agencies.