U.S. PASSPORT CARD
U.S. PASSPORT CARD APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED BEGINNING FEBRUARY 1
U.S. citizens may begin applying in advance for the new U.S. Passport Card beginning February 1, 2008,
in anticipation of land border travel document requirements. We expect cards will be available and mailed to applicants in late summer or early fall 2008.
The passport card will facilitate entry and expedite document processing at U.S. land and sea ports-of-entry when arriving
from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. The card may not be used to travel by air. It will otherwise carry the rights and privileges of the U.S. passport book and will be adjudicated to the exact same standards.
The Department of State is issuing this passport card in response to the needs of border resident communities for a less expensive
and more portable alternative to the traditional passport book. The card will have the same validity period as a passport
book: 10 years for an adult, five for children 15 and younger. For adults who already have a passport book, they may apply
for the card as a passport renewal and pay only $20. First-time applicants will pay $45 for adult cards and $35 for children.
Identification requirements:
- If born in the
United States, you must
provide a certified copy of your birth certificate.
(ITEMS NOT
ACCEPTABLE include: a hospital certificate, baptism, or
notification-of-birth and California abstracts of birth.)
- If
born in a
foreign country, you must provide a certificate of citizenship or
naturalization.
- Valid
Driver's
license. (NOTE: A temporary paper driver license is not acceptable.)
See page 2 of DS-11 for further information.
- Federal/State
Identification card with current name.
Requirements for Children:
- An
applicant 16-17 years old must
personally appear and have at least one legal parent &
signature.
- Children
under 16 years
old must personally appear and have both legal parents &
signatures, prior passport (if any), and certified birth certificate
showing parents names.
- Social
Security number must
be provided for all passport applicants!
- Parents must appear
and
sign for a minor and provide current identification and proof of
relationship to child (such as birth certificate) when minor is
under the age of 18.
- EFFECTIVE Nov 1, 2004-
Whether DS-3053 form is used, or the same information is provided on
other paper, the Statement of Consent by
non-applying parents, for
children under the age of 16, must be
notarized.
The purpose is to prevent forgery and ensure that the person
signing the Statement has been properly identified. This will
further
reduce the possibility of a U.S. passport being used in any
effort to interfere with the custodial rights of non-applying parents.
Photograph Requirements:
- Two
identical U.S. passport photos are required
- Passport
photographs must
have been taken in the last 6 months.
- Pictures
must be in color
and on a white or light colored background.
- Pictures
must be
two-inches
square. (image size of head must be between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches
including hair.) See a qualified
passport photographer.
- Do
not sign
or separate photographs before applying for passport.
-
Photographs can be taken prior to turning in your passport application or we can take them at the courthouse.
-
Photographs taken at the courthouse are $15 with no waiting time. Photos are ready in just 5 min.
Renewals (for adults only):
