First-Time Adult Passport Checklist (2026)
Last updated: September 1, 2026
Your printable checklist
- Form DS-11 completed but unsigned
- Proof of U.S. citizenship (certified birth certificate, prior passport, or naturalization certificate)
- Valid photo ID plus a photocopy (front and back on one page if needed)
- One compliant 2×2 color photo taken within six months
- Payment for the application fee (check or money order to U.S. Department of State)
- Separate payment for the execution fee to the acceptance facility
Steps at a glance
- Find an acceptance facility and note whether you need an appointment.
- Gather citizenship evidence and photo ID originals plus one ID photocopy.
- Get a compliant 2×2 photo or plan to buy one near the facility.
- Complete DS-11 online or by hand but do not sign until instructed.
- Bring two payments if the site requires separate checks.
First-time adults apply in person on Form DS-11 at a passport acceptance facility. Nobody mails this form from home unless official instructions say otherwise for a narrow exception.
The clerk checks your originals, keeps a photocopy of your ID, and sends the packet to the State Department. You pay the application fee to the U.S. government and the execution fee to the facility.
Use this checklist the night before your appointment. Missing one item is the most common reason a visit takes twice as long.
What happens if you are missing a document
If you forget citizenship proof or your ID, the facility will turn you away. If your photo fails the rules, you may need a reprint before they accept the file. Fix only what they list on a rejection letter. Do not submit a second unrelated application.
Fee estimate: first-time adult passport cost. Full hub: passport documents.
FAQs for this scenario
Can I sign DS-11 at home?
No. Sign when the acceptance agent tells you to. A home signature is a common rejection reason.
Do I need my old passport?
Only if it is your citizenship evidence. First-time applicants often use a certified birth certificate instead.
Can I pay both fees with one check?
Many facilities want separate payments to different payees. Call ahead and ask what they accept.
Where do I apply?
Use the official facility locator for post offices, clerks, and libraries near you.
See first-time adult fees
Application, execution, and optional expedite in one total.
first-time adult passport cost