Getting a United States passport is your first step in becoming a world traveler. Passports are needed to enter and leave most foreign countries. Applying for a passport involves several steps but it is not complicated. It usually takes six weeks to obtain your passport.

Appear in Person

To apply for a passport for the first time, or to replace a stolen or expired passport, an applicant must appear in person, with the required documentation and pay the non-refundable fees. For 2005, the current fee for a routine passport is $97 for persons age 16 and older (valid for 10 years); $82 for those under 16 (valid for 5 years).

Application Process

First, you need to pick up an application at a designated location - local post offices, passport agencies, and even some courthouses. A list of locations is available in most local phone books and at the U.S. Department of State’s website; online applications may be printed from the website.

Information needed to complete the application includes residence, previous names used, social security number, it also asks father’s and mother’s names and birthplaces, so it is advised to fill out the form at home where information is more readily obtained. The application needs to be signed in front of the person receiving it, so applicants are cautioned not to sign it ahead of time. The application is four pages in length. There are three pages of instructions for the one-page fill-in-the-box form. Proof of citizenship (a certified birth certificate) and proof of identity (valid driver’s license with picture) will need to be furnished in person when the application is submitted.

The applicant will also need to provide two passport photos. Many one-hour photo shops offer passport photos, as do some postal facilities. The photos must be identical, two inches by two inches in size. The latest application from the US State Department says the photos must be in color, although in previous years, black and white photos were also acceptable.

For a frequent traveler abroad, extra pages in the passport may be requested at no additional charge. A signed request for a 48-page passport will need to be attached to the application.

Expedited service is available for travelers who need a passport sooner than the routine service of six weeks. To receive the passport in two weeks, the applicant will need to pay an additional fee (currently $60) plus two-way overnight delivery charges. Anyone can request the expedited service, as long as the fees are paid.

Some countries require that a passport be valid for at least six months beyond the travel dates. It is advisable to check with the nearest Embassy or Consulate of the countries to be visited to obtain the necessary travel information.

For a renewal passport, the application may be mailed IF the passport is still valid and, if necessary, documentation can be provided for any name changes. The previous passport must not be damaged or altered in any way.

All persons of all ages, even newborns, are required to have a passport for exiting and re-entering the United States. A recent change in the law concerns re-entering the US from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean – a passport is now required for re-entry. Most airlines usually request a passport when traveling anywhere outside the US.