Form DS-11 - US Passport Application

What Form DS-11 is

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, in person. This template is the DS-11 04-2025 edition. As of October 3, 2026, the PDF served on the State Department's official DS-11 download carries the same 04-2025 edition date.

The DS-11 cannot be mailed in. You complete it ahead of time, then present it at a passport acceptance facility, a passport agency (by appointment only), or a U.S. embassy or consulate if you are abroad.

Who needs to use it

According to Section A of the form's instructions, you must apply in person on the 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 16, was issued more than 15 years ago, or was lost, stolen, or damaged

If none of these apply, you may be able to renew instead. Eligible adults can renew by mail with Form DS-82, and as of October 2026 the State Department also offers online passport renewal for applicants who meet its criteria, such as being age 25 or older and located in the United States. Check the full eligibility list on that page.

What to bring with the form

• Proof of U.S. citizenship: an original or certified copy, plus a photocopy of the front and back. Examples listed on the form include a qualifying U.S. birth certificate, a fully valid undamaged U.S. passport (may be expired), a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship.
• Proof of identity: the original document plus a front and back photocopy, such as a driver's license (not a temporary or learner's permit), a previous passport, or a military ID.
• One color photo, 2x2 inches, taken within the last six months. The form says eyeglasses are not acceptable unless you submit a signed doctor's statement.
• Fees, paid at the appointment (see below).
• For applicants under 16, both parents or guardians generally appear in person. If only one can, the form lists alternatives such as the other parent's notarized consent on Form DS-3053.

How to fill out Form DS-11 online with PDF Editify

Click "Fill Template Now," type into the fields, then download and print the PDF. The form asks for black ink if you complete it by hand, and it says that if you make an error you should complete a new form rather than correct or white it out. Typing your answers before printing avoids that problem.

Application page 1

• Product selection: passport book, passport card, or both, and a regular or large book. The card is not valid for international air travel.
• Items 1 to 6: name, date of birth, sex, place of birth, Social Security number, and USCIS A-Number if you have one. The current instructions say the sex marker must be "M" or "F" corresponding to biological sex at birth.
• Items 7 and 8: email and mailing address. For a child, use the "In Care Of" line for the parent.
• Item 9: other names you have used, such as a maiden name.
• Skip the identifying documents and signature blocks at the bottom of page 1.

Application page 2

Your parents' names, dates and places of birth, and citizenship; marriage details if you have ever been married; additional phone numbers; occupation and employer or school; height, hair color, and eye color; permanent address; an emergency contact; and details of any previous passport book or card, including whether it was lost or stolen and how.

Do not sign it in advance

This is the most important rule for the DS-11. The instructions say: do not sign the form until the authorized agent asks you to. The agent administers an oath and watches you sign. Do not use an electronic signature on this form and do not sign the printed copy before your appointment.

Fees

Passport fees are set by law and regulation and change from time to time. They are collected when you apply, and, according to the form, the execution fee is paid separately to the acceptance facility in the payment method it accepts. Current amounts are on the State Department's passport fees page.

Common mistakes

• Signing the form before the appointment
• Forgetting the photocopies of the citizenship and ID documents
• Using a photo older than six months, or wearing glasses in it
• Using the DS-11 when you qualify for a simpler renewal, or the DS-82 when you do not
• Bringing only one parent for a child under 16 without the required consent or documents

For a step-by-step walkthrough, see our DS-11 guide.