Form DS-11 — Application for a U.S. Passport

What is Form DS-11?

Form DS-11, Application for a U.S. Passport, is the U.S. Department of State form used to apply in person for a U.S. passport book, a passport card, or both. You must use it if you are applying for your first U.S. passport, if you are under age 16, or if your previous passport was issued when you were under 16, was issued more than 15 years ago, or was lost, stolen or damaged. If none of those apply, the form says you may be able to use Form DS-82 or DS-5504 instead.

The DS-11 is different from most forms because it is never mailed on its own. You take the completed, unsigned form to an acceptance facility, a passport agency (by appointment only), or a U.S. embassy, consulate or consular agency if you are abroad. The authorized agent administers an oath and watches you sign it, then collects your fees. You bring a recent 2x2 inch color photo, your original proof of U.S. citizenship and your photo ID with photocopies of the front and back.

FileIt walks you through every item on the DS-11 in plain language and prints your answers onto the State Department's own official PDF, ready to print. It pre-fills names, dates of birth, places of birth and addresses from the People records in your vault — handy when you are filling out applications for several children at once — and saves the finished PDF to that person's vault folder. FileIt never submits the application; you take it to your appointment and sign it there.

Who needs to fill out Form DS-11?

• Anyone applying for their first U.S. passport book or passport card.
• All children under age 16, who must appear in person with their parent(s) or legal guardian(s).
• Teens aged 16 and 17 applying for a passport; at least one parent or guardian must know about the application.
• Adults whose previous passport was issued when they were under 16.
• Adults whose previous passport was issued more than 15 years ago.
• Anyone whose previous passport was lost, stolen or damaged.
• People who have changed their name and are not eligible to use Form DS-82 or DS-5504.

When to use Form DS-11

• Well before any international trip, since you must book an appointment and appear in person. Check travel.state.gov for current processing times.
• When a new baby or young child needs a passport — every renewal before age 16 also uses the DS-11.
• When your child turns 16 and their passport issued under 16 needs replacing: the DS-11 is required again because it was issued under age 16.
• After a passport is lost or stolen, together with an explanation of the loss in Item 21.
• If your last passport is more than 15 years old and so can no longer be renewed by mail.

What you need before you start

• Original proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a U.S. birth certificate that meets the form's requirements, a fully valid undamaged U.S. passport, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship — plus a photocopy of the front and back.
• Original photo identification, such as a driver's license (not a temporary or learner's permit), plus a photocopy of the front and back.
• One color photo, 2x2 inches, taken in the last six months, meeting the State Department's photo rules (plain white or off-white background, no eyeglasses).
• Your Social Security number, if one has ever been issued to you.
• Your parents' names, dates and places of birth, and whether they are U.S. citizens.
• Details of your current or most recent spouse and marriage date, if you have ever been married.
• Your height, hair color, eye color, occupation and employer or school.
• An emergency contact who is not traveling with you.
• Details of any previous U.S. passport book or card, including the passport itself if you have it.
• For a child under 16: proof of the parental relationship, both parents' ID, and — if only one parent can attend — the other parent's notarized consent (such as Form DS-3053) or evidence of sole authority.

What’s on Form DS-11

The 2025 edition has 6 pages. FileIt asks for it in 8 parts:

1. Document(s) you're applying forApplicant
2. Items 1–9: About youApplicant
3. Item 10: Parental informationApplicant
4. Item 11: MarriageApplicant
5. Items 12–18: Contact, occupation, description and travel plansApplicant
6. Item 19: Permanent addressApplicant
7. Item 20: Your emergency contactApplicant
8. Item 21: Previous U.S. passport book or cardApplicant

How to fill out Form DS-11, step by step

1 Select document(s) for which you are submitting fees

Choose a U.S. passport book, a passport card, or both. The book is valid for international travel by air, land and sea. The card is not valid for international air travel — it can only be used at land border crossings and seaports of entry when traveling from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean.

If you choose a book, pick the regular (standard) book or the large (non-standard) book. The large book is for frequent international travelers who need more visa pages. Current fees for each option are listed on travel.state.gov.

2 Items 1–9: Name, date of birth, sex, place of birth, SSN, A-Number, email, mailing address and phone

Enter your name as it should appear in the passport, consistent with your proof of citizenship and ID. The card has room for only 24 letters of given names (first and middle), so shorten one if needed. Enter your date of birth, and select the sex marker M or F that, as the form states, corresponds with your biological sex at birth. For place of birth, give the city and state if in the U.S., or city and country as presently known.

Item 5 asks for your Social Security number, which you must give if one has been issued to you. If you have never been issued one, enter zeros and attach the signed, dated statement the form requires. Item 6 is your USCIS A-Number, if you have one. For the mailing address, if you don't live there, write "In Care Of" and the name of the person who does; for a child, write "In Care Of" the parent. Providing an email and phone number means you agree to receive messages about your application status.

List all other legal names you have used — birth name, maiden name, previous married names or legal name changes. Attach a separate sheet if you need more room.

3 Item 10: Parental information

Give each parent's first, middle and last name at the time of their birth, plus their date and place of birth, sex, and whether they are a U.S. citizen. Leave anything you genuinely don't know blank rather than guessing.

4 Item 11: Have you ever been married?

If yes, give the full name of your current or most recent spouse, their date and place of birth, whether they are a U.S. citizen, the date of marriage, and whether you have ever been widowed or divorced (with the date).

5 Items 12–18: Additional phone, occupation, employer or school, height, hair color, eye color and travel plans

Add another contact number if you have one. Occupation is asked only if you are 16 or older. Enter your height in feet and inches, and your hair and eye color. For travel plans, give your departure and return dates and the countries you plan to visit; if you have no travel plans, write "None".

6 Item 19: Permanent address

Complete this only if your mailing address in Item 8 is a P.O. Box, or if you live somewhere other than your mailing address. Do not list a P.O. Box here.

7 Item 20: Your emergency contact

Give the name, address, phone number and relationship of someone who is not traveling with you and can be contacted in an emergency.

8 Item 21: Have you ever applied for or been issued a U.S. passport book or passport card?

If yes, give the name printed on your most recent book and/or card and its status: submitting with application, stolen, lost, or in your possession (if expired). If you are submitting it, bring it to your appointment.

If your most recent book or card was lost or stolen, explain in detail: the previous passport number, and the date and location of the loss or theft, if known. Say whether you filed a police report and include a copy if you have one. Continue on a separate sheet if you need more space.

9 Identifying documents and signature (leave blank)

The bottom section of Application Page 1 is for the acceptance agent. The form's instructions say to skip it. Most importantly, do not sign the application until the authorized agent asks you to — they administer the oath and witness your signature.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Signing the form before your appointment. The form says not to sign until the authorized agent asks you to.
• Correcting errors with white-out or crossing out. The form says to complete a new form if you make an error — easy to do if you fill it out with FileIt and simply print a fresh copy.
• Printing double-sided or using the wrong ink. Print single-sided and, if writing by hand, use black ink only.
• Forgetting the front-and-back photocopies of your citizenship evidence and photo ID.
• Bringing a photo that doesn't meet the rules — older than six months, with eyeglasses, a uniform, or a non-white background.
• Using a name that doesn't match your proof of citizenship and ID, or leaving out previous names.
• For a child under 16, turning up with only one parent and no notarized consent from the other parent or evidence of sole authority.
• Choosing only a passport card when you plan to fly internationally — the card is not valid for international air travel.

After you fill it out

Print the completed form single-sided, attach your 2x2 color photo and gather your original citizenship evidence, photo ID and photocopies. Schedule an appointment at an acceptance facility, a passport agency, or — if you are abroad — a U.S. embassy or consulate. At the appointment the agent administers the oath, witnesses you signing the form and collects the passport fee; the form notes that the execution fee is paid separately to the acceptance facility.

You can track your application status online at passportstatus.state.gov, as the form explains. Your new passport and your returned citizenship evidence may arrive in separate mailings, and a new passport will have a different number than your previous one.

FileIt saves a copy of the completed application in that family member's vault folder. When the new passport arrives, add it to the vault too, so the whole family's passports are in one place — especially useful for children's passports, which must be replaced with a new DS-11 rather than renewed by mail.

Form DS-11: frequently asked questions

Official sources

• Blank form (PDF), published by U.S. Department of State: https://eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds11_pdf.pdf
• Official instructions and guidance: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply.html
• Edition shown on this page: DS-11 04-2025 (OMB 1405-0004, expires 06/30/2028) (checked 2026-09-25).

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by U.S. Department of State or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-09-25.

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