Office of International Affairs

Get a Passport

Having a passport already in hand will facilitate studies abroad, broaden your worldview and open doors to countless international opportunities.

Quick Facts

  • Nearly 20 percent of Ohio State undergraduates have a global education experience before they graduate
  • About 42 percent of United States citizens have a valid passport
  • As part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, U.S. citizens need a passport to travel by air, land or sea to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean
  • The Canadian border is a four-hour drive from Columbus, Ohio

Tutorial 


How to Apply

You must apply for a passport in person if:

  • Your previous U.S. passport was issued when you were 16 or younger
  • Your previous U.S. passport was lost, stolen or damaged
  • Your previous U.S. passport was issued more than 15 years ago
  • Your name has changed since your U.S. passport was issued and you are unable to legally document your name change

You can apply for a passport in person at the main post office located at 850 Twin Rivers Dr. Passport processing hours are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturday 8 - 1 p.m. Appointments are required. Other nearby post offices that are passport acceptance agencies can be found at iafdb.travel.state.gov. Note: There is currently no passport agent at the university post office.

Application Checklist

There are several components to your application that you will need to bring with you to the post office:

  • A completed DS-11 form. Go online to the U.S. Department of State website to fill out the form. Print it out, but do not sign it until you arrive at the acceptance facility.
  • Two passport photos. You will need to provide two identical color photographs to be used in your passport. These photos must be two inches square and taken within the past six months (reflecting your current appearance, with your full face front) in normal street attire in front of a plain white or off-white background.
  • Proof that you are a U.S. citizen. Acceptable forms of citizenship include:
    • Previously issued, undamaged U.S. passport
    • Certified birth certificate (if you do not have a copy of your birth certificate, you can go online to obtain one)
    • Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
    • Naturalization certificate
    • Certificate of citizenship
  • Proof of your identity. Acceptable forms of identification include:
    • Previously issued, undamaged U.S. passport
    • Naturalization certificate
    • Valid driver's license
    • Current government ID (city, state or federal)
    • Current military ID (military or dependent)
  • Fee payment. The standard fee for applicants over the age of 16 is $110. There may be an additional $35 charge from the passport acceptance facility. It can take up to 18 weeks to receive your passport after submitting your application. If you would like your passport to arrive within 12 weeks after you submit your application, you can pay a $60 expedition fee.

Passport Renewal

If you currently have a passport, check the expiration date. Most countries require that your passport be valid at least six months beyond the end date of your global education program. To renew a previously issued passport, visit the U.S. Department of State website.