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Due to the preliminary injunction by a federal court on September 14, 2026, which paused a new federal immigration rule change affecting international students and visiting scholars in the United States, immigration information on this website is subject to change. Ohio State is monitoring these developments and will update this website as additional information becomes available.

Apply for a passport

These instructions are for: 

  • First-time adult applicants age 18 and older who are U.S. citizens. 
  • Adults who do not qualify for renewal because their passport is: 
  • lost, stolen, or damaged, or issued over 15 years ago, or issued when they were under age 16. 

If you are an adult who qualifies for mail-in or online renewal, please visit the renew or replace a passport page. 

If you are 16-17 years old, your application will be treated like an adult, but you must  show one parent or legal guardian is aware you are applying. If you are under 16, go to the U.S. Department of State’s webpage for a  child’s passport guidelines. Child passports and passports for 16- to 17-year olds can still be processed with the Office of International Affairs.  

Steps to obtain a U.S. passport

1. Fill out and print your form
  • Do not sign your form until asked to do so by a passport acceptance agent.
2. Get evidence of U.S. citizenship
  • Provide a U.S. birth certificate that shows the seal or stamp from the city, county, or state of birth which issued it; the applicant’s full name, date of birth, place of birth; your parent(s)' full names; the date filed with registrar's office (must be within one year of birth); and the registrar's signature.
  • Alternatives to a birth certificate include:
    • Full validity, undamaged U.S. passport.
    • Consular Report of Birth Abroad  or any birth document issued by the U.S. Department of State.
    • Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship.
  • Documents will only be accepted in paper form. Electronic documents will not be accepted.
  • The passport office takes your documents and will mail them back to you. Please prepare accordingly if you anticipate needing your documents for other verifications.
3. Get a photo ID
  • You must present a physical, photo identification (ID) at the time of your application. The most common photo ID we accept is a:
    • Fully valid driver's license or enhanced driver's license with photo.
  • If your ID is from a different state than the state you are applying, bring a second photo ID. 
  • Go to the U.S. Department of State identification page for the full list of acceptable photo IDs. 
4. Provide photocopies and additional documents
  • You must provide a:
    • Photocopy of your citizenship evidence (along with the original or replacement version that has the seal or stamp), and
    • Photocopy of the front and back of your photo ID
  • Photocopy requirements:
    • Use 8.5-inch by 11-inch paper 
    • Use a single side of the paper
  • For additional documentation requirements, please visit the U.S. Department of State webpage. 
5. Obtain a passport photo
  • The Ohio State University Office of International Affairs passport office offers photo services on site for an additional fee. 
6. Book an appointment

Once you have gathered your application materials, book an appointment with the Office of International Affairs. These appointments typically take 15 minutes per person applying for a passport. For questions on getting to the Office of International Affairs passport acceptance facility, visit our 'Getting there and parking' webpage. 

7. Pay your fees
  • When you apply for a passport using Form DS-11, you will need to pay two fees during your appointment: one to the U.S. Department of State and one to the facility where you submit your application.
  • How to pay the passport application fee:
    • Use a check or money order payable to “U.S. Department of State.” 
    • Write the applicant’s name and date of birth in the memo section. 
  • How to pay the passport acceptance fee:
    • Payment 1: Check or money order payable to the U.S. Department of State
      • Adult Passport Book $130
      • Adult Passport Card $30
      • Minor Passport Book $100
      • Minor Passport Card $15
    • Payment 2: Card, check or money order payable to The Ohio State University
      • Execution fee $35
      • Photo $17
    • Other fees may apply for expedited services. Visit travel.state.gov for more information.
    • The Office of International Affairs passport acceptance facility accepts most major debit and credit cards. 

Fees

Passport book - Application Fee $130; Acceptance Fee $35 

Passport card - Application Fee $30; Acceptance Fee $35 

Passport book and card - Application Fee $160; Acceptance Fee $35 

Photo services may be additional cost. Visit our photo services page for more details.

How to pay your application and acceptance fees

When you apply in person at a passport acceptance facility, you will need to pay two fees: one to the U.S. Department of State and one to the facility where you submit your application.

To pay the passport application fee:

  • Submit a check (personal, certified, cashier's, traveler's) or money order payable to "U.S. Department of State" with your application.
    • Write the applicant’s name and date of birth in the memo section.

If you want your application processed or mailed quicker, you can add these optional fees: 

  • Processing: For expedited service, add $60 to your application fee.
  • Sending your application to us: Pay the acceptance facility for faster USPS Priority Mail Express shipping. The cost for this service varies based on location.
  • Returning your new passport: If you want your new passport in one to three days after we mail it, add $23.36  to your application fee.  

To pay the $35 facility acceptance fee, you can either:

  • Submit a check (personal, certified, cashier's, traveler's) or money order payable to "The Ohio State University" with your application.
    • Write the applicant’s name and date of birth in the memo section.
  • The Office of International Affairs passport acceptance facility accepts most major debit and credit cards. 

 

After completing a passport application

After completion of the passport application process, the  U.S. Department of State estimates  that your passport will be mailed to you in four to six weeks, followed by your supplemental documents in a separate mailing.

Application status updates will be sent to the email address you provided on your application. You can also  check the status of the application online  and  learn more about each status update.