Complete List of Passport Questions and Answers
Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or you’re planning your first adventure overseas, you know passports are essential. They are the key to unlocking your international adventures. Without them, you can’t cross international borders.
Having a complete understanding of passports can make the difference between an incredible or incredibly unpleasant travel experience. At Good Neighbor, we are here to give you helpful answers to your most vital passport questions. Find answers to all your important passport questions below.
Passport Questions and Answers:
- What is a passport?
- How do I get a passport?
- How long does it take to get a passport?
- How long does it take to get an expedited passport?
- Where do I go to get a passport?
- How long is a passport good for?
- Does my child need a passport?
- What is a passport card?
- How do I renew my passport?
- What do I do if my passport is lost or stolen?
- Do I need a passport for a cruise?
- What is the difference between a visa and a passport?
- What should I do if I lost my passport?
- Which countries require 6 months of passport validity?
- How do I do a name change on my passport?
- How did passport change in 2018?
- My passport was issued and mailed to me, but I haven’t received it. What should I do?
What is a passport?
A passport is a travel document issued to a country’s citizens for international travel and identification. It is required whenever a person is crossing international borders. It is used to verify your country of citizenship and to regain entry into your country of citizenship.
A passport includes your name, birth date, birth place, gender, photo and physical characteristics. Each passport is given a unique ID, which can be used as a valid form of government ID just about anywhere.
How do I get a passport?
If you are getting a passport for the first time, you must apply in person at a Passport Acceptance Facility. Passport Acceptance Facilities is a designated office, including a post office, public library, and other local government offices.
Your passport application involves filling out some forms, showing proof of ID, providing two passport photos and paying the fees. Make sure your passport photos meet all the requirements. Some people try to say a few dollars and end up spending hours retaking photos because they are not up to standards.
If you are renewing your passport, you can usually renew it by mail. Detailed instructions for getting a passport can be found here.
How long does it take to get a passport?
It typically takes 6–8 weeks to get a passport, but that can vary depending on the demand and backlog. It can go much quicker or take longer.
There is a way to expedite the process if you need to. Here are some instructions for getting a passport based on the timing required:
| My Travel Date | My Reason for Travel | Service I Want | My Processing Times | Next Steps? |
| Right now | I have a life-or-death emergency | Life-or-Death Emergency Service | Within 72 hours (3 business days) | See our “Life-or- Death Emergencies” page to learn if you are eligible. |
| Less than 4 weeks from today | I have urgent international travel plans within 72 hours (3 business days). | Expedited at an Agency or Center | Within 72 hours (3 business days) | An extremely limited number of appointments are available for customers who are traveling internationally in the next 72 hours (3 business days). Restrictions apply. |
| In the next 4-10 weeks | (No reason needed) | Expedited | 4-6 weeks | Expedite at an acceptance facility or expedite a renewal by mail |
| More than 10 weeks from today | (No reason needed) | Routine | 10-12 weeks | Apply at an acceptance facility or renew by mail |
How long does it take to get an expedited passport?
Passports can be issued as quickly as 72 hours in certain cases. This includes life-or-death emergencies, serious illness, injuries or a death in your immediate family (a parent, child, spouse, sibling, aunt or uncle) which require you to travel outside the United States within 72 hours (three days).
To have your expedited passport application processed, you must provide:
- A passport application with supporting documents
- Proof of the life-or-death emergency such as a death certificate, a statement from a mortuary or a signed letter from a hospital or medical professional. Documents must be translated into or written in English
- Proof of international travel (reservation, ticket or itinerary)
To make an appointment for an expedited passport, you must call the National Passport Information Center.
Hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ET); Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The number is 1-877-487-2778 (1-888-874-7793 TDD/TTY). Outside of these hours, call 202-647-4000 to make an appointment.
However, most of the time an expedited passport will be issued within four weeks of when it was received. They can be quick if the demand is not too great at that time.
Where do I go to get a passport?
If you are getting your first passport, you must apply in person at a Passport Acceptance Facility. There are options in addition to post offices and regional passport agencies. You’ll need to visit another “adjudication agency” to apply for a new adult passport, a passport for a child under the age of 16, or when you’re replacing a lost or stolen passport.
To find the nearest facility in your area, use this website and enter your zip code to find the closest facility. Your county or district clerk’s office may be able to resolve your passport needs, although Pacella says that it’s a good idea to call ahead and confirm that the office which handles passport applications and renewals is still open.
Third party companies like RushMyPassport.com normally excel at turning around passport renewals and new applications in record time. But since the same guidelines set forth by the State Department apply to both personal and business applicants, expedited service is not available through third-party agencies.
However, a third-party processing agency may still be helpful, if only to ease your mind by handling your document preparations and delivery. Make sure the processing agency you select is an approved partner and courier service registered with the State Department as a hand-carry courier. Otherwise, you might have just wasted your money.
How long is a passport good for?
If you are age 16 or older when your passport was issued, your passport is valid for 10 years. If you are under 16 when your passport was issued, your passport is valid for 5 years. The Issue Date of your passport can be found on the data page of your passport book or on the front of your passport card.
If your passport has already expired, you may still be able to renew your passport. See How to Renew Your U.S. Passport.
Does my child need a passport?
Yes, your children will also need a passport if they plan to travel internationally, even if they were just born. Both parents must apply in person, and the passport is valid for 5 years.
What is a passport card?
A passport card is a wallet-size travel document that can only be used to re-enter the United States at land border-crossings and sea ports-of-entry from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. The card provides a less expensive, smaller, and convenient alternative to the passport book for those who travel frequently to these destinations by land or by sea. The passport card cannot be used for international travel by air.
Passport cards are not required if you have a regular passport. But they can come in handy if you travel often around North America.
How do I renew my passport?
You may renew your passport by mail if you can answer “yes” to these four statements:
Your passport:
- Is in your possession and is undamaged other than normal wear and tear.
- Was issued when you were age 16 or older.
- Was issued within the last 15 years.
- Was issued in your current name or you can document your name change.
If you answer “no” to any of the statements above, you must renew it in person or by mail.
Steps to renew by mail:
- Fill out the U.S. Passport Renewal Application (Form DS-82)
- Submit your most recent passport with the application.
- If your name changed, submit a legal name change document with the application.
- Staple a recent photo of yourself (without eyeglasses) to the application.
- Include a check for the renewal fee.
- Mail the completed application and required documents to the designated passport processing center according to U.S. State Department instructions.
Detailed instructions to renew by mail are provided on this U.S. State Department page:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/renew.html
Steps to renew in person:
- Fill out the Application for a U.S. Passport (Form DS-11)
- Provide evidence of U.S. citizenship (valid undamaged passport, birth certificate, etc.) – original and photocopy
- Present a government ID – original and photocopy
- Provide a photo of yourself
- Provide payment for application and execution fees
Detailed instructions to renew in person are provided on this U.S. State Department page:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/apply-in-person.html
What do I do if my passport is lost or stolen?
In the unfortunate event your passport is either stolen or becomes lost, you should immediately contact the nearest embassy or consulate. You must apply again in person and fill out Form DS-64 and Form DS-11. For U.S. passports, you can call toll free at 1-877-487-2778.
Do I need a passport for a cruise?
It depends on the cruise. In general, passports are required for travelers (including citizens of the U.S. and Canada) who enter or re-enter the U.S. by air, land or sea. However, U.S. citizens on a cruise that begins and ends in the same U.S. port and travels to destinations in Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, the Bahamas and Bermuda can often re-enter the U.S. with proof of citizenship other than a passport.
Acceptable proof of citizenship includes an original or certified copy of a government-issued birth certificate (raised seal and signature) and a laminated government issued picture ID (typically, driver’s license), Consular Report of Born Abroad Certificate, or a Certificate of Naturalization.
A passport is needed for any U.S. citizen on a cruise that embarks or disembarks in a foreign country, including Canada. It is also needed for a cruise that begins and ends in different U.S. ports. A cruise with shore excursions that cross a land or sea border into a foreign country will require a passport as well. It is best to check each individual port’s entry requirements because some might require a visa also.
The best advice is to check the individual terms and conditions of your cruise company before leaving on your trip. Not having the correct identification could delay or prevent you from beginning your journey. Failure to present the right documents may also affect your ability to receive a refund should you be unable to take your trip.
What is the difference between a visa and a passport?
A visa is an endorsement placed within a passport that grants the holder official permission to enter, leave or stay in a country for a specified time period. Depending on where you are traveling, a visa can be valid for one visit or multiple visits. You must have a passport before you will be granted a visa.
The most common visa types are tourist, student, work and transit visas. Some visas require an application to be filed before entering the country, while other visas are granted upon entering the country. Some countries require an interview or medical screening before applying for a visa.
What should I do if I lose my passport?
You can report your passport as being lost or stolen by using one of these 3 options:
1) Online: Click on this link: https://pptform.state.gov and navigate to the “Report Lost or Stolen” tab.
2) Mail: Complete, sign, and mail Form DS-64 to the address on the form.
3) Phone: Call us toll-free at 1-877-487-2778 (TTY 1-888-874-7793). If you want to apply for a new passport, you’ll have to also fill out the paper Form DS-64 to turn in with your application.
To replace a lost or stolen passport, you must submit Form DS-11 in person according to the conditions below:
| If… | Then… |
| You are in the United States and are traveling in 4 weeks or less | You can only make an appointment to apply in person at a passport agency or center to replace your passport. To go to a passport agency or center, you must be traveling internationally in the next 72 hours (or 3 business days). |
| You are in the United States and are traveling in more than 4 weeks | Make an appointment (if required) to apply at a passport acceptance facility to replace your passport. |
| You are outside the United States | Contact your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to replace your passport. |
Which countries require 6 months of passport validity?
Many countries require you to have a valid passport that extends a certain number of months after you arrive or after your visa for their country expires. This is because you may decide to extend your trip. Having visitors with an expired passport makes it more difficult for the visiting country.
There are several countries that require your passport to be valid 6 months past your arrival or visa expiration, and they are listed below. There are at least 26 countries that require your passport to be valid for another 3 months and a few countries (such as the UK and New Zealand) that only require it to be valid for another 30 days. It is wise to check your passport expiration date before you travel to avoid travel delays and deportation costs.
Here are the countries with a 6-month passport validity rule:
Albania Angola Bahamas Bahrain Belize Bolivia Botswana Brazil Brunei
Burma (Myanmar) Burundi China Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Ecuador (including Galapagos Islands)
French Polynesia Guyana Honduras Indonesia Iran Iraq Jamaica Kenya
Kiribati Mexico Madagascar Malaysia Mauritius Mozambique Namibia New Caledonia
Nicaragua Oman Palau Papua New Guinea Philippines Russia Saudi Arabia Singapore
St. Lucia Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste (East Timor) Trinidad & Tobago
Turkmenistan Uganda Ukraine Venezuela Vietnam Zambia
How do I do a name change on my passport?
If you are changing your name within one year of the date your passport was issued, you will need to complete Form DS-5504: Name Change, Data Correction, and Limited Passport Book Replacement. If you are changing your name more than a year after your passport was issued, you must submit Form DS-82: Renewal Application. For more information, see How to Change or Correct a Passport.
How did passports change in 2018?
A new passport design was implemented in 2018 to increase the security of the passport. New passports now contain an embedded data chip on the information page inside of the passport.
This fast-readable chip holds your biometrics and is protected by a polycarbonate coating to prevent your personal data from being stolen. Having embedded data keeps forgers and thieves from copying or reusing your passport.
The new passport is now sealed with a special coating to protect the book from getting wet and to keep it from bending. It also contains fewer pages, and the pages have micro-perforations in a variety of patterns to make forgery more challenging.
The new passport has engravings and inks similar to currency, with micro-printing and color-shifting links, which are extremely difficult to replicate. There is also printing on the underside of the laminate itself so it cannot be reused.
My passport was issued and mailed to me, but I haven’t received it. What should I do?
Contact the National Passport Information Center. A Customer Service Representative will confirm the date your passport was mailed to you, the address to which it was mailed. Also, if necessary, they will help you report that you did not receive your passport.
You have 90 days from the date your passport was issued to report that you have not yet received it. If you do not report it within 90 days, you will be required to reapply and submit the full passport fee again.
We hope these passport questions and answers have been useful to you. If you would like us to answer additional questions, please submit them to us, and we will be happy to help.
Safe travels to wherever your passport may take you!
