Procedures for First-Time Passport holders in 2022

When you realise you need a passport, the clock starts ticking.

And more and more people are realising they require one. Our northern and southern neighbours, Canada and Mexico, both require a valid U.S. passport for entry. Additionally, beginning May 3, 2023, U.S. travellers will be required to have a passport, REAL ID, or military ID in order to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities. Visit the passportsandvisas.com Links to an external site. website to learn more about the REAL ID requirements.

Applying for a U.S. passport for the first time isn't difficult if you have all of the necessary documents and time to spare. Here are the steps you must take. 

Plan a visit to a passport facility:

If you are applying for your first passport, if your passport has been lost or stolen, if you need a passport for a child under the age of 16, or if you require an expedited turnaround, you must apply at an authorised passport acceptance facility.

Collect all necessary documentation:

To apply for a passport, you must demonstrate that you are who you say you are and that you are a U.S. citizen.

What you'll need is as follows: 

Identity verification:

Bring a valid photo ID, such as a U.S. driver's licence, naturalisation certificate, military or government identification, a valid passport, or another approved ID.

Documentation of citizenship:

You'll need one approved document proving your legal citizenship in the United States. A certified birth certificate (one that includes both parents' names, the registrar's seal, and the applicant's full name), a naturalisation certificate, a certificate of citizenship, a consular report of birth abroad (for children born abroad to U.S. parents), or a valid passport (even if it's expired) are all acceptable. 

You must submit an original or certified copy of your citizenship documentation. It must be a physical document rather than a digital copy. You must also bring a legible, black and white photocopy of that proof of identification.