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Passport Applications

Passports

The Passport Office has resumed routine service of passports by appointment only. To make an appointment, call the Passport Office at 717-771-4760.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How long will it take to receive my passport?

    Due to the backlog of passport applications, it will be months until applicants receive their passport and accompanying documents, including previous passports, birth and naturalization certificates.

  2. Can I expedite my passport by paying an additional fee?

    No. We are not offering expedited service at this time.

  3. What if I have an emergency and need to get my passport quickly?

    You can apply in person in Philadelphia or Washington D.C. only if you can prove the reason for your emergency and are leaving in 72 hours or less. Call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 for more information and to make an appointment

  4. I applied for my passport before the government shutdown and still haven’t received it. When can I expect it to return?

    Because of limited staff due to COVID-19, if you applied before March 19th you will experience significant delays of several months to receive your passport. Hang in there. Eventually your passport will return once U.S. Passport Services is up and running again. Click HERE to check the status of your passport. The status should say “In process” or “not found”. If “not found”, it doesn’t mean that they don’t have your application, it just means that it’s not trackable in the system at this time. Another option is if you wrote personal checks for your passport, you could also check with your bank to see if the U.S. Department of State check has been cashed. That’s a good sign that your application is safely in their system.

  5. I was getting my passport to use for domestic travel versus getting a REAL ID. Will I have trouble traveling without it in October?

    No. Due to the pandemic, REAL ID has been extended till October 1, 2021. You may use a regular Driver’s License until that date.

 
Passport Guidance

All passport applicants must appear in person, including minors.

The best way to get up to date passport information is to call our office at 717-771-4760. We recommend calling our office with any questions before coming in to apply.

What you will need

      Forms 
          1) The Prothonotary's Office has blank forms available to the public
          2) Additionally, forms are available online: Online Passport Applications
 
      Proof of U.S. Citizenship 
          1) State Certified Birth Certificate - Long Form Only
               * Both parents' names must be included on the birth certificate
               * To obtain a new PA birth certificate go to PA Vital Records/Birth Certificates 
               * Out of state birth certificates can be ordered HERE 
          2) Naturalization Certificate - Original only
          3) Expired U.S. Passport
          4) Birth Abroad Document
 
        All citizenship documentation must be submitted to the U.S. Department of State with the 
        passport application. The citizenship documentation will be returned to you via US mail.
 
      Proof of Identity 
          1) Primary Identification: Valid Driver's License or Military ID
          2) Secondary Indentification (must provide 2): 
               a. Original State-issued Identification Card 
               b. Current School ID
               c. Expired state issued Driver's License or Stae ID card
               d. Health insurance card
               e. Work ID
               f. Social security card
               g. Voter registration card      
 
        Please note, if an applicant, or the parents/legal guardians of a minor, presents an out-of-
        state driver's license, additional identification is required.    
 
      Photograph
           One color passport photo (2"x2").  
           Please note that these are a specific type of photo. AAA, drugstores, and camera shops
           take passport photos. Personal photos, school photos or photos obtained from a “photo
           booth” are not acceptable.
 
      Additional Requirements for Minor Children 
          Both parents and the minor child must be present at the time of application.         
 
       Fees (for each application)
           Payment for passports is done in two parts. A check must be written for the U.S.
           Department of State fee. The Prothonotary fee is separate and may be paid by cash,
           check, money order, or credit card.