Passport Applications
The Prothonotary of York County is an official acceptance agent for U.S. Passports. This is a walk-in service with no appointment necessary. Applications are accepted from 8:30 – 4:15 at the Judicial Center at 45 N. George St., York, PA 17401. The phone number is 717-771-4760 or 717-771-9611.
You may apply for your passport in this office if the following conditions apply to you.
The DS-11 application form will be used.
- You are a first time passport applicant - adult or minor.
- You are a minor wishing to renew your passport (this is treated as a new application since minors' looks change rapidly).
- You have an adult passport that has been expired for longer than five years.
You must apply through the mail if the following conditions apply to you.
The DS-82 form will be used. Go to travel.state.gov for forms and addresses.
- You are an adult renewing a 10 year passport that is current or has been expired for less than five years.
- You wish to make changes to your current passport.
*** Cell phones or any other electronic equipment are not permitted into the Judicial Center. You will not be allowed to enter the building with these items and security personnel will not hold them for you.
All applicants must appear in person and should be prepared to submit a Certified Birth Record from the State Dept. of Health, Division of Vital Records, a Certificate of Naturalization or an expired previous U.S. Passport. Photocopies cannot be accepted. Many people present documents that are not acceptable such as a Notice of Birth Registration or a hospital birth record. Please make sure you have a Certificate of Birth, which bears the seal of the Department of Health. Beginning on May 1, 2011, the birth certificate must list the full name of parent(s) for all applicants.
To obtain a new Pennsylvania Certificate of Birth with this information, CLICK HERE TO GO TO PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
Also required is one 2" by 2" color passport photo. Please note that these are a specific type of photo. Personal photos, school photos or photos obtained from a “photo booth” may not be acceptable. AAA and most drugstore chains take passport photos.
Applications must be completed in black ink only. In addition, applicants will need to submit valid photo identification (usually a driver’s license). State ID cards require a second form of identification such as a Social Security card, voter registration card, military ID, student ID, or work ID.
Applicants age 15 and under must be accompanied by either both birth parents or both guardians. Applicants age 16-18 must be accompanied by either one parent or one guardian.
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.
Any applicant with special circumstances should call the office before coming in to apply.