First-Time Applicants

Please follow the instructions on this page if:

• You have never had a U.S. passport issued in your own name; and



• You have been issued one of the following documents (If you are no longer in possession of the original document, you must obtain a certified copy from the issuing authority before submitting your application):
• A U.S. Birth Certificate - for certified copies, please contact the state in which you were born. The National Center for Health Statistics maintains a list of states' contact information for this purpose;
• A U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) - for certified copies, please contact the Passport Services Office at the Department of State;
• A U.S. Certification of Birth (Form FS-545 or DS-1350) - for certified copies, please contact the Passport Services Office at the Department of State;
• A U.S. Certificate of Citizenship - for certified copies, please contact the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services;
• A U.S. Naturalization Certificate - for certified copies, please contact the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services;
• A passport of your U.S. citizen parent(s) in which you are included - for a copy of your parents' passport records, please contact the Passport Services Office at the Department of State.

Note: If you are applying for the first passport for a child under the age of 18 who was born overseas, you must first report the child's birth. You may apply for the child's first passport at the same time.

If you have never been issued one of the above listed documents but believe you have a claim to U.S. citizenship, please follow this link for further instructions.

Application Requirements

Please bring the following to your appointment:

• Proof of U.S. citizenship:
• a U.S. Birth Certificate; or
• a U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad; or
• a U.S. Certification of Birth; or
• a U.S. Certificate of Citizenship; or
• a U.S. Naturalization Certificate; or
• a passport of your U.S. citizen parent(s) in which you are included;



• Your original, long-form birth certificate: if your proof of citizenship is the U.S. passport of a parent in which you are included;



• Proof of identity:
• a valid passport of any country; or
• a valid driver's license with photograph; or
• a national identity card with photograph; or
• a valid U.S. or State government ID card; or
• a U.S. military ID card; or
• If you do not have any personal identification it will be necessary for you to be accompanied by a family member (mother/father/brother/sister) with a valid passport, preferably U.S., who will be required to make a sworn statement identifying you. This family member must be over the age of 18;



• Any foreign passport that you may currently hold, have held, or been included in;



• Your foreign (non U.S.) naturalization certificate: if you have acquired another nationality through naturalization or registration since the issuance of your proof of citizenship;



• Name change documentation: If you have changed your name since your proof of citizenship was issued, you will be required to furnish name change documentation, i.e. your marriage certificate. If you have changed your name by means other than marriage, please follow this link for additional application requirements;



• Passport application form DS-11: Applicants aged 16 and over must sign their own application. Please ignore pages one and two of the printed instruction pages, as they do not apply when applying for your passport in the United Kingdom. Follow the instructions on this page. Form DS-11 must be printed on separate sheets of paper; do NOT print this form on front and back of the same sheet. If you experience trouble with the Passport Application Wizard, click here for Form DS-11 [PDF]. For tips on completing the DS-11 [PDF], follow this link;



• Two identical passport photographs: The Embassy will reject any photographs that do not meet the specified requirements. Vending machine photographs and photographs printed on a home computer are unacceptable;



• Fees: The application fee for an applicant under the age of 16 is U.S. $85.00; aged 16 and over is $100.00. Accepted payment methods are:
• Cash - either dollars or sterling;
• Credit card - Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, or Diners Club;
• International Money Order to the exact U.S. dollar amount made payable to the "United States Disbursing Officer;" or
• Banker's Draft drawn in U.S. dollars only on a bank in the United States made payable to the "United States Disbursing Officer;"

Note: The Embassy is not authorized to accept personal checks. Money Orders or Banker's Drafts must have been issued within the last five months.




• A self-addressed, prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery envelope (available at any UK Post Office) in which to have your documents returned to you once processing is completed. Inquiries regarding Special Delivery Mail should be directed to your local Post Office. Alternatively, you also have the convenient option of using the Embassy's contracted courier, Secure Mail Services (SMS), whose service can be purchased from the SMS representative in the lobby of American Citizen Services on the day you visit the Embassy. For more information on SMS, please call 0870 950 1760.



• Your appointment confirmation sheet. Please see "Method of Application" below for more information on making an appointment;



• Additional documents may be required depending upon the circumstances of your case.



• If applying for a child under the age of 16, you will also be required to follow additional instructions.

Method of Application

You are required to apply for the passport in person at this office. An appointment is necessary. To book an appointment, please follow this link.

Processing Time

An application for a full-validity (ten years for adults; five years for children under age 16) passport will be sent to the United States for printing with a secure, photo-digitized image of the bearer. You should allow 15 working days for your application to be processed.

If you are traveling within 15 working days and can provide evidence of this travel, you may be eligible for an emergency limited-validity passport.

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