First-Time Passport in Los Angeles: DS-11 Checklist Before You Visit

Your first U.S. passport is a DS-11 application, which means you must apply in person through an authorized passport acceptance process. Preparing the documents before you leave home can prevent a second trip.

For Los Angeles travelers, the most important items are citizenship evidence, valid photo identification, an unsigned DS-11, a compliant passport photo and the correct government payments.

Who Uses Form DS-11?

DS-11 is used by first-time passport applicants and many people who cannot use the standard DS-82 renewal route. It is also used for most child passport applications and certain lost, stolen or long-expired passport cases.

Do not sign the DS-11 until an authorized acceptance agent tells you to sign it.

Checklist Item 1: Proof of U.S. Citizenship

Bring an original or certified citizenship document accepted by the Department of State, such as a qualifying U.S. birth certificate, Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship, or other accepted evidence.

The original or certified document is submitted with the application and later returned separately from the new passport.

Checklist Item 2: Photo Identification

Bring acceptable identification such as a valid driver’s license, government ID or other approved ID. You may also need a photocopy depending on the submission route.

Make sure the name on the ID and the name you are using on the application are consistent or supported by legal name-change documents.

Checklist Item 3: Passport Photo

A U.S. passport photo must meet current Department of State specifications. Sameday Passport & Visa Expedite Services can take passport photos at the Los Angeles office.

Do not use a casual phone selfie or heavily edited image. Photo problems are a common reason applications are delayed.

Checklist Item 4: Government Fees

The first-time adult passport-book application fee is $130 and the acceptance/execution fee is $35. Government expedited service is an additional $60, and optional 1-3 day return delivery for a passport book is $26.87.

If expedite and 1-3 day return delivery are both selected, the Department of State amount is $216.87, plus the separate $35 acceptance fee. Private Sameday service fees are separate.

Checklist Item 5: Travel Timing

Routine government processing is currently 4-6 weeks and expedited processing is 2-3 weeks, not including mailing time. If you have urgent international travel, a passport-agency appointment may be required when you are within the government’s urgent-travel window.

Bring your travel itinerary if you have one so your options can be reviewed against the departure date.

What Happens After the Acceptance Facility?

A first-time application requires the acceptance step. For an expedited private service, the completed/sealed application package may then need to be delivered to the expediting service without being opened.

Follow the exact instructions for your chosen route so the sealed documents remain valid.

Get Help in Los Angeles

Sameday Passport & Visa Expedite Services can help review the application route, documents and travel timing for this service. For assistance, contact the appropriate office at (310) 402-1619. Government agencies and consulates make the final decision on eligibility, processing and issuance.

Useful service links:

• New Passport Los Angeles service
• Passport & Visa Photos Los Angeles
• Passport Fees and Processing Times

Why a First-Time Passport Is Different From a Renewal

A first-time passport application uses DS-11 and requires an in-person acceptance step because the government needs to verify identity and citizenship evidence in front of an authorized acceptance agent. This is different from an eligible DS-82 renewal, where the traveler may be able to renew by mail or online. Understanding that difference explains why a first-time applicant needs to bring original documents and why the form should not be signed in advance.

The acceptance facility does not issue the passport on the spot. It verifies the application, witnesses the signature, and forwards the package into the Department of State process. The actual passport is produced later. Planning for both the acceptance appointment and the government processing period is essential.

Citizenship Evidence: Bring the Right Original

The Department of State accepts specific forms of evidence, including qualifying certified birth certificates, Certificates of Naturalization, Certificates of Citizenship, and other accepted records. A photocopy or hospital souvenir certificate is not automatically the same as a certified government birth certificate. If you are unsure whether a document qualifies, verify it before the appointment rather than finding out at the counter.

The original citizenship evidence is normally submitted with the application and returned separately. Make a copy for your own records before handing it over. If the applicant was born abroad, adopted, or acquired citizenship through parents, the evidence can be more complex and may require additional documentation.

Photo ID and Identification Copies

Bring a current government-issued photo ID that meets the Department of State requirements. A driver’s license or state ID is common, but some applicants use other approved documents. The acceptance facility may require a photocopy of the ID as well.

If your current legal name differs from the citizenship evidence or ID, bring the legal document supporting the change. Consistency across the DS-11, ID, citizenship record, and travel plans prevents unnecessary questions.

Passport Photo: Small Detail, Big Impact

The photo must meet U.S. passport specifications for size, background, head position, lighting, and image quality. Do not submit a social-media portrait, heavily edited image, or a photo with filters. Glasses are generally not allowed except in limited medical circumstances, and shadows or poor cropping can cause rejection.

Having the photo taken by a service that regularly produces passport photos can reduce the chance of a technical rejection. Keep the photo clean and do not staple or mark it unless the acceptance agent or instructions say to do so.

Government Fee Breakdown for a First-Time Adult

The adult passport-book application fee is $130 and the acceptance fee is $35. Government expedited service adds $60, and optional 1-3 day return delivery of the passport book adds $26.87. These are separate charges with different payees depending on the application route.

A first-time applicant using expedited service and optional 1-3 day return delivery therefore has a Department of State amount of $216.87, plus the separate $35 acceptance fee. Private professional or expediting service fees are additional and should always be shown separately.

Processing Time and Travel Planning

Routine government processing is currently 4-6 weeks and expedited processing is generally 2-3 weeks. Mailing time is not included. A first-time applicant should also account for the time needed to get an acceptance appointment and to deliver any sealed package required for an expedited private service.

If international travel is within 14 calendar days, the traveler may qualify for an urgent-travel appointment at a passport agency. Those appointments are limited and are controlled by the Department of State, so they should not be treated as a guaranteed backup plan.

What Not to Do Before Your DS-11 Appointment

Do not sign the DS-11 before the acceptance agent instructs you to sign it. Do not bring only photocopies of citizenship evidence when originals or certified copies are required. Do not assume a passport photo from many years ago can be reused. And do not wait until the night before the appointment to look for a birth certificate or Naturalization Certificate.

Also, do not rely on a travel deadline that leaves no room for a missed appointment or document problem. A first-time passport involves more moving parts than a simple renewal, so preparation is the best way to keep it on schedule.

Los Angeles First-Time Passport Final Checklist

Before leaving for the acceptance facility, confirm that you have the completed but unsigned DS-11, citizenship evidence, photo ID, required photocopies, passport photo, Social Security number, correct government payments, and travel itinerary if timing is urgent. Put everything in one folder so documents are not lost between the office, acceptance facility, and any expediting service.

After the application is accepted, keep the receipt and tracking information. Monitor the status and remember that supporting documents may return separately from the passport. A well-prepared first-time application should feel organized, not rushed.

The questions below summarize the points travelers ask most often. Always recheck official government or consular instructions if your travel date, passport status, or visa category changes after publication.

Children and Minor Passport Applications

A minor passport also uses DS-11, but the documentation and parental-consent rules are different from an adult first-time application. Parents should review the current Department of State requirements for evidence of the child’s citizenship, parental relationship, identification, and consent. Do not assume that one parent can always complete the process alone. If a parent cannot appear, specific consent documentation may be required. Families should prepare these records before the appointment so the child does not have to return to the acceptance facility a second time.

Naturalization and Citizenship Documents

Applicants who became U.S. citizens through naturalization should bring the original Certificate of Naturalization or another accepted citizenship document. Because this document is valuable and difficult to replace, make a copy before submission and follow the government’s instructions carefully. The original is normally returned separately from the passport. If the applicant’s name on the certificate differs from the current legal name, bring the appropriate name-change evidence as well.

Where First-Time Applicants Can Apply

DS-11 applications are accepted at authorized passport acceptance facilities such as many post offices, clerks of court, libraries, and other designated locations. Availability varies, and many facilities require appointments. A private passport service can help review the package, but the required acceptance step still must be completed through an authorized agent. Check the appointment policy before arriving so the application does not stall simply because the location cannot take walk-ins.

Urgent Travel and Passport Agencies

Travelers with international departure within the Department of State’s urgent-travel window may qualify to request an appointment at a passport agency or center. Proof of international travel is required, and appointment availability is limited. A passport agency appointment is different from a normal acceptance-facility appointment. Do not pay anyone who claims to sell a guaranteed government appointment; the Department of State controls scheduling.

After the New Passport Arrives

When the passport is delivered, check the name, date of birth, sex marker, place of birth, passport number, and expiration date immediately. Sign the passport if instructed and store it securely. Your citizenship documents may arrive in a separate mailing, so do not panic if the passport arrives first. Before booking future international travel, check whether the destination requires a certain amount of passport validity beyond the travel dates.

Passport Card vs. Passport Book

A first-time applicant can apply for a passport book, passport card, or both. The passport book is the document used for international air travel. The passport card is a smaller document that is valid only for certain land and sea travel between the United States and specified neighboring destinations; it cannot replace a passport book for an international flight. Los Angeles travelers planning overseas air travel should make sure they apply for the passport book even if the card seems convenient.

Social Security Number and Application Accuracy

The DS-11 asks for the applicant’s Social Security number when one has been issued. Enter it accurately and make sure basic identity information matches the supporting records. Errors in names, dates of birth, or places of birth can cause the Department of State to ask for clarification. Review the form before the appointment and again before signing it in front of the acceptance agent. A five-minute review can save weeks if it catches a simple typing mistake.

Frequently Asked Questions

What form do I use for a first-time U.S. passport?

* Most first-time adult passport applicants use Form DS-11 and apply in person at an authorized passport acceptance facility.

How much is a first-time adult passport book in 2026?

* The application fee is $130 and the acceptance fee is $35. Government expedited service adds $60 and optional 1-3 day passport-book return delivery adds $26.87.

Can I sign my DS-11 before my appointment?

*No. Do not sign Form DS-11 until the authorized acceptance agent instructs you to sign it.

What citizenship document can I use?

*Applicants may use qualifying original or certified evidence such as an accepted U.S. birth certificate or Certificate of Naturalization. The exact document must meet Department of State rules.

Can Sameday Passport & Visa Expedite Services help with a first-time passport in Los Angeles?

*Yes. The Los Angeles office can review your DS-11, documents, photo and travel timing before filing. Call (310) 402-1619 for assistance.