Passports If you've ever traveled outside the United States, one of the most important tasks you had to complete before your trip was applying for a passport. A copy of your original birth certificate may suffice for short trips to Mexico or the Caribbean, say on a cruise. But, generally speaking, want to see the world, you have to have a passport—the only universally accepted form. of identification. What Exactly Is a Passport and How Long Has It Been Around? Passports have been around in some form. for hundreds of years. Governments learned long ago that an official document or certification—one that identified a traveler as a citizen or national with a right to protection while abroad and a right to return to the country of his citizenship—is a necessity. Passports, letters of transit and similar documents were used for centuries to allow individuals to travel safely in foreign lands, but the adoption of the passport by all nations is a development of the 19th and 20th centuries. According to State Department historians, except for brief periods during wartime, passports were not generally required for travel abroad and few obstacles were presented by foreign states' passport requirements until after 1914. An executive order made on Dec. 15, 1915, required every person entering or leaving the United States to have a valid passport. In the United States, passports are issued upon application to U.S. citizens by the State Department and its 13 passport agencies in major cities, by the clerks of federal and certain state courts, certain designated post offices and by U.S. consular authorities abroad. The passport is required for both departure from and re-entry to the United States. It is valid for 10 years for adults and five years for people under 18. A U.S. passport cannot simply be renewed but must be completely replaced when it expires. Applying for a Passport You can find passport applications at any regional passport agency or at designated post offices or clerk of court offices. Today, you can even download and print your own passport applications. However, you still have to go in person to apply for your first passport. You should apply for your passport several months in advance of your planned departure, making sure you fill in the dates of your upcoming trip in the appropriate place on the application. If you'll need visas from foreign embassies, allow more time. As a rule, it takes about 25 business days to process your passport application and get the document sent to you. Something to think about: Lines are longest at passport agencies from January to July, resulting in longer waiting times for applicants. You might want to avoid the crowds by applying through a nearby clerk of court or post office that accepts passport applications. The passport agency processes expedited passports within three working days from receipt of the application. If you choose not to pay for overnight mail, you should receive your passport in 7-10 business days. You can also expedite passport renewal—and you can do it by mail. Does Everybody Have to Apply in Person? The State Department's Passport Agency says you must apply in person for a U.S. passport if you meet any of the following descriptions: You are 13 or older and are applying for a U.S. passport for the first time. Your previous passport was lost or stolen. Your previous passport has expired and was issued more than 12 years ago. You are applying for a passport for a child under age 12. Applying in Person Applying for a passport is not really difficult—it just requires following very specific rules. Follow these steps and you'll have all your bases covered: 1. Complete application Form. DSP-11—but DO NOT sign the form. until you are instructed to do so by t