The Smiths have submitted all of their applications, paid the fees and now are tracking the status of their passports online.

In a few weeks, voila! — their new passports arrive in the mail. (Their original documents arrive separately shortly afterward.) Everyone is good to go.

In the weeks before they depart, the Smiths make sure to check the latest travel advisory for their destination. They also enroll in the State Department’s STEP program to receive safety information and alerts from the U.S. embassy. It can also help the embassy reach the Smiths in case of an emergency.

Bon voyage, Smith family! Safe travels!

Where will you go with your new U.S. passport? Visit travel.state.gov, the State Department’s website for travel information on everything from passport information to specific tips for staying safe in your international destination.

Baby Brian is only 10 months old, but even he needs a passport. His parents will have to learn the rules to apply for his passport since he is a minor. Isn’t he cute?

Did you know? Even newborn babies need passports!

STEP 1: First, mom and dad download Form DS-11 from the State Department’s website. On their computer, they will fill in its blank fields and print out the completed form. (But they make sure not to sign it yet! That happens later, during their appointment.)

STEP 2: Next, mom and dad gather the following documents:

• Birth certificate as evidence of Brian’s U.S. citizenship and relation to his parents or another form of documentation that shows his relationship to them and U.S. citizenship.
• Their driver’s licenses
• Note, both parents must accompany Brian in person to apply for his passport. If both parents cannot attend the appointment, they must provide additional approval documentation.

STEP 3: Mom and dad will photocopy the original documents and bring both the copies and the originals with them to the appointment.

• They make sure the photocopies are on single-sided 8.5x11-inch paper.

STEP 4: The trickiest step for the Smith parents is taking a passport photo of Brian. Getting him to sit still is a challenging — but important — part of the process.

• The photo of Brian must be 2x2 inches and in color. Learn more about passport photo requirements here.
• The Smiths make sure not to staple Brian’s passport photo to the forms yet.

STEP 5: Next, the Smith parents look up the amount for Brian’s passport-application fee and write a check or money order to pay it. Since they plan to apply at their post office, they read the instructions about fee payment carefully and know they’ll need to make two different payments: one to the post office, and one to the State Department.

STEP 6: Finally, the Smiths make an appointment at their local post office, one of 7,500 accredited acceptance facilities. The post office allows applicants to walk in and wait in line, but the Smiths did their research and followed the instructions to make an appointment. That way, they could choose a convenient day and be sure they would be able to apply.

And just like that, Baby Brian’s passport application is off for processing!

Brian’s older sister, Avery, is a junior in high school and is about to turn 17 years old. She has her driver’s license, but she’s not legally an adult yet. She can navigate this, don’t you think?

Did you know? Passport application rules are different for 16 to 17-year-olds from the rules for infants to 15-year-olds.

To apply for her passport, Avery can complete some steps on her own, but she’ll also have to ask her mom and dad for a few things. (She’s trying to do as much of this as possible to prove her independence.)

STEP 1: First, Avery uses her laptop to complete Form DS-11, which she finds on the State Department’s website. She prints out the completed form, making sure not to sign it yet.

STEP 2: Avery gathers these documents:

• Her birth certificate as evidence of her U.S. citizenship
• Her driver’s license (If she doesn’t have one, her mom or dad will have to co-sign and bring their identification.)
• She will bring proof that one of her parents is aware that she’s applying for a passport. (See Step 3)

STEP 3: At least one of Avery’s parents will need to show their consent for her application, in one of these three ways:

• One of them accompanies Avery and co-signs her application in the presence of the receiving clerk. Avery also brings a photocopy of the parent’s driver’s license.
• One of them writes and signs a permission note and attaches a photocopy of his or her driver’s license to it.
• One of them gives Avery a signed personal check or money order with the parent’s name on it to pay the application fee. (In this case, there is no need to accompany her or write a note.) Avery prefers the third way, so before her appointment, she looks up the amount it will cost to apply and process her passport and asks her parents to cover the fee.

STEP 4: Once Avery makes sure her mom or dad will support the application, she photocopies her birth certificate and the front and the back of her driver’s license, ensuring each is on a separate 8.5x11-inch sheet of paper. She will bring the original birth certificate, her driver’s license and all copies to her appointment.

STEP 5: Next, before her appointment, Avery has a a passport photo taken. No selfies!

• It needs to be 2x2 inches, in color, with no shadows in the background. She can’t wear eyeglasses or a hat in the photo. Learn more about passport-photo requirements here.
• Avery makes sure not to staple the 2x2-inch photo to her application.

STEP 6: Finally, Avery researches accredited acceptance facilities near her, makes an appointment at the county clerk’s office and follows the posted instructions when she arrives.

Done! Her passport application is submitted. In a few short weeks, she’ll have her passport in hand.

John Smith has never traveled outside the country but has long dreamed of seeing Paris. He’ll admit he’s daunted by the passport-application process. Good news: The process is simple and straightforward if you’re prepared. Phew!

STEP 1: First, John needs to complete Form DS-11 from the State Department’s website on his computer and print it out. He doesn’t sign it yet — that will happen later.

STEP 2: Next, John assembles some documents:

• His birth certificate as evidence of U.S. citizenship
• His driver’s license

STEP 3: He photocopies these documents on single-sided 8.5x11-inch sheets of paper. He prepares to bring the originals and the copies.

STEP 4: Before his appointment, John has a passport photo taken.

• It must be 2x2 inches, in color, no shadows, no glasses or hat. Learn more about passport photo requirements here.
• He remembers not to staple the photo to his application but keeps it with his other assembled documents.

STEP 5: John makes sure to look up the application fees and writes a check or money order to pay at the appointment.

STEP 6: Finally, John makes an appointment at an accredited acceptance facility. When he shows up, he follows posted instructions.

Easy! Now that he has submitted his application, John can track the status of his passport online.

Jane Smith took a trip with friends to Cancun about a decade ago. But her passport will expire soon, and some countries don’t admit visitors with passports that expire within the next six months. She seems like the careful type — follow her to learn how to renew.

Before even getting started, Jane checks to see if she can renew an existing passport online or by mail. She can! She follows the instructions at the official, passport-renewal website — opr.travel.state.gov — making sure not to be scammed by any third-party sites. She seamlessly renews her passport online and moves on to planning the family trip.

Grandma Eleanor was born on an Army base in Panama to U.S. citizen parents. She has a Consular Report of Birth Abroad. She had a passport as a child, and it expired decades ago. Will that affect her passport application?

Yes, in fact, anyone with a passport that expired more than five years ago needs to apply in person again at a passport acceptance facility. But Eleanor can check travel.state.gov/citizenship to learn what documents she can provide as proof of U.S. citizenship, including an expired passport (if she can find it) or her Consular Report of Birth Abroad, and join her family on its international adventure.