If you’re a first-time international traveler, the lure of adventure can be overshadowed by the ultimate killjoy: red tape. But applying for your passport doesn’t have to be a huge hassle.

Here’s how to get a passport so you can enjoy the worldwide access that it provides you.

Table of Contents

Why you might need a passport

Questions to ask yourself first

Prepare your paperwork

Determine any special circumstances

Get your photo taken

Apply in person

Pay the required fees

Wait for processing

Renewing your passport

Why you might need a passport

A passport is a document that certifies your identity and nationality, and you'll need one if you plan to travel internationally. In the United States, passports are issued by the Department of State, and its website recommends that you get one if:

You have family living or traveling abroad.

You're considering taking a vacation abroad.

You have a job that might require you to travel internationally.

If any of those criteria apply to you, decide whether you actually need a traditional passport book, or whether a less expensive passport card will do.

Passport books are essential for all international air travel. However, both passport books and passport cards can be used to travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermuda via land border crossings or sea ports of entry. The application and execution fees for a passport card total $65 — as opposed to the $165 total you'll pay for a passport book — but you’ll be more limited in where you can go with just a passport card.