Now that you have your passport, we will return your supporting documents in a separate mailing. If you provided an email on your application, we will send you an update so you know when we mail back your documents. 

You will get multiple mailings. The number of mailings depends on what you requested.

Passport Book: Your new passport book and citizenship evidence arrive in two separate envelopes:

1. New passport arrives via a trackable delivery service.
2. Citizenship evidence arrives up to four weeks later via First Class Mail.

Passport Card: Your new passport card and citizenship evidence arrive in two separate envelopes:

1. New passport card arrives via First Class Mail. We only send passport cards via First Class Mail. We do not send cards using 1-2 day delivery services.
2. Your citizenship evidence arrives up to four weeks later via First Class Mail.

Both a Passport Book and Card: Your new passport book, passport card, and citizenship evidence arrive in three separate envelopes:

1. New passport book arrives via a trackable delivery service.
2. New passport card arrives via First Class Mail. We only send the passport card via First Class Mail. We do not send cards using 1-2 day delivery services.
3. Citizenship evidence arrives up to four weeks later via First Class Mail.

When to Contact Us

If you have been waiting more than four weeks, call us at 1-877-487-2778 to report that you have not received your documents. 

If you want us to reimburse you for a lost supporting document, you must contact us within 90 days of the date which we mailed your passport. You will also need to provide a receipt to show the cost of replacing the document. 

• You must sign your full name in blue or black ink inside your passport.

• On a passport for a child under 16, a parent should print the child's full name on the signature line. The parent should also:
  • Sign their name next to the printed name of their child, and 
  • Note their relation to the child (example: mother, father, or guardian)

Example of how to sign an adult passport

Example of how to sign a child's passport

Your new passport is secure and durable. Take the following steps to protect your passport and avoid damage. If you have a damaged passport, it may get rejected by airline or border officials and delay your travel. 

• Store in a cool, dry place
  • Avoid keeping your passport in a bathroom or other moisture-prone area
  • If you live in an area of high humidity, check your passport regularly and use desiccant packs to avoid mold growth
• Avoid extreme temperatures
  • Do not leave your passport in the sun
  • Do not store your passport near heat sources
• Keep out of reach from pets and children
  • Store in a secure location to prevent pets or children from damaging your passport
• Do not add unofficial stamps or markings
  • Unofficial novelty or souvenir stamps are not allowed and may cause problems when you travel
  • Do not write or add markings to any other pages besides your signature or emergency contact information

Some countries require that your passport be valid at least six months beyond the dates of your trip. Some airlines will not let you board if this requirement is not met.

If you were age 16 or older when we issued your passport, your passport is valid for 10 years.

If you were under 16 when we issued your passport, your passport is valid for 5 years.

Find the Issue Date of your passport on the data page of your passport book or on the front of your passport card. 

Check our Destination Information to learn about requirements for the destination in which you are traveling.  

After you apply for your new passport, you cannot use your old passport for travel. If you have a visa in your old passport that you need for travel, check with the foreign embassy or consulate that issued the visa to see if you can still use it. 

Yes. 

The Department of Homeland Security's Trusted Traveler programs speed up processing at U.S. airports and international borders. 

Update your Trusted Traveler account information with your new passport number, the date we issued it, and the date it will expire. 

We are including Quick Response (QR) codes to give you easy access to this webpage.

The QR code is:

• The same on all passport books
• Does not have personally identifiable information, and
• Does not change the way border officials, airlines, and others review your document.

We are not placing QR code stickers on passport cards.