Form DS-11: Fill Out Online in 2026

Form DS-11 is the U.S. Department of State application for a new U.S. passport. You use it when applying for your first passport or when you cannot renew by mail. Common cases include replacing a lost or stolen passport, applying with a passport issued more than 15 years ago, or applying with one issued when you were under age 16.

You must apply in person at a passport acceptance facility. Bring proof of U.S. citizenship, acceptable photo identification, a photocopy of that ID, and a recent passport photo that meets State Department rules. Do not sign Form DS-11 before your appointment. You must sign it only when the acceptance agent tells you to do so.

An approved application leads to a passport, which serves as official proof of U.S. citizenship and identity for international travel.

You use Form DS-11 to apply for your first U.S. passport or replace one that was lost, stolen, or damaged. For a lost or stolen passport, you may also need to report the loss to the U.S. Department of State.

A child under age 16 must apply in person with Form DS-11, since passports for children cannot be renewed. You also use it if your last passport was issued before you turned 16 or was issued 15 or more years ago. If your name changed and you cannot provide the required legal name-change document for another renewal process, you may need Form DS-11. The application helps the State Department review your identity, citizenship, and request for a new passport.

You can get a blank Form DS-11 from the U.S. Department of State, which issues the form. Copies are available on the Department of State website and may also be available at passport acceptance facilities, passport agencies, and U.S. embassies or consulates.

PDFLeader has a blank Form DS-11 preloaded in our browser-based editor, so you do not need to download a template from another source. PDFLeader helps you fill out and download the completed form, but it does not file or submit it. You must apply in person at an approved location.

Take your downloaded Form DS-11 to a designated passport acceptance facility. You may also submit it at a passport agency if you have an appointment. If you are abroad, take it to a U.S. embassy, consulate, or consular agency.

Do not mail the application directly or submit it through an online portal. You must appear in person so an authorized agent can confirm your identity, witness your signature, and administer the required oath. Do not sign Form DS-11 until the agent tells you to do so. The facility will seal the application and forward it to the passport processing agency.

You must complete Form DS-11 if you are applying for your first U.S. passport or cannot renew your current passport. This includes children under 16, applicants whose last passport was issued before age 16, and first-time applicants ages 16 or 17. A parent or legal guardian must help with an application for a child under 16 and provide consent. Applicants ages 16 or 17 must show that a parent or guardian knows about the application.

After you complete the form, an authorized passport acceptance agent reviews your ID and documents, gives the oath, and tells you when to sign. For a child under 16, the child and parent or guardian must appear in person. The U.S. Department of State then processes the application.

Download the filled form from PDFLeader, then print it. Do not sign Form DS-11 before your appointment. Wait until an authorized passport acceptance agent asks you to sign. You must add your handwritten signature in ink, in person, while the agent watches. Electronic and digital signatures are not accepted. PDFLeader does not submit the form, so complete that step outside our platform. Check the latest State Department instructions before your appointment.

Have your name (last, first, middle), date of birth in MM/DD/YYYY format, sex as M or F based on biological sex at birth, place of birth, and Social Security number ready. If you have no Social Security number, enter zeros. You also need your mailing address line 1 and 2 “In Care Of,” permanent address if required, and emergency contact details for someone not traveling with you.

Bring original or certified evidence of U.S. citizenship, such as a U.S. birth certificate, plus a photocopy. You also need an accepted photo ID and a photocopy of it, along with one passport photo. If your current name differs from your citizenship evidence or ID, bring a certified name-change document, such as a marriage certificate or court order.

Form DS-11 has no fixed deadline. You need it when applying for your first U.S. passport, applying for a child under 16, or replacing a passport that was lost, stolen, or damaged. You also need it if your prior passport was issued before you turned 16 or more than 15 years ago.

Submit Form DS-11 in person at an authorized passport acceptance facility. You cannot submit it by mail. Plan around your travel date, current passport processing times, and appointment availability. All children under 16 must apply in person with this form.

Form DS-11 is not required when you qualify to renew by mail with Form DS-82. You must have your prior passport, and it must be undamaged. It must also have been issued when you were age 16 or older and within the past 15 years. The passport must show your current name, or you must provide proof of a legal name change.

A citizen under age 16 may use Form DS-5504 in limited correction or name-change cases. Otherwise, Form DS-11 applies. Do not sign Form DS-11 until an acceptance agent tells you to do so. Signing early invalidates the application and may delay processing.