Passport Services

In cooperation with the Federal Government, the Clerk's Office offers passport application services as a part of its continuing service to the community. The Passport Services office is located in Room 1202, Richard J. Daley Center.

Forms

Click this link to the U.S. State Department to get the most current versions of the Passport Application.

Where Do I Apply for a Passport?

You may apply for your passport at the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court, Probate Division, on the 12th Floor of the Daley Center, 50 West Washington St., Chicago, IL.

If you are traveling within two (2) weeks (14 days), then you may apply at the Chicago Passport Agency, Kluczynski Federal Building, 230 South Dearborn St., 18th Floor, Chicago, IL 60604-1564. An appointment is required. The automated appointment number is 1877-487-2778. The hours are 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., CST, Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays.

NOTE: Chicago Passport Agency serves customers who are traveling within two (2) weeks (14 days) or who need foreign visas for travel. An appointment is required.

How Do I Get a Passport Expedited?

Requests to expedite require an additional fee of $60 plus overnight delivery costs. Two-way overnight delivery is strongly suggested. If you mail in-clearly mark EXPEDITED on the envelope. Anyone may request expedited service for any type of application (e.g., first time applications, renewals, amendments of existing passports, etc.) Call the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) at the information listed below:

  • Telephone Number: 1-877-4USA-PPT (1-877-487-2778)
  • TDD/TTY: 1-888-874-7793. Telephone number for customers with telecommunication devices for the hearing impaired
  • Customer Service Representatives and Operators for TDD/TTY are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
    Automated Information available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you have a travel emergency, please call the Center to speak with a customer service representative. Do not e-mail. E-mail may be sent to NPIC by completing a status of pending application form through the link below.
  • If you have already applied for a U.S. passport and would like to know the status of your application by email, click here.

When Should I Apply for a Passport?

Apply several months before your planned departure. Allow approximately six weeks for processing. If you need a visa from a foreign embassy, allow more time.

How Do I Apply for a Passport at the Clerk's Office?

An application consists of the following five items:

  1. Completed U.S. Dept. of State Application for Passport
  2. Proof of U.S. Citizenship 
  3. Proof of Identity 
  4. Two Identical Photographs
  5. Passport Applicaiton Fees


(1) Completed U.S. Dept. of State Application for Passport

(2) Proof of U.S. citizenship

You may prove U.S. Citizenship with any ONE of the following:

  • Previous U.S. Passport (mutilated, altered, or damaged passports are not acceptable as evidence of U.S. citizenship.)
  • Certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state
    • NOTE: A certified birth certificate has a registrar's raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, registrar’s signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar's office, which must be within 1 year of your birth.
  • Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
  • Naturalization Certificate
  • Certificate of Citizenship
    • A Delayed Birth Certificate filed more than one year after your birth may be acceptable if it:
      • Listed the documentation used to create it and
      • Signed by the attending physician or midwife, or lists an affidavit signed by the parents, or shows early public records.

If you do NOT have a previous U.S. passport or a certified birth certificate, you will need:

  • Letter of No Record - Issued by the State with your name, date of birth, which years were searched for a birth record and that there is no birth certificate on file for you.
  • AND as many of the following as possible:
    • baptismal certificate
    • hospital birth certificate
    • census record
    • early school record
    • family bible record
    • doctor's record of post-natal care
  • Note - These documents must be early public records showing the date and place of birth, preferably created within the first five years of your life.
  • Note: You may also submit an Affidavit of Birth, form DS-10, from an older blood relative, i.e., a parent, aunt, uncle, sibling, who has personal knowledge of your birth. It must be notarized or have the seal and signature of the acceptance agent.

If you were born abroad AND do not have a Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certificate of Birth on file, you will need:

  1. If you claim citizenship through birth abroad to one U.S. citizen parent:
    1. Foreign birth certificate,
    2. Proof of citizenship of your U.S. citizen parent, AND
    3. An affidavit of your U.S. citizen parent showing all periods and places of residence or physical presence in the United States and abroad before your birth.
  2. If you claim citizenship through birth abroad to two U.S. citizen parents:
    1. Your foreign birth certificate,
    2. Parent’s marriage certificate, AND
    3. Proof of citizenship of your U.S. parents and an affidavit of your U.S. citizen parents showing all periods and places of residence of physical presence in the United States and abroad before your birth.
      • NOTE: The following are NOT proof of citizenship
      • Voter registration cards
      • Army discharge papers
      • NOTE: If you travel extensively, you may request a larger, 48-page passport at no additional cost. To do so, please attach a signed request for a 48-page passport to your application.
    4. FOR MINORS UNDER THE AGE OF 16.:
      • The citizenship evidence submitted for minors under the age of 14 must list both parents' names.

(3) Proof of identity

You may prove your identity with any one of these, if you are recognizable:

  • Previous U.S. passport (mutilated, altered or damaged passports are not acceptable as proof of identity.)
  • Naturalization Certificate
  • Certificate of Citizenship
  • Current, valid Driver's license
  • Government ID
    • city
    • state
    • federal
  • Military ID
    • military
    • dependents
  • NOTE: Your Social Security Card does NOT prove your identity.

If none of these are available, you will need:

  1. Some signature documents, not acceptable alone as ID (Example: a combination of documents, such as your Social Security card, credit card, bank card, library card, etc.)
  2. A person who can vouch for you. He/she must:
    1. Have known you for at least 2 years,
    2. Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident,
    3. Have valid ID
    4. Fill out a Form DS-71 in the presence of a passport agent.

For Minors Under the Age of 16

  • Each minor child must be present. Both parents or legal guardians should appear with the child. If both parents or legal guardians cannot be present, see parental consent for additional document requirements.

For Minors 16 to 17

  • Your child MUST appear in person.
  • For security reasons, parental consent may be requested.
  • If your child does not have identification of his/her own, you need to accompany your child, present identification and co-sign the application.

(4) Two (2) identical photographs

Your photographs must be:

  1. 2x2 inches in size
  2. Identical
  3. Taken within the past 6 months, showing current appearance
  4. Color or black and white
  5. Full face, front view with a plain white or off-white background
  6. Between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head
  7. Taken in normal street attire
  8. Uniforms should not be worn in photographs except religious attire that is worn daily.
  9. Do not wear a hat or headgear that obscures the hair or hairline.
  10. If you normally wear prescription glasses, a hearing device, wig or similar articles, they should be worn for your picture. Dark glasses or nonprescription glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable unless you need them for medical reasons. A medical certificate may be required.
  • NOTE: Vending machine photos are not generally acceptable

(5) Passport Application Fees

Click link to see passport fees: Passport Application Fees

  • Only Checks and Money Orders.
  • Execution Fee $35

A printed schedule of these and other fees is available in Room 1202, 12th floor of the Richard J. Daley Center at the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Probate Division.

Bring all of the above items to our Probate Division office in Room 1202 of the Richard J. Daley Center.
 

Adult Applicants (Age 16 and older):

Product

Form

Application Fee

Execution (Acceptance) Fee

Passport Book

DS-11

$130

$35

Passport Card

DS-11

$30

$35

Passport Book & Card

DS-11

$160

$35


Child Applicants (Age 15 and younger):

Product

Form

Application Fee

Execution (Acceptance) Fee

Passport Book

DS-11

$100

$35

Passport Card

DS-11

$15

$35

Passport Book & Card

DS-11

$115

$35

Please note: The application fee and the execution fee are paid separately.

Expedited service costs an additional $60. For information on forms of payment and a full list of fees and services, please see Passport Fees.
For expedited processing, a $60 fee is charged in addition to the "Passport" and "Execution" fees.

  • Passport 1 - This fee must be paid by check or money order payable to "Passport Services." Cash will not be accepted.
  • Execution Fee 2 - This fee may be paid by cash, check, money order.  A check or money order must be payable to "Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Two forms of identification are required if paying by check.

Where do I get a passport application?

  • You may download forms from this web site: U.S. Department of State passport forms
  • Forms are also available at public offices like Post Offices, courthouses or municipal offices where passport applications are accepted. We have a searchable list of convenient locations where you can apply for a passport

You may also get applications and related forms at our office on the 12th Floor of the Daley Center, or by following the link at the top of this page. Upon request and our receipt of a postage-paid, self-addressed envelope, we will be glad to mail you forms and a fee schedule.

Must Applications Be Made in Person?

If your child is:

  • Under Age 16
    • Your child must appear in person.
    • Both parents or legal guardians can apply for your child.
    • Both parents’ or legal guardians’ consent is required for minors under age 16.
    • Both parents or legal guardians must show current, valid ID.
  • Age 16 to 17
    • Your child must appear in person.
    • Your parental consent may be requested.

Is it true that passport applications for minors under 16 require the consent of both parents or legal guardians?

Effective February 1, 2008, Public Law 106-113, Section 236 requires that U.S. passport applications for children under the age of 16 require both parents' or legal guardians' consent.

If you are renewing your passport and meet certain conditions (see “How do I Renew My Passport”), you may apply by mail.

Who May Renew a Passport?

You may renew your passport, if you meet the following conditions:

  1. Your most recent passport was issued when you were 16 years old or older
  2. Your most recent passport was issued within the past 12 years
  3. Your most recent passport is not damaged or mutilated
  4. You now use the same name as on your most recent passport (or you can properly document that your name has been changed by marriage or court order)

How Do I Renew My Passport?

If you meet all the above conditions for renewal, send the following items to the National Passport Center (address on application form):

  1. Completed "Routine Service – Passport Renewal”, Form DS 82
  2. Your most recent passport
  3. Passport fee of  $130.00 (Adult), check or money order payable to the Department of State  
  4. Two (2) recent identical photos (see previous description above)

How Do I Replace My Passport Issued Over 12 Years Ago?

You must apply for a new passport and submit your expired passport with your application.

How Do I Replace My Lost or Stolen Passport?

Please apply for a new passport immediately. You may report your lost or stolen passport when you apply for the new one. Along with your application, you must submit the Statement Regarding Lost or Stolen Passport, Form DS-64.

If you decide not to apply for a new passport immediately, you may electronically submit form DS-64 to report your passport lost or stolen. Or call us 24 hours/day at: 877-487-2278 (TTY 1-888-874-7793)
Voice mail - For non-business hours, Eastern Time

Sources of Information

  • Travel.State.Gov - U.S. Department of State - Bureau of Consular Affairs
  • Passports home page - U.S. Department of State - Bureau of Consular Affairs passport page
  • Passport Application Wizard - U.S. Dept of State - Bureau of Consular Affairs passport
  • National Passport Information Center
    • 1-877-4USA-PPT (1-877-487-2778)
    • TDD/TTY: 1-888-874-7793. Telephone number for customers with telecommunication devices for the hearing impaired
    • Customer Service Representatives and Operators for TDD/TTY are available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
  • Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County Probate Division: 312-603-6441
  • Chicago Passport Agency