What You Need

To apply for a passport you must present a certified copy and a plain copy of your birth certificate. If you were born in Arizona, you may obtain certified copies of AZ Birth Certificates from the Maricopa County Office of Vital Registration. If you were born outside Arizona, you may contact the Bureau of Vital Statistics in the state you were born. Hospital birth certificates are not acceptable. The certificate is required to be submitted with the application and will be returned with the passport. Expired passports may be substituted for a certified copy of the birth certificate. Naturalized citizens must present their original naturalization papers and a plain copy instead of their birth certificates; naturalization papers will be returned by the Department of State.

All applicants will be required to provide their social security number. If you are applying for a passport for a minor under 16 years old, the applicant and the parents whose names appear on the birth certificate must be present. For example: if the birth certificate has both mother’s and father’s name on the certificate, they both must be present with the applicant; if the birth certificate has just the mother’s name on the certificate, only the mother and the applicant must be present

You must present one passport photo when applying for a passport. This photo must be made especially for your passport. Please consult your yellow pages under photographers or passports to obtain appropriate pictures. Family snapshots, portraits or school pictures are not acceptable as passport photos. Eyeglasses are not allowed in the passport photo. NOTE: We do NOT take photos.

You must present valid, government issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or military ID when you apply. Picture bank cards, school identification, temporary or expired forms of government issued identification are not acceptable forms of identification.

You may either provide a photocopy of the ID document that you present when you apply, or a photocopy of the ID document may be provided for you for a fee of $0.50 per copy. If you provide the photocopy, it must be:

• On plain white, 8 1/2 x 11" standard paper stock, showing the front and the back of your ID.
• Must contain images on only one-side of each page submitted.
  • If copies cannot be made on the same side of one page, you may present two separate pages; one displaying the front of the ID and the second displaying the back of the ID.
• The paper should be free of other images and / or markings.
• The 8 1/2 x 11" paper size cannot be substituted with a larger or smaller size paper, even if the alternative folds down to the 8 1/2 x 11" size.
• The image of the ID must be exactly like the ID with no changes in size; you may not increase or decrease the size of the image.

The standard passport application form DS-11 and all other necessary forms are available at the Clerk’s Office or can be downloaded from the Department of State.

Please bring the appropriate completed form(s) when you visit the Clerk's Office, or come prepared to complete the form(s), on your own, that are required for a passport book or card, depending on your needs. If you are uncertain as to which form you need due to your travel itinerary, please check with the Department of State; it is not the responsibility of the Clerk's Office to decide which document you will need for your specific travel arrangements. The Clerk's Office sole responsibility is to accept passport applications, documents and fees and forward these items to the Department of State so that they may process and issue you a passport from the information you provide.

Family passports are no longer issued.

Visa, MasterCard, American Express, money orders, cashier's checks and cash are accepted only for Clerk of Superior Court fees, not for U.S. Department of State fees. The U.S. Department of State fees must be paid by check or money order.

Important Fee and Payment Information

The U.S. Department of State fees are collected at the time of application by the Clerk of the Court. These fees must be paid by check or money order.

The passport Application fee and the Execution fee are non-refundable. They are collected and retained by law even if a passport is not issued.

Adult Passport Fees

The passport book fee for an applicant 16 years or older is $165 ($130 application fee payable to U.S. Department of State and $35 *Execution fee payable to the Clerk of Court). The U.S. Department of State and Clerk of Court fees are paid separately.

The passport card fee for an applicant 16 years or older is $65 ($30 application fee payable to U. S. Department of State and $35 *Execution fee payable to the Clerk of Court). The U.S. Department of State and Clerk of Court fees are paid separately.

When applying for the passport book and the passport card together, the fee for an applicant 16 years or older is $195 ($160 application fee payable to U.S. Department of State and $35 *Execution fee payable to the Clerk of Court). The U.S. Department of State and Clerk of Court fees are paid separately.

U.S. Department of State fees must be paid by check or money order. Clerk's fees may be paid by cash, credit card, cashier's check or money order for regular processing services. Check the Department of State for current processing times.

Minor Passport Fees

The passport book fee for a minor (under 16 years old) is $135 ($100 application fee payable to U.S. Department of State and $35 *Execution fee payable to the Clerk of Court).

The U.S. Department of State and Clerk of Court fees are paid separately.

The passport card fee for a minor (under 16 years old) is $50 ($15 application fee payable to U.S. Department of State and $35 *Execution fee payable to the Clerk of Court).

The U.S. Department of State and Clerk of Court fees are paid separately.

When applying for the passport book and the passport card together, the fee for a minor (under 16 years old) is $150 ($115 application fee payable to U.S. Department of State and $35 *Execution fee payable to the Clerk of Court). The U.S. Department of State and Clerk of Court fees are paid separately.

U.S. Department of State fees must be paid by check or money order. Clerk's fees may be paid by cash, credit card, cashier's check or money order for regular processing services. Check the Department of State for current processing times.

* The passport Execution fee is charged to passport applicants applying on Form DS-11 to recover the costs of executing the passport application, such as administering the oath, verifying the applicant's identity, and transmitting the applications. The execution fee must be paid at the time of application execution.

Expedited Services (Passport Book Only)

One-way overnight return delivery ($21.36) and expedited service ($60.00) is an additional total of $81.36 per application to the U.S. Department of State.

Two-way, overnight return delivery ($21.36) and expedited service ($60.00) is an additional total of $81.36 per application to the U.S. Department of State. Plus, applicants will need to provide a United States Postal Service (USPS) Pre-Paid Express Flat-Rate mailing envelope or box large enough to contain your passport or multiple family passports. Please bring this item with you along with your passport application(s) IF you require two-way, overnight return delivery.

For a more detailed passport fee structure go to Department of State.

Mailing of Passports

All routine, expedited, and one-way, overnight return delivery applications are mailed from Clerk of Court via USPS Priority Mail and arrive at the Department of State within 2-3 days.

Expedited two-way, overnight return delivery applications are mailed via USPS Priority Mail in your pre-paid flat-rate envelope or box and arrive at the Department of State within 2-3 days.

Age Specifications

Passports for applicants 16 years of age or older are issued for 10 years. Passports for applicants under 16 years of age are issued for 5 years.

All children, even babies, must have a passport. All applicants must apply in person. Parents / guardians are advised to visit the Department of State for detailed information regarding the passport application process for a minor child.

For further information, you may call (602) 37-CLERK, or (602) 372-5375 or visit the Department of State.

The First Step

Requests to change the name appearing on your passport must be processed directly with the U.S. Passport Agency in Philadelphia, PA 19190-0107, with an Application form DS-5504 and the name change must be less than one year old of your issued passport. To do this, you may either:

Name Change

• Write our office requesting a Name Change Application form DS-5504. Please include a stamped self-addressed envelope. The address is: Clerk of the Superior Court / Attention: Passport Services / 601 W. Jackson St. / Phoenix AZ / 85003.
• Pick up the form in person at the Customer Services Center, 601 W. Jackson St. in Phoenix, at the Southeast Facility, 222 E. Javelina Dr. in Mesa, at the Northeast Facility, 18380 N. 40th St., Suite 120, Phoenix, or at the Northwest Facility, 14264 W. Tierra Buena Lane, Surprise. The DS-5504 form may also be downloaded from www.travel.state.gov.

What to Include

Along with your application, you must provide a certified copy of the document identifying the name change, such as a marriage license, Order for Name Change, Divorce Decree or Adoption papers.

For further information, you may call (602) 37-CLERK, or (602) 372-5375 or visit the Department of State.

Eligible U.S. citizens who want routine service can now renew their passports online. Please visit the Department of State for instructions and to confirm you meet online renewal requirements.

Renewal for Adults

You can renew by mail if: Your most recent passport is available to submit and it is not damaged; you received the passport within the past 15 years; you were over age 16 when it was issued; you still have the same name; or can legally document your name change.

If your passport has been, altered or damaged, you cannot apply by mail. You must apply in person.

To Renew by Mail

Use the DS-82 Renewal Application form to renew your passport by mail. Do not mail the completed application to the Clerks Office. You may write to us for the application, send a request including a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: Clerk of the Superior Court / Attention: Passport Services / 601 W. Jackson St., / Phoenix AZ / 85003. Or, you may pick up the DS-82 form at the Customer Services Center, 601 W. Jackson St. in Phoenix, at the Southeast Facility, 222 E. Javelina Dr. in Mesa, at the Northeast Facility, 18380 N. 40th St., Suite 120, Phoenix, or at the Northwest Facility, 14264 W. Tierra Buena Lane, Surprise. The DS-82 form may also be downloaded from www.travel.state.gov.

To Renew in Person

Renewals in person are made using the DS-11 standard form. Please bring your passport, one new photo, and your current ID. Fees for renewals in person are the same as for first time applicants.

You may visit the Department of State for further information on passport renewal.

Renewal for Minors

A person who obtained a passport as a minor, but is now an adult, may not renew their passport. They must apply for a new passport.

A person who obtained a passport as a minor and is still a minor after the passport’s five-year expiration, may not renew their passport. They must apply for a new passport. If they are under 16 years old, they must also have their birth certificate showing both parents' names. Parents / guardians are advised to visit the Department of State for detailed information regarding the passport application process for a minor child.

For further information, you may call (602) 37-CLERK, or (602) 372-5375 or visit the Department of State.