Thinking about taking that foreign cruise or adventure trip to another country? If so, you are required to obtain a passport. How to get a passport, you ask? It is a fairly straightforward process, but it requires some preparation and patience.

You can obtain a passport application from a local post office, or you can download them from the State Department website. Follow the directions carefully and finish filling out the form. It is Form DS-11, and you should bring it with you when you apply for the passport.

The next step is to gather together any proof of U.S. Citizenship. You need to obtain a certified birth certificate from the municipality in which you were born. The certified birth certificate is the ultimate proof of citizenship.

If you do not have or cannot obtain a certified copy of your birth certificate, it makes it more difficult to apply for a passport. You can obtain a letter of no record from the state you were born in. This is an official document stating that there is no birth certificate on file for you. You could also try to obtain a hospital birth certificate, baptismal record, census records, early school record and any record of early doctor care. Another way is to get an affidavit of birth form from an older blood relative who has personal knowledge of your birth. This should be signed and notarized.

If you were born in a foreign nation to one or two United States parents, you need to get a foreign certificate of birth. It would help to also get proof of U.S. Citizenship for your parents. Your parents can also sign an affidavit which lists the places they have resided for different time periods prior to and after your birth. The next step to take in getting a new passport is to prove your identity. This can be proven by bringing with you an old passport, a valid state drivers license, a government ID card, or a military ID card.

Your next step is to get two photos taken. Take the photos in normal clothing. Do not wear anything on your head or a uniform. Check your local yellow pages as many places take passport photos. The photos should be identical, in color and full face. Though most merchants know the proper requirements, you should also know the requirements to make certain they are done correctly. You do not want them taken incorrectly as this will make the process take longer.

Before you go to apply for your passport, write down your social security number. It is a requirement to know it when you apply. Next, the government wants your money! Do a search online prior to your visit to the passport acceptance facility and know what fees you will be required to pay.

You can look online to find the nearest passport acceptance facility location. There are 7000 facilities nationwide. They include post offices, probate courts, public libraries and county offices. Also search the government pages on how to get a new passport. After following all the steps, you should expect your new United States passport to take between two weeks to two months to arrive. If you are willing to spend $60 or more, you can get it quickly. Once you have your passport in hand, you are ready to go see the world!