While traveling abroad, there is no document of greater importance to a United States citizen then their passport. A passport application form is the first step in world travel as they are the fundamental documents produced by the government that allow citizens to leave and reenter the country. With the right set of documents, this application process can be completed in under an hour.

Keep in mind at all times that a passport is the most important document that must be acquired before any citizen can enter or exit the country. The United States government always has the final say in who exits and reenters the country. It is a document that also aids in the government protecting citizens from dangers abroad by allowing citizens to gain access to embassies in different countries.

The application process has many facets and requires a wealth of information before passports are given out. This can be a tedious process, but is extremely important in aiding the government in tracking the movements of its citizens and world travelers who enter and exit the country. To purchase a passport, first a citizen must go to a passport agency and fill out the necessary paperwork.

Citizens must acquire passports in person. Before filling out the forms to obtain a passport, a person must prove they are an American citizen. To prove citizenship, one must produce a birth certificate, social security card, or old undamaged passports. Pictured documents such as a driver’s license, military identification card, or green card are also necessary to prove one’s identity.

All passports are made to have the picture of the applicant in two different places on the passport document itself. This makes it harder to forge the documents and also helps guard against criminals and terrorists from doctoring stolen passports. These pictures are taken at the offices during application and citizens are encouraged to wear normal attire for the photograph.

After all personal information is taken and both identity and citizenship are proven, a citizen now simply has to pay a nominal fee to the government to obtain their passport booklet. First time applicants will have to pay $95 dollars with an added $25 dollar execution fee for processing. Passports expire every ten years; so renewing a passport also costs a fee of $95 dollars. Minors’ passports cost slightly cheaper.

After a passport is sent to a citizen, it is their responsibility to keep it from falling into the wrong hands. International criminals and other nefarious people would love nothing more to obtain a U.S. passport so if one is stolen or lost, the government should be notified immediately. Because of their importance, penalties and fines for replacing lost or stolen passports have been put into place.

Traveling the world gives insight and knowledge to citizens who choose to go abroad. The new passport application is the first fundamental step in acquiring a document that allows the freedom to see the world. These documents are important to governments and citizens alike and should be guarded carefully. Visit a US passport office to get your application process under way.