Anyone thinking of doing any international travel will need to getting your USA passport. With a few small exceptions, this is now true for border nations and Caribbean Islands that were once exempt from these rules. Any travel outside American States and territories requires a passport, which means many potential travelers need to think about getting a passport for the first time.

Getting a passport for the first time requires the applicant to follow some specific steps. First time applicants must apply in person at a government sponsored application center. However, certain things must be taken care of prior to the in-person application.

First, the U.S. Department of State website is the best place to find up to date information regarding the passport application process. The State Department website is the best place to begin any passport application process. Any first time applicant should check out the State Department’s passport page prior to the application.

The first step in getting a new passport is getting passport photos. These must be taken prior to the trip to the application center. Pharmacies with photo labs are the best place to get passport pictures taken because they will crop the pictures to the proper specifications. These pictures are often relatively inexpensive.

Passport photos should be taken in the manner in which the person is going to travel. For instance, that McDonald’s uniform cannot be worn during the photo. Attire should be casual and the photo should depict the person as they will look when they are traveling. If a hearing aid is worn, make sure it is in when the picture is snapped.

Next, the applicant must have all of their documents in order. A valid, government issued ID is required. This would include a state non-drivers license, a driver’s license, and military ID. They will also need proof of citizenship in the United States. In most cases, this is proven with a birth certificate. It is also best to make a photocopy of all of these documents that are being used.

Once all of the above documentation has been obtained, they can then head to a certified application center. Typically, these centers are located in a U.S. Post Office. The U.S. State Department website has a list of approved application centers. At the center, the applicant must fill out all paperwork and provide all of the various forms of identification mentioned above. If the applicant center approves the requisite forms of identification, the application may be sent for processing. Applicants in need of rush passports, which are typically defined as a passports needed in less than four weeks, must go to a special regional passport agency.

Some time will definitely need to be set aside when obtaining a U.S. passport for the first time, but once the documents are secured, everything gets much easier. As long as the new pass port does not expire, getting it renewed is very easy and much less time consuming. Furthermore, once you have your new passport, you have a document that will stand up under any scrutiny and is literally your ticket to travel the world.