How to Get a Passport in Columbia, SC: Where to Apply, Costs, Timing

To get a passport in Columbia, SC, you book an appointment at a local acceptance facility (or walk in at one of the University of South Carolina postal offices), bring Form DS-11 with proof of citizenship, a photo ID, a passport photo, and your fees, and then wait about four to six weeks for routine processing. Adults pay $165 for a new passport book, children under 16 pay $135, and the whole thing goes smoothly or badly depending on whether your documents are in order when you walk in.

Where to Apply in Columbia

First-time applicants have to appear in person. Columbia has a few options.

The Columbia Main Post Office at 1601 Assembly Street takes passport applications by appointment only, Monday through Friday.¹ The Sandhills Post Office at 1805 Clemson Road runs on the same weekday-appointment schedule.² Both route you through the USPS scheduler at usps.com/scheduler, where you can search by ZIP code and book a slot up to four weeks out.³ Show up ten minutes early.

The University of South Carolina also processes applications at two campus postal locations, including 1600 Hampton Street, with passport hours from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Monday through Friday.⁴ USC accepts walk-ins, which matters when the post office slots are booked solid, and the campus offices take passport photos on site.⁵

What to Bring to Your Appointment

Missing one document means a wasted trip. Gather all of this before you leave the house.

Form DS-11. Fill it out online at the State Department’s site and print it, but do not sign it. The acceptance agent will have you sign under oath at the counter.⁶

Proof of U.S. citizenship. The usual document is a certified birth certificate from a city, county, or state, showing your full name, date and place of birth, both parents’ full names, the registrar’s signature, and an official seal. A hospital-issued birth certificate does not count. A previous undamaged U.S. passport, a Certificate of Naturalization, a Certificate of Citizenship, or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad also work.⁷ The original goes into the mailing package and gets returned separately after processing.

Government-issued photo ID. A driver’s license is standard. Bring the ID itself and a photocopy of the front and back on plain paper.

One passport photo. See the next section.

Payment. You will pay two separate fees. The State Department application fee has to be a personal check, certified check, cashier’s check, traveler’s check, or money order made payable to “U.S. Department of State.” Temporary or starter checks get rejected. The execution fee goes to the acceptance facility, and post offices generally take credit cards, checks, or money orders for that one.⁸

Passport Photo Rules

The photo has to be 2 by 2 inches, in color, taken within the last six months, against a plain white or off-white background, with a neutral expression and both eyes open.⁹

No eyeglasses. The only exception is a documented medical need such as recent eye surgery, which requires a signed statement from your doctor. No hats or head coverings unless worn daily for religious or medical reasons; religious coverings need a signed statement from you, medical ones a signed statement from a doctor. Your full face has to be visible with no shadows.⁹

USC’s campus offices will take the photo during your appointment.⁵ Most pharmacies and retail shipping stores also do passport photos, usually in the $7 to $17 range.

What It Costs

All fees below are current as of February 2026.¹⁰ The application fee goes to the State Department, the execution fee to the acceptance facility.

Adult passport book: $130 + $35 = $165
Adult passport card: $30 + $35 = $65
Adult book and card together: $160 + $35 = $195
Child passport book (under 16): $100 + $35 = $135
Child passport card (under 16): $15 + $35 = $50
Child book and card together: $115 + $35 = $150
Expedited processing: add $60
1-to-3-day return delivery: add $22.05 (not available for card-only applications)

A note on the card: it only works for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. It will not get you on an international flight. Most people need the book.¹⁰

How Long It Takes

Routine processing is four to six weeks. Expedited service runs two to three weeks for an extra $60.¹¹ Paying $22.05 for 1-to-3-day delivery shortens the mailing leg after your passport prints.¹⁰

These are estimates. They stretch during peak season, roughly March through August. If you have a trip booked, apply well before departure rather than trusting the outer edge of the window. You can track your application status on the State Department’s website.

Applying for a Child Under 16

Children’s applications have stricter consent rules. Both parents or legal guardians have to appear in person with the child, each bringing a valid photo ID.¹² You also need proof of the child’s U.S. citizenship and evidence of the parental relationship, which the child’s birth certificate listing both parents usually covers.

If one parent cannot be at the appointment, the absent parent has to complete a notarized Statement of Consent on Form DS-3053 and include a photocopy of the front and back of their government-issued photo ID.¹³ Sort this out before you book, not at the counter. A child’s passport is valid for five years, versus ten for adults.¹⁴

If You Already Have a Passport

This whole in-person process is for first-time applicants and anyone who does not qualify to renew. If you have an undamaged passport that was issued when you were 16 or older and issued less than 15 years ago, you can renew by mail with Form DS-82 and skip the acceptance facility, the execution fee, and the oath.¹⁵ The State Department also offers online renewal at opr.travel.state.gov for applicants 25 or older whose 10-year passport is expiring within a year or expired less than five years ago, with no name change, no urgent travel in the next six weeks, and no document type change.¹⁶ Online renewal is routine processing only; for anything faster, mail in a DS-82 with the expedite fee.

If You Need It Faster Than Expedited

When your trip is too close for even expedited processing, you need an appointment at a passport agency. The closest to Columbia is the Atlanta Passport Agency at 230 Peachtree Street NW, Suite 1000, Atlanta, roughly a two-hour drive.¹⁷

To qualify, you need international travel within 14 calendar days, or within 28 days if you also need a foreign visa stamped in the passport. Bring printed proof of travel (flight itinerary or hotel reservation), a printed appointment confirmation, the completed application, all supporting documents, a photo, and payment. The Atlanta agency takes credit cards, debit cards, and contactless payment such as Apple Pay. The $60 expedite fee is required on top of the standard application fee.¹⁷

For life-or-death emergencies involving an immediate family member, call 1-877-487-2778 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 8 PM ET) or 202-647-4000 on evenings, weekends, and federal holidays.¹⁸

1
U.S. Department of State. Passport Acceptance Facility Details – Columbia MPO
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U.S. Department of State. Passport Acceptance Facility Details – Sandhills
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United States Postal Service. Schedule an Appointment
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University of South Carolina. Postal Services
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University of South Carolina. U.S. Passport
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USAGov. Apply for a New Adult Passport
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U.S. Department of State. Get Citizenship Evidence for a U.S. Passport
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United States Postal Service. Passport Application and Passport Renewal
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U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passport Photos
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U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
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U.S. Department of State. Processing Times for U.S. Passports
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U.S. Department of State. Apply for a Child’s Passport Under 16
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U.S. Department of State. Statement of Consent – U.S. Passport Issuance to a Child
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U.S. Department of State. Frequently Asked Questions about Passport Services
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U.S. Department of State. DS-82 U.S. Passport Renewal Application for Eligible Individuals
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U.S. Department of State. Renew Your Passport Online
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U.S. Department of State. Apply at the Atlanta Passport Agency
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U.S. Department of State. Make an Appointment at a Passport Agency or Center