How to Get a Passport in Nevada: Forms, Fees, and Where to Apply

To get a passport in Nevada, you apply through the U.S. Department of State, the only agency that issues U.S. passports. First-time adult applicants submit Form DS-11 in person at a local acceptance facility (county clerk’s offices, many post offices, and some public libraries all qualify). Eligible adults renewing an existing passport can skip the in-person step and use the mail or the State Department’s online portal. A new adult passport book costs $165 total, and routine processing currently runs four to six weeks on top of mailing time.

Book or Card: Pick the Right Document First

The passport book is the standard booklet that works for every kind of border crossing anywhere in the world, including international flights. The passport card is a cheaper, wallet-sized alternative that only works at land borders and sea ports when entering from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, or Bermuda. The card is not valid for international air travel of any kind.

Most Nevada travelers need the book. If you drive to Mexico or take short cruises and want an inexpensive backup ID, you can add the card to the same application. Adult books and cards are valid for 10 years; passports for children under 16 are valid for 5.¹

Documents You Need to Gather

Every applicant brings three things: proof of U.S. citizenship, proof of identity, and a passport photo.

Proof of U.S. Citizenship

Submit an original or certified copy of a document proving citizenship: a certified birth certificate issued by the city, county, or state where you were born; a naturalization certificate; or a certificate of citizenship. Hospital souvenir certificates and notarized photocopies are not accepted. The State Department returns your original citizenship document in a separate mailing after your passport is issued.

Proof of Identity

Bring a valid, government-issued photo ID. A Nevada driver’s license is the usual choice; a military ID or previous passport also works.² Bring the original plus a photocopy of the front and back. An expired ID, or one that no longer looks like you, will create problems at the acceptance window.

Passport Photo

You need one color photo, exactly 2 x 2 inches, on a plain white or off-white background, printed on matte or glossy photo paper. Filtered, digitally altered, and AI-generated images are rejected.³ Many acceptance facilities in Nevada take photos on-site for a small fee, and pharmacies and shipping stores do them too.

Which Application Route Applies to You

In Person With Form DS-11

You must apply in person if any of the following is true: this is your first U.S. passport; your most recent passport was issued when you were under 16; your passport was lost, stolen, or damaged; or your passport was issued more than 15 years ago.² Fill out Form DS-11 online or on paper, but do not sign it until the acceptance agent is watching. The agent will administer an oath and witness your signature.

By Mail With Form DS-82

You can renew by mail if your most recent passport is undamaged, was issued in the last 15 years, was issued when you were 16 or older, and can be submitted with the application.⁴ If your name has changed, include the original or certified name-change document, such as a marriage certificate or court order. Send everything by a trackable delivery service.

Online Renewal

Eligible adults can now renew entirely online at the State Department’s portal. You qualify only if you are 25 or older, your current passport was a 10-year passport expiring within the next year or expired less than five years ago, you are not changing your name or other personal details, you have the undamaged passport in hand, and you are not traveling internationally within about six weeks. Online renewal only offers routine processing, so it isn’t the right choice if you need the passport quickly.⁵

What It Costs

Fees depend on your age, the document you choose, and whether you are a first-time applicant or renewing. The amounts below are current as of February 2026.¹

First-Time Applicants (Form DS-11)

Every first-time applicant pays two separate fees: the application fee to the Department of State and a $35 execution fee to the local acceptance facility.

Adult passport book: $130 + $35 = $165 total
Adult passport card: $30 + $35 = $65 total
Adult book and card together: $160 + $35 = $195 total
Minor passport book (under 16): $100 + $35 = $135 total
Minor passport card: $15 + $35 = $50 total

The application fee is usually paid by check or money order made out to “U.S. Department of State.” The execution fee is paid at the facility and is often accepted in cash, debit, or credit, though methods vary by location.

Renewals

Adults renewing by mail or online skip the $35 execution fee. You pay only the application fee: $130 for a book, $30 for a card, or $160 for both.⁴

Optional Add-Ons

Expedited processing: $60, added to any application or renewal
1-3 day delivery of your completed passport book: $22.05¹

Where to Apply in Nevada

Nevada has dozens of designated acceptance facilities: county clerk offices such as the Washoe County Clerk’s Office in Reno, many U.S. Post Office branches, and some public libraries.⁶ Use the State Department’s online Passport Acceptance Facility Search Tool to find the locations nearest your zip code that are currently accepting applications. Most require an appointment, so call ahead or check the website before you drive out.

Nevada does not have its own regional passport agency. If you need urgent in-person service because you are traveling internationally within 14 days, the nearest full passport agency is the Western Passport Center in Tucson, Arizona. You must book through the State Department’s Online Passport Appointment System and pay the $60 expedite fee on top of your regular application fees.⁷

How Long It Takes and How to Track It

As of early 2026, routine processing takes an estimated four to six weeks and expedited processing takes two to three weeks. Those windows cover only the time your application sits at a passport agency, not the mail time, which can add up to two weeks in each direction.⁸ For the fastest mail-in turnaround, pair the $60 expedite fee with the $22.05 trackable delivery option.

If you included an email address on your application, the State Department sends status updates automatically. You can also check the Passport Application Status System at any time.⁹ Your new passport and your returned citizenship documents arrive in separate mailings, so don’t worry if one shows up before the other.

Applying for a Child Under 16

Children under 16 cannot apply on their own, and the rules are stricter than for adults. Federal regulations require both parents or all legal guardians to appear in person with the child at the acceptance facility and sign the application.¹⁰ The rule is designed to prevent international parental child abduction, and acceptance agents enforce it strictly.

If only one parent can appear, the absent parent must provide a signed, notarized Form DS-3053 consenting to the passport. The attending parent can also show sole legal custody with a court order, an adoption decree naming only one parent, or the other parent’s death certificate.¹⁰ Nevada caps notary fees at $15 for the first signature on the DS-3053.¹¹ Because a child’s passport is good for only five years, plan to repeat the process at least once before your child turns 16.

Life-or-Death Emergency Service

If an immediate family member outside the United States has died, is dying, or has a life-threatening illness or injury, and you must travel within two weeks, you may qualify for life-or-death emergency passport service. The State Department defines immediate family narrowly: a parent, child, spouse, sibling, or grandparent. Aunts, uncles, and cousins do not qualify, and traveling abroad for your own medical treatment is not covered.¹²

You will need documentation of the emergency (a death certificate, a signed hospital letter on official letterhead, or a mortuary statement) and proof of your upcoming travel, such as a flight itinerary. Call the State Department at 1-877-487-2778 to arrange an appointment.

Debts That Can Block Your Passport

Two financial issues can keep you from getting a passport no matter how clean your paperwork is. If you owe $2,500 or more in child support arrears, the State Department will refuse to issue your passport until the debt is resolved; state child support agencies certify the debt directly to the federal government, so you must pay before applying.¹³¹⁴ Seriously delinquent federal tax debt above $66,000 (the inflation-adjusted threshold for 2026) can also trigger denial or revocation once the IRS certifies the debt to the State Department. Entering into an installment agreement or offer in compromise with the IRS lifts the certification.¹⁵¹⁶

1
U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
2
U.S. Department of State. Apply for Your Adult Passport
3
U.S. Department of State. Passport Photos
4
U.S. Department of State. Renew Your Passport by Mail
5
U.S. Department of State. Renew Your Passport Online
6
Washoe County. Passport Services
7
U.S. Department of State. Apply at the Western Passport Center
8
U.S. Department of State. Processing Times for U.S. Passports
9
U.S. Department of State. Checking Your Passport Application Status
10
eCFR. 22 CFR 51.28 – Minors
11
Nevada Secretary of State. FAQs – Notary Public
12
U.S. Department of State. Get a Passport if you Have a Life-or-Death Emergency
13
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 U.S. Code 652 – Duties of Secretary
14
U.S. Department of State. Pay Child Support Before Applying for a Passport
15
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 USC 7345 – Revocation or Denial of Passport in Case of Certain Tax Delinquencies
16
Internal Revenue Service. The IRS Collection Process