Where to Apply for a Passport in Michigan: Facilities, Forms, and Fees

To apply for a passport in Michigan, you go in person to an authorized passport acceptance facility — most often a U.S. Post Office, a county clerk office, or a participating public library. The State Department’s facility locator at iafdb.travel.state.gov lets you search by ZIP code to find the closest one.¹ A new adult passport book costs $165 total: $130 to the State Department plus a $35 acceptance fee paid at the facility. For international travel within 14 days, the Detroit Passport Agency takes appointments directly.

Finding an Acceptance Facility Near You

Michigan has hundreds of acceptance facilities, concentrated in post offices and county clerk offices, with some public libraries also participating. The State Department’s ZIP code locator is the authoritative list and shows whether a given location offers on-site passport photos and wheelchair access.¹

Most facilities take applications by appointment. Call ahead or book online before you go. Walk-in availability varies, and smaller post offices in rural parts of the state may only process passport applications on certain days of the week.

Who Needs to Apply in Person

Not everyone has to visit a facility. You must apply in person using Form DS-11 if you are a first-time applicant, your most recent passport was issued before you turned 16, your previous passport was lost, stolen, or damaged, or your last passport was issued more than 15 years ago.²

If none of those apply and you simply have an adult passport that’s still in good shape, you can usually renew by mail with Form DS-82 or online, without visiting an acceptance facility at all.³ Mail renewal doesn’t carry the $35 acceptance fee.

What to Bring to Your Appointment

Form DS-11

Fill out Form DS-11 through the State Department’s online form filler and print it, or pick up a blank copy at the facility. Do not sign it ahead of time. You sign in front of the acceptance agent at the appointment, under oath.⁴

Proof of U.S. Citizenship

Bring an original citizenship document, not a photocopy. Accepted options include:

A certified U.S. birth certificate issued by the city, county, or state where you were born, bearing a registrar’s seal.
A previous U.S. passport that is undamaged and not reported lost or stolen.
A Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570) issued by the Department of Homeland Security.
A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) for U.S. citizens born outside the country.

Digital or electronic versions are not accepted. Also bring a photocopy of the front and back of the document, because the original is mailed with your application and comes back to you separately from the finished passport.²

Photo ID

Bring a valid government-issued photo ID, usually a Michigan driver’s license or state ID card, along with a photocopy of the front and back.²

Passport Photo

Your photo has to be taken within the last six months. It must be 2×2 inches, in color, against a white or off-white background, with a neutral expression, both eyes open, and mouth closed. Glasses have to come off unless you have a signed note from a doctor.⁵ Many Michigan facilities take passport photos on site, and the facility locator shows which ones do.

Fees

Passport fees have two parts: the State Department application fee and a $35 acceptance fee paid to the facility. For in-person applications:

Adult passport book: $130 application fee plus $35 acceptance fee ($165 total).
Adult passport card: $30 plus $35 ($65 total).
Adult book and card together: $160 plus $35 ($195 total).
Child passport book, under 16: $100 plus $35 ($135 total).
Child passport card, under 16: $15 plus $35 ($50 total).

The application fee is paid by check or money order made out to “U.S. Department of State.” The $35 acceptance fee is paid separately, and accepted payment methods vary by facility, so check with your location before you go.⁶

Book, Card, or Both

Decide before your appointment whether you want a passport book, a passport card, or both. The book is the standard document and works for all international travel, including flights. The card is wallet-sized and cheaper but only works for land and sea entries from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and certain Caribbean countries. You cannot fly internationally on a passport card.⁷

For Michigan residents who regularly drive into Canada, the card is a convenient option. If you ever plan to fly abroad, you need the book.

What Happens at the Appointment and How Long It Takes

At the window, the acceptance agent reviews your unsigned DS-11, your citizenship evidence, your photo ID, your photo, and your payment, then has you sign the form under oath and seals the package for mailing to the State Department.⁴

You can track your application’s status online afterward. Routine processing takes four to six weeks from the time the State Department receives your application, and mailing adds roughly two weeks on each end, so the realistic door-to-door timeline is closer to eight to ten weeks.⁸

If You Need It Faster

Adding $60 to your application fee gets you expedited service, which cuts processing to two to three weeks. You can request expedited handling on any in-person or mail application. If you’re mailing it, write “EXPEDITE” on the outside of the envelope.⁶

For international travel within 14 calendar days, or if you need a foreign visa within 28 days, you can book an appointment at the Detroit Passport Agency, the only Michigan location of its kind. These appointments require proof of upcoming travel such as a flight itinerary or hotel reservation. Schedule online or by calling the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778. The agency accepts credit cards, debit cards, and contactless payments, but not checks or money orders.⁹

Applying for a Child Under 16

Children under 16 can never renew; they apply in person with Form DS-11 every time, at the same acceptance facilities adults use. Both parents or legal guardians must appear with the child.¹⁰

If one parent can’t be present, the absent parent completes Form DS-3053, a notarized statement of consent, which the present parent brings to the appointment.¹¹ If one parent has sole custody or the other can’t be located, bring the supporting court documents. Missing consent paperwork is one of the most common reasons child applications get turned away at the window.

You also need proof of the child’s relationship to the parents, typically a certified birth certificate listing both parents. A child’s passport is valid for five years, compared to ten years for adults.

Replacing a Lost or Stolen Passport

Report a lost or stolen passport to the State Department immediately — online, by phone at 1-877-487-2778, or by mailing Form DS-64. Reporting cancels the passport for good, so a found passport cannot be reused.¹²

Reporting doesn’t replace the passport. You still have to apply in person at an acceptance facility with Form DS-11, provide details about when and where it was lost or stolen, and include a copy of any police report. The full application and acceptance fees apply again. If you’re traveling soon, you can combine the replacement with expedited service or a Detroit Passport Agency appointment.

1
U.S. Department of State. Passport Acceptance Facility Search
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U.S. Department of State. Apply for Your Adult Passport
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U.S. Department of State. Renew My Passport by Mail
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U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State Form DS-11 – Application for a U.S. Passport
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U.S. Department of State. Passport Photos
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U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
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U.S. Department of State. Passport Card
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U.S. Department of State. Passport Processing Times
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U.S. Department of State. Make an Appointment at a Passport Agency
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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. U.S. Department of State Form DS-3053 – Statement of Consent
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U.S. Department of State. Lost or Stolen Passports