Your First U.S. Passport After the Oath Ceremony: Form DS-11, Fees, and What to Bring
Once you take the Oath of Allegiance, you can apply for a U.S. passport right away. Your Certificate of Naturalization is your proof of citizenship. Because it’s your first U.S. passport, you apply in person with Form DS-11, not by mail or online renewal.
Here’s what the U.S. Department of State asks for, step by step.
1. Fill out Form DS-11 (don’t sign it yet)
Form DS-11 is the application for anyone getting a first adult passport. You can fill it out online with the State Department’s form filler and print it, or print a blank form. Don’t sign it until the passport acceptance agent asks you to.
Use your name exactly as it appears on your Certificate of Naturalization. If a court changed your name at the ceremony, the certificate already shows the new name (how that works).
2. Bring your Certificate of Naturalization and a photocopy
The DS-11 lists a Certificate of Naturalization as primary evidence of U.S. citizenship for people born outside the United States. Bring:
- The original certificate (the State Department returns it), and
- A photocopy of the front (and the back if it has printed information), on plain white 8.5" × 11" paper, single-sided.
You won’t have your green card anymore, since you turn it in at the oath ceremony. That’s fine. The certificate replaces it as proof of status.
3. Bring a photo ID and a photocopy
You also need a physical, government-issued photo ID plus a photocopy of the front and back. A fully valid in-state driver’s license works. The photo ID rules also list the Certificate of Naturalization itself and a valid foreign passport as acceptable primary IDs. Digital or mobile driver’s licenses are not accepted.
4. Get one passport photo
You need one recent color photo, 2 × 2 inches, with a plain white or off-white background and no glasses. Many post offices and pharmacies take them.
5. Apply at an acceptance facility and pay two fees
Most people apply at a post office, library, or county clerk’s office that serves as a passport acceptance facility. Many require an appointment. These are the current fees for an adult (16 or older) applying with the DS-11:
| What you get | Application fee (to “U.S. Department of State”) | Acceptance fee (to the facility) |
|---|---|---|
| Passport book | $130 | $35 |
| Passport card | $30 | $35 |
| Book and card | $160 | $35 |
The application fee is paid by check or money order payable to “U.S. Department of State.” The facility sets its own payment methods for the $35. Optional extras are $60 for expedited service and $26.87 for 1–3 day return delivery. Neither the application fee nor the acceptance fee is refundable, even if a passport isn’t issued.
Book or card? The book works for all international travel, including flights. The card is cheaper and wallet-sized, but it’s only for land and sea crossings to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. Most new citizens planning to fly abroad want the book.
How long it takes
The State Department’s processing times page currently lists:
- Routine: 4–6 weeks of processing
- Expedited: 2–3 weeks (for the extra $60)
- Plus up to 2 weeks for your application to reach them and up to 2 weeks for the passport to reach you by mail
If you have international travel within 14 calendar days, you can request an appointment at a passport agency with proof of the trip. The State Department also notes that October through December is a less busy time to apply, so a fall ceremony is good timing.
When you get your certificate back
Your passport and your supporting documents come separately. The State Department mails your Certificate of Naturalization back by First Class Mail, and says to expect it up to 4 weeks after your passport. If it’s been longer than that, call 877-487-2778 to report it (State Department FAQ).
Make a personal photocopy before you apply, and keep the original somewhere safe when it comes back. Replacing a lost certificate means filing Form N-565 with USCIS.
Don’t book travel on the certificate alone
A Certificate of Naturalization is not a travel document. Wait until your passport is in your hands before you fly abroad. If you still hold another country’s passport, the State Department says U.S. citizens must use a U.S. passport to leave and re-enter the United States. Check your other country’s rules on dual nationality separately.
Next steps after the passport
- Update your citizenship status with Social Security (how to do it).
- Register to vote (some ceremonies offer it on site).
Still preparing for your interview?
You need to pass the civics and English tests before any of this. Q68 even asks how people become U.S. citizens. Practice all 128 questions with a free practice test or hands-free Listen mode.
Read next
- After the Civics Test: Approved, Continued or Denied?
- Can You Change Your Name When You Become a Citizen?
- Traveling Abroad Before or After You File Form N-400
Sources: U.S. Department of State, Form DS-11, Passport Fees (last updated March 19, 2026), Citizenship Evidence, Photo ID Requirements, Processing Times, and Passport FAQ. Image: John T. Bledsoe, U.S. News & World Report, Library of Congress (no known restrictions on publication).
This post summarizes public government information for general education. Fees and times change, so confirm on travel.state.gov before you apply. It is not legal advice.