United States passport

United States passport
Front covers of different United States passport types
The polycarbonate data page of a contemporary next generation United States biometric passport
Type	Passport
Issued by	Department of State
First issued	1775 (first version) 1926 (booklet) 1981 (machine-readable passport) December 30, 2005 (diplomatic biometric passport booklet) 2006 (regular biometric passport booklet)[1] 2021 (next generation passport booklet)[2]
In circulation	151.8 million[3]
Purpose	Identification
Valid in	All countries except North Korea[4]
Eligibility	United States nationality
Expiration	Normally 10 years after acquisition for people at least age 16; 5 years for minors under 16[5]
Cost	Booklet: $165 (first), $130 (renewal), $135 (minors) Card: $65 (first), $30 (when applying for or holder of a valid passport booklet), $30 (renewal), $50 (minor), $15 (minor, when applying for passport booklet)[6]
Website	travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html/

United States citizenship and immigration
Immigration
Immigration to the United States Emigration from the United States Immigration policy of the United States Effects of immigration to the United States Permanent Residency (Green Card) Refugees and asylum Diversity Immigrant Visa Illegal immigrants Deportation of Americans from the United States
Citizenship
Oath of Allegiance Birthright citizenship U.S. citizens / nationals Citizenship test Passports Relinquishment of nationality Honorary citizenship
Agencies
USCIS ICE
Legislation
United States nationality law
History
Colonial nationality law Naturalization Act of 1790 Civil Rights Act of 1866 United States v. Wong Kim Ark Indian Citizenship Act Nationality Act of 1940
Relevant legislation
Citizenship Clause Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 / 1965 Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 Immigration Act of 1990 Child Citizenship Act of 2000
United States portal
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United States passports are passports issued to citizens and non-citizen nationals of the United States of America.^[7] They are issued exclusively by the U.S. Department of State.^[8] Besides passports (in booklet form), limited-use passport cards are issued subject to the same requirements.^[9] It is unlawful for US citizens and nationals to enter or exit the country without a valid US passport or passport-replacement document compliant with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative,^[10][11] though there are many exceptions;^[12] waivers are generally granted for U.S. citizens returning without a passport, and the exit requirement is not enforced. As of December 2024, a United States passport allows visa-free travel to 186 countries and territories, being ranked as the eighth most powerful in the world in terms of travel freedom per the Henley Passport Index.

U.S. passport booklets conform with recommended standards (i.e., size, composition, layout, technology) of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).^[13] There are five types of passport booklets; the State Department has issued only biometric passports since August 2007.^[14] US passports are federal property and must be returned upon demand.^[15]

By law, a valid unexpired U.S. passport (or passport card) is conclusive (and not just prima facie) proof of U.S. citizenship, with the same force and effect as proof as certificates of naturalization or citizenship if issued to a U.S. citizen for the full period allowed by law.^[16] U.S. law does not prohibit its citizens from also holding passports of other countries.^[17]