Thinking about taking that foreign cruise or adventure trip to another country? If so, you are required to obtain a passport. How to get a passport, you ask? It is a fairly straightforward process, but it requires some preparation and patience.

You can download a passport application from the United States State Department website. You can also obtain one from a local post office. The form you are obtaining is a DS-11. When filling it out, read the directions and follow them properly and exactly. Make certain to have the completed form with you when applying for the passport.

The next step is to gather together any proof of U.S. Citizenship. You need to obtain a certified birth certificate from the municipality in which you were born. The certified birth certificate is the ultimate proof of citizenship.

If you do not have or cannot obtain a certified copy of your birth certificate, it makes it more difficult to apply for a passport. You can obtain a letter of no record from the state you were born in. This is an official document stating that there is no birth certificate on file for you. You could also try to obtain a hospital birth certificate, baptismal record, census records, early school record and any record of early doctor care. Another way is to get an affidavit of birth form from an older blood relative who has personal knowledge of your birth. This should be signed and notarized.

If you were born abroad to U.S. Parents, you will need a foreign birth certificate. You should also get proof of citizenship of your parents and an affidavit from your parent showing places of residence for different time periods. The steps you take on how to get a new passport also require you to prove your identity. A previous U.S. Passport, a valid drivers license, or a military ID are valuable for this.

The next procedure is to have two photos taken. The photos should be taken in normal clothing. You should leave your head bare and not wear a hat. Also, uniforms should not be worn. Check the Internet or the yellow pages for merchants that do passport photos. These photos should be full face, 2 x 2 size and identical. Most merchants understand the proper requirements, but make certain you are familiar with the requirements also. You do not want the photos taken improperly as this will lengthen the time it takes to receive your passport.

Before you go to apply for your passport, write down your social security number. It is a requirement to know it when you apply. Next, the government wants your money! Do a search online prior to your visit to the passport acceptance facility and know what fees you will be required to pay.

Do an online search to locate the closest passport acceptance facility. There are over 7000 facilities across the country. They include courts, post offices, public libraries and many county offices. Also do a search for the government pages that will instruct you on how to get a US passport. Subsequent to following exactly all the necessary steps, your new U S passport should arrive sometime between fourteen days to two months. If you want to get it in less time, you can spend $60 or more to get it rushed out to you. Once you have your passport, you can pack your bags and go explore the world!