Passports

A passport is an internationally recognized travel document attesting to the identity and nationality of the bearer. In essence, it is a request on the part of the issuing government that officials of foreign governments permit the bearer to travel or sojourn in their territories and to afford them all lawful aid and protection.

Only Passport Services, Passport Agencies, Passport Agents of the Department of State, and Foreign Service posts designated by the U.S. Secretary of State have authority to grant, issue, or verify passports.

You need to come to the Clerk’s Office with the following items:

• One passport photograph of yourself. Passport photo services are available in all of our branches except Palm Bay.
• The original or certified copy of your citizenship evidence (birth certificate, naturalization certificate, etc.)
• A photocopy of your citizenship evidence (front and back if there is writing on both sides)
• A valid form of photo identification, such as a driver’s license

Please see our Fees & Charges document. Separate payments to the Clerk’s Office and to the Passport Agency are required. Payment for the US Dept. of State must be in check form (personal, cashier’s check, or money order).

Payment for the Clerk of Court may be made in cash, by major credit or debit card, or by personal check for the full amount. Partial payments are not accepted.

If you obtain copies through INS, it will take 8 months. However, if you obtain the copies from the National Archives Northeast Region, 380 Trapelo Rd., Waltham, MA 02452, it takes four days.

The passport photograph can be color only; must be two-inches by two-inches in overall size with a head image size of no less than one inch nor larger than 1 3/8-inch; must be a frontal, portrait-type view without dark glasses or a hat. The background should be white. The photographic paper must be able to withstand a temperature of 225 degrees for laminating. White backgrounds are needed for any digital photos.

Effective November 1, 2016, passport photos of applicants wearing eyeglasses will NOT be accepted. Applicants are required to remove eyeglasses when taking the photo unless a signed statement from a medical professional or health practitioner (such as a surgeon or ophthalmologist) is accompanied with the application due to a recent surgery/procedure.

Most vending machine photographs are not able to withstand the mounting temperatures and/or will not adhere properly to the passport page. Therefore, they are not acceptable. Newspaper and magazine prints also are not acceptable.

That depends on the time of year submitted, because of the seasonal nature of travel. During peak travel periods, the normal processing time ranges from four to six weeks.

Yes. Those who meet certain criteria can pay a surcharge for expedited processing that will guarantee completion by the Passport Agency in seven to ten working days after it receives the application. Renewals also may receive seven to ten working day processing with an expedited fee.

If the passport was issued within the past 15 years, and if you were 16 years or older when it was issued, you may apply with a renewal application (DS-82), available from this office or at travel.state.gov.  You will need one new passport photo, your old passport, and a fee. You will mail all of the above to the Passport Agency.

Note: This option is not available if the individual was a minor when the most recent passport was issued. Please view the information on travel.state.gov to renew your passport by mail.

The Form DS-11 used by a first-time applicant, all minors, and applicants ineligible to use the DS-82 form may be obtained at any of the Clerk of Courts’ office locations or online from the U.S. Department of State’s website: travel.state.gov.

Note: This form must be submitted to the Clerk of Courts’ acceptance agents staff, unsigned. DO NOT SIGN THE DS-11 FORM PRIOR TO YOUR ARRIVAL AT OUR OFFICE. 

The Form DS-82 used by eligible individuals to renew their process may be obtained at any one of the Clerk of Courts’ office locations or online from the U.S. Department of State’s website: travel.state.gov. Please follow the form instructions and submit your renewal application to the address provided on the DS-82.

If you need a copy of your birth certificate, you can contact Vital Statistics via:

• Phone: (321) 454-7163 or (321) 454-7111
• Fax: (321) 454-7164

Or you can visit the VitalChek website at vitalchek.com.

If you have any further questions, we can instruct you on how to obtain a copy of your birth certificate from any state.

For additional information on obtaining citizenship evidence, visit the United States Department of State’s website at www.travel.state.gov.

You will need to contact the proper agency (the Bureau of Vital Statistics or the Health Department) of your birth state. A letter will be issued on this fact, then we can use other items for proof. Contact us, and we will be glad to assist you.

The original naturalization certificate must accompany the application for a passport. It will be returned by the passport agency.

Yes. Unless you are filing for a renewal.

Yes. On February 1, 2004, Passport Services will begin requiring the personal appearance of all minors applying for U.S. passports. This new requirement is being implemented to enhance the accurate identification of applicants and aid in preventing international child abduction and substitution.

If you are traveling within 14 days, you may make an appointment by phone at (877) 487-2778 or TDD/TTY (888) 874-7793 or online from the U.S. Department of State’s website: travel.state.gov.

Visit the section “Where to Apply” and look for the link to “Make an Appointment.” You must have your ticket or proof of purchase from your travel agent.

A check or money order payable to the U.S. Department of State is required.  You may wish to visit the Clerk’s Office first for the determination of accurate documentation before your trip to the federal passport office.

A valid passport is required of U.S. citizens departing from the United States for any destination outside of North, South, or Central America and for entering the United States from outside the United States.  A passport is not required for travel by U.S. Citizens to any territory or waters, continental or insular, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States (including Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).

A visa is permission granted by the government of a country to an alien to enter that country and to remain for a specific period of time. It is the responsibility of the traveler to obtain necessary visas, if any, before proceeding abroad. Visas are obtained from the embassy or consulate of the countries to which the applicant wishes to travel. We can give information as to which countries require visas.

A passport is required for air and sea travel on/after December 31, 2006. A passport is required for air, land, and sea travel on/after December 31, 2007. Until then, you must have a birth certificate or other proof of U.S. citizenship.

However, it is recommended that you have a passport for the U.S. Customs Department. By December 31st, 2007, a passport or other accepted document will be required for all air, land, and sea border crossings.

We have a complete list and will be glad to answer your questions about specific countries.

For additional information, visit the United States Department of State’s website www.travel.state.gov.

You must contact the nearest consulate for your country.

No.

No.

You must complete a new application, with new pictures, a birth certificate, and an affidavit of lost or stolen passport. The forms are available in this office or online at the U.S. Department of State website.

The National Passport Information Center (NPIC)  will accept reports of lost or stolen passports.  You can call them toll-free at (877) 487-2778.

A customer service representative will ask a number of questions, record the answers, and guide you through the reporting process. The completed report will then be forwarded electronically to Passport Service Headquarters. Spanish-speaking representatives are also available to accept reports.

That is entirely up to the discretion of the Passport Agency in Miami.

The Department of State warns US citizens against travel to Afghanistan. The US Government continues to receive terrorist threats that do not distinguish between American government and civilian targets. The US government reserves the right to retaliate against the facilities of those who harbor terrorist threats.

The Passport Agency will not issue a passport if the applicant is in arrears of child support payments in excess of $2,500. The applicant will be required to have payment arrangements, and the child support agency must contact the U S Department of Health and Human Services before the processing of an application.

Washington, D.C. – The Department of Homeland Security and State formally submitted the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative proposal for public comment. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will require all citizens, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and citizens of and to have a passport or other accepted secure document that establishes the bearer’s identity and nationality to enter or re-enter the United States by January 1, 2008.

The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 mandated that the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, develop and implement a plan to require U.S. citizens and foreign nationals to present a passport, or other secure document, when entering the United States.  In the proposed implementation plan, the Initiative will be rolled out in phases, providing as much advance notice as possible to the affected public to enable them to meet the terms of the new guidelines. The proposed timeline will be as follows:

December 31, 2006 – Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

December 31, 2007 – Requirement extended to all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel.

National Passport Information Center: (877) 487-2778
National Passport Information Center (credit card users) (888) 362-8668
Toll-free for Passport Services: (800) 688-9889