San Diego County Passport: Appointments, Documents & Fees
Find official passport resources for scheduling a San Diego County acceptance appointment, preparing documents, understanding fees and checking application status. Travelers with urgent international plans should review the separate federal passport agency process.
Independent guide. This website is not affiliated with San Diego County or the U.S. Department of State. It provides general information and does not accept passport applications, collect passport fees or book appointments. Verify current requirements, fees and processing times through official sources.
Choose Your Passport Service
San Diego County accepts eligible applications and forwards them to the U.S. Department of State, which processes applications and issues passports. The county acceptance office and the federal San Diego Passport Agency have different appointment systems and services.
Apply in Person Using DS-11
Form DS-11 is generally used for a first passport, a child under 16, or an applicant whose previous passport was issued before age 16, issued more than 15 years ago, or lost, stolen or damaged. Applicants using the county service must attend in person.
Renewals and Corrections
Eligible applicants may renew online or by mail through the Department of State. Corrections and certain name changes use separate procedures. County acceptance appointments are not the route for submitting renewal or correction forms.
Review the federal Where to Apply guide before booking. Online renewals offer routine processing and cannot be expedited. If your travel is approaching, check the federal instructions before choosing online or mail service.
Passport Book or Passport Card?
A passport book is used for international travel by air, land and sea, subject to destination entry requirements. A passport card is limited to qualifying land and sea entry into the United States from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. A passport card cannot be used for international air travel.
You may apply for a book, a card or both. Check destination visa requirements separately; a passport does not guarantee entry into another country.
County Appointments and Location
Use the official county passport page to schedule, reschedule or cancel an acceptance appointment. The county publishes appointments up to two weeks in advance. If no times are available, check again for cancellations or newly released appointments.
County passport acceptance office
Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
County Administration Center
1600 Pacific Highway, Room 402
San Diego, CA 92101
Confirm the location in your booking details. This office is separate from the federal San Diego Passport Agency on West A Street.
The county lists up to three hours of free underground parking for visitors conducting county business, with the garage entrance on Ash Street between Pacific Highway and North Harbor Drive. Check current parking arrangements and MTS trip-planning information before traveling.
Forms and Required Documents
Complete the Correct Form
Use the Department of State’s passport forms page to select your form or use the Form Filler. Completing the Form Filler prepares a document for printing; it does not submit an application.
For DS-11, complete the form in black ink or use the Form Filler, then print it single-sided on 8.5-by-11-inch paper in portrait orientation. Follow the current printing instructions and do not alter a Form Filler printout by hand except where permitted.
Do not sign DS-11 in advance. Sign when instructed by the authorized acceptance agent. If you make an error on a handwritten application, follow the official instructions to complete a new form.
Prepare Your Documents
- The completed, unsigned DS-11 application.
- Original or certified citizenship evidence and the required photocopy.
- Original acceptable photo identification and front-and-back photocopies.
- One acceptable passport photo, or arrangements to use county photo service.
- Additional documents for children, name changes or other special circumstances.
- The correct separate payments.
Citizenship evidence and identification serve different purposes. Common citizenship documents include a qualifying U.S. birth certificate, an undamaged qualifying U.S. passport, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship. Follow the federal instructions for the document you will submit.
The county specifically advises that California and Texas abstract birth certificates are not acceptable for its passport service. Applicants with late-filed birth records, citizenship through a parent, adoption or other special circumstances should review the applicable federal evidence requirements before attending.
Have your previous passport details, other legal names, mailing information and Social Security number available when completing the form. If you have never been issued a Social Security number, follow the specific declaration instructions in DS-11.
Submit identity documents and personal information only through the appropriate official application process. This website does not collect passport application materials.
Passport Photos
The county offers passport photos during appointments for a published charge of $17.10 per set. Confirm the current price before your visit.
If bringing your own photo, review the official passport photo requirements and examples. Key requirements include:
- One color photo taken within the last six months.
- A printed size of 2 by 2 inches on photo-quality paper.
- A plain white or off-white background without shadows.
- A direct view of the face with the required head size and positioning.
- No filters, retouching or other digital alterations.
Glasses and head coverings have specific restrictions and documented exceptions. Babies and children also have age-appropriate photo guidance. Use the official examples rather than assuming a photo accepted for another document will meet U.S. passport requirements.
Children and Teens
Children Under Age 16
The child must attend. Both legal parents or guardians generally appear and consent, with evidence of parental relationship or guardianship, original identification and required photocopies.
If one parent cannot attend, review Form DS-3053, Statement of Consent, and the supporting identification requirements. The form requires signing before the appropriate officer or notary, matching signature dates and submission within its stated 90-day validity period.
Sole legal authority, a deceased parent, an unavailable parent or other special circumstances require the applicable evidence. Form DS-5525 is used for consideration in limited circumstances and does not guarantee that an application will be approved without the other parent’s consent. Consult the federal instructions linked from the passport forms page.
Applicants Ages 16 and 17
The county requires applicants ages 16 and 17 to attend with at least one parent. Federal requirements address parental awareness, and an authorizing officer may request additional consent documentation.
Applicants age 16 and older use the adult application-fee category. Do not use the under-16 fee simply because an applicant is still a minor.
Fees and Payments
County DS-11 applications require separate payments to the U.S. Department of State and the County of San Diego. The following basic application fees exclude expedited processing, delivery options, photos and other optional services.
| Passport product | Age 16 and older | Under age 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Passport book | $130 | $100 |
| Passport card | $30 | $15 |
| Passport book and card | $160 | $115 |
County acceptance fee: Add $35 per DS-11 application, paid separately to the County of San Diego. These figures are not a renewal fee schedule.
Payment Methods at the County Office
- Department of State payment: Check or money order.
- County payment: Cash, check or money order.
- Cards: The county passport office does not accept credit or debit cards.
The county lists a $3.10 fee to purchase a money order at its office. Confirm amounts and payee instructions using the county passport fee schedule before preparing payments.
Expedited Processing and Delivery Options
Expedited processing adds $60 to the Department of State payment. Faster mailing is separate from faster processing: sending the application to the processing center and returning the completed passport involve different delivery services.
The federal fee page currently lists optional 1–3-day return delivery at $26.87 for eligible passport book delivery. This does not mean the passport will be processed in one to three days. Passport cards do not qualify for that return-delivery service.
Optional faster mailing to the processing center carries a separate charge. Check the county’s current mailing options and total payment before your appointment.
Refunds
Passport application and execution fees are nonrefundable even if a passport is not issued. A refund of the expedited processing fee may be available under the Department of State’s service-commitment rules. Review the official federal fees and refund information for current conditions.
Processing Times and Application Tracking
The Department of State currently publishes routine processing of 4–6 weeks and expedited processing of 2–3 weeks. Check its processing-time page before selecting a service.
Processing estimates do not include mailing time to or from the Department of State. Allow additional time for delivery. A county appointment date is not a passport issuance date, and paying for faster return delivery does not shorten the application review.
Use the official Passport Application Status system to check progress. Have the requested identifying information available and follow the site’s privacy instructions.
A passport book, passport card and original supporting documents may arrive separately. Keep your application locator number available when contacting federal passport support. If your address changes before delivery, contact the National Passport Information Center.
Urgent Travel and Contacts
Federal San Diego Passport Agency
The San Diego Passport Agency handles qualifying urgent international travel within 14 calendar days or foreign visa needs within 28 calendar days. Appointments and proof of travel are required; appointment availability is not guaranteed.
Federal agency location
San Diego Passport Agency
1 Columbia Place
401 West A Street, 10th Floor
San Diego, CA 92101
This is separate from the county acceptance office at 1600 Pacific Highway. Federal agency appointments and payment methods differ from county arrangements.
If You Have Not Applied
Follow the federal agency page to the official appointment system and enter your travel information. The Department of State does not charge to schedule an appointment. Do not purchase an appointment from a third party or assume that a county booking reserves federal agency service.
If You Already Applied
Call the National Passport Information Center if your travel becomes urgent. Have your travel date and application locator number available. Staff will advise whether the processing office can assist or whether an agency appointment is appropriate.
National Passport Information Center: 877-487-2778
TDD/TTY: 888-874-7793
Published telephone hours are Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–10 p.m. Eastern Time, and Saturday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Eastern Time. Check current federal contact instructions before calling.
Prepare for the Agency Visit
Bring printed appointment confirmation, printed proof of qualifying travel, the appropriate application, required original documents and photocopies, a passport photo and an accepted payment method.
Review the agency page for security screening, arrival instructions, accessibility assistance and permitted accompanying helpers. For a qualifying life-or-death emergency, follow the dedicated emergency instructions linked from the federal agency page rather than relying on routine or county acceptance appointments.