Improved Passport Application Form Available Online

Improved Passport Application Form Available Online

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has introduced a new online passport application form procedure. This new process will promote faster passport processing and reduce data entry errors by eliminating the need to manually enter data from handwritten passport applications.

Under the online form process, applicants for U.S. passports will no longer have to handwrite personal data to fill out a passport application form. Instead, the applicant may electronically enter his or her personal information securely online and then print the finished form. The electronic entry system allows for the generation of a 2D barcode on the printed form. This 2D barcode is read by machine during the adjudication process and reproduces the information electronically entered by the applicant. In order to ensure the privacy of data, the Department of State does not retain the data provided by applicants using this process. Once the application form is printed, the data provided to generate that form is automatically deleted.

The online form may be accessed at travel.state.gov/passport. Blank passport application forms may also be downloaded from that website. Completed passport application forms and accompanying documents may be submitted at any of the 6,000 passport application acceptance facilities around the United States or at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.

Last year, over 8.8 million U.S. passports were issued to U.S. citizens. It is expected that the Department of State will issue over 10 million U.S. passports this year.

2005/562 Released on May 26, 2005 Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC May 26, 2005