passports - INFORMATION ON PASSPORTS FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE - Applying for a passport and renewing - September 2008

Sep 19, 2026

Resource from the National Center for Transgender Equality (September 2008) explaining passport access for transgender people and the practical steps needed to obtain accurate, up-to-date identification. Covers when a passport is required for travel, outlines passport document types (book, card, enhanced driver’s license, enhanced tribal card), and provides checklists for first-time applications (DS-11, documents, fees) plus renewal options (in person or by mail, DS-82) and name-change guidance for passports.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time2 min

AccessFree to download

When do you need a passport?

Types of passports

Applying for a passport for the first time

Renewing a passport

Changing your name on your passport

transgender people and passports A Resource from the National Center for Transgender Equality September 2008 1325 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20005 (202) 903-0112 ▪ [ncte@nctequality.org](ncte@nctequality.org) ▪ [www.nctequality.org](www.nctequality.org) passports INFORMATION ON PASSPORTS FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE . As with many identification documents, obtaining accurate and up-to-date passports can be a particular challenge for transgender people. This resource has been developed to help transgender people navigate the issues involved with passports. WhEN DO YOu NEED A PASSPORT? ▪ Leaving the Country. You will need a passport to go anywhere other than the American territories of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Island, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. ▪ Going on a Cruise. You now need a passport to go on an international cruise unless it is leaving from and ending in the same American port. If you do not have a passport, such cruises do still require a government-issued photo ID and birth certificate, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or Certificate of Naturalization. Foreign nationals on such a cruise should carry a passport. ▪ Identification. Passports can be used as identification within the United States, fulfilling both ID document and proof of citizenship requirements. TYPES OF PASSPORTS Recently, Americans’ options for passport documents have expanded. There are some other choices for some Americans beyond the traditional passport book. ▪ Passport Books. This is the traditional option that gives the most access and is still the right choice for most people. ▪ Passport Cards. Targeted for people living in border areas, this license-sized card is only valid for travel across land and sea between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean islands. ▪ Enhanced Driver’s Licenses. For residents of states that do or will offer the Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL), these will provide another travel document option for those wishing only to cross into Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, or the Caribbean by land or sea. The fees for these vary by state but are generally more expensive than regular driver’s licenses and less expensive than a passport book. ▪ Enhanced Tribal Card. Some federally recognized American Indian tribes can issue enhanced identification cards that can be used like Enhanced Driver’s Licenses. National Center for Transgender Equality ▪ (202) 903-0112 ▪ [ncte@nctequality.org](ncte@nctequality.org) ▪ [www.nctequality.org](www.nctequality.org) 1 APPLYING FOR A PASSPORT FOR ThE FIRST TIME To apply for a passport for the first time, you will need: ▪ Two 2x2 inch photographs of yourself ▪ Proof of U.S. citizenship such as a birth certificate or enhanced driver’s license ▪ A valid form of government-issued photo identification such as a driver’s license or tribal identification card ▪ A completed Application for Passport, Form DS-11, available online at [http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/79955.pdf](http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/79955.pdf). ▪ Relevant fees Application Fee Execution Fee Total Passport Book (Age 16 & Older) $75 $25 $100 Passport Book (Under Age 16) $60 $25 $85 Passport Card (Age 16 & Older) $20 $25 $45 Passport Card (Under Age 16) $10 $25 $35 When applying at a Passport Agency, both the application fee and the execution fee are combined as one payment to the “U.S. Department of State.” When applying atan Acceptance Facility, pay the application fee to the “U.S. Department of State” and the execution fee to the facility where you are applying. Take your required documents and fees in person to any acceptance facility. These include courthouses, post offices, some public libraries and certain county and municipal offices. Additionally, there are thirteen regional passport agencies and one Gateway City Agency, which serves those who need expedited service. To find the acc

FAQs

When is a passport required for transgender people to travel?

A passport is needed to leave the country for places other than specified U.S. territories. It is also required for international cruises unless the trip starts and ends in the same American port.

What types of passport documents are discussed?

The resource covers traditional passport books, passport cards, enhanced driver’s licenses, and enhanced tribal cards, explaining who they target and what travel they enable.

What documents and forms are needed to apply for a passport for the first time?

Applicants need two 2x2 inch photos, proof of U.S. citizenship, valid photo identification, the completed Application for Passport (Form DS-11), and relevant fees.

Sep 19, 2026

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