NOW ACCEPTING PASSPORT APPOINTMENTS!

The City Clerk's Office is an authorized U.S. Passport Acceptance Facility and provides passport services to the public. Applicants eligible for Application for a U.S. Passport (Form DS-11) may apply in person at the City Clerk's office.

 Applicants may apply in person using Form DS-11 if at least one of the following is true:

• You are applying for your first U.S. passport
• You are under age 16
• Your previous U.S. passport was issued when you were under age 16
• Your previous U.S. passport was lost, stolen, or damaged
• Your previous U.S. passport was issued more than 15 years ago

Application for a U.S. Passport (Form DS-11) are processed BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Eligible applicants can schedule an appointment through our online appointment scheduler. Appointments are available Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

HOW TO APPLY

Please review the below information carefully to insure you are prepared for your passport appointment. All Applicants must appear and present the following:

• Applications for a U.S. Passport (Form DS-11) - Your form must be completed, unsigned and in black ink. 
• Evidence of U.S. Citizenship - Original birth certificate, current/previous U.S. Passport or naturalization certificate (abstract birth certificates are not accepted) must be submitted with your application. Your original documents will be mailed with your passport application and will be returned when your new passport is completed.
• Valid Photo ID - Valid driver's license, undamaged U.S. Passport, military ID, CA DPC or valid government ID.
• Photocopy of U.S. Citizenship Evidence & front and back of presented ID
• One recent Passport Photograph - Size: 2x2 inches. The City of Bell Gardens now offers passport photos for $15.00 in the City Clerk's office. 
• Fees (see below chart for breakdown)
  • Passport Fees and Optional Services must be in check or money order payable to the U.S. Department of State.
  • Execution Fee  can be made with cash, debt, credit, check or money order. Payments made in check or money order must be made payable to the City of Bell Gardens. 

** Additional documents may be required for special circumstances. **

REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILDREN 

Children 15 and under require both parents or the child's legal guardian(s) to appear and present the following:

• Application for a U.S. Passport (Form DS-11)
• Evidence of the child's U.S. citizenship
• Evidence of the child's relationship to parents/guardian(s)
• Original parental/guardian government-issued identification
• Photocopy of the front and back side of presented identification
• One recent Passport Photograph - Size: 2x2 inches. The City of Bell Gardens now offers passport photos for $15.00 in the City Clerk's office. 
• Fees (see chart below)

Children 16 and 17 can apply on their own with acceptable primary Id and parental awareness along with all of the required items. If minors are unable to provide acceptable primary Id and parental awareness, one parent must be present.

For additional information on applying in person please click here.

FEES

PROCESSING TIMES:

Routine service can take 6-8 weeks.

Expedited service (for an additional $60) can take  2-3 weeks.

PASSPORT RENEWALS

**PLEASE NOTE: U.S. Passport Renewal Applications for eligible individuals must submit(Form DS-82) by mail to the National Passport Processing Center. (Form DS-82) is not accepted for in person appointments.**

EMERGENCY PASSPORTS

Applicants with emergency or urgent travel can schedule an appointment up to 2 weeks before their international travel but the date of the appointment must be within 3 business days of their  international travel. An appointment can be made online  or by calling the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) at 1-877-487-2778 . Please be advised, during this time they are experiencing higher than usual call volumes. You may experience longer than usual wait times. For more information please visit travel.state.gov. 

PASSPORT FORMS

Forms are available online and at the City Clerk's office. To help determine what form you need please click here.

SPANISH INSTRUCTIONS

The Department of State has created a Spanish language instructional video to assist Spanish speakers with completing the DS-11 Passport application. Please click on Como llenar la solicitud DS-11 para un pasaporte estadounidense to access the video. 

APPLICATION STATUS

You can check your application status online through the Online Passport Status System or by phone by calling 1-877-487-2778 or 1-888-874-7793 (TDD/TTY).

INFORMATION AND QUESTIONS 

For additional information please visit the U.S. Department of State website at www.travel.state.gov or contact the City Clerk's office at (562) 806-7706.