Legal Research

Passport Services maintains United States passport records for passports issued from 1925 to the present. These records normally consist of applications for United States passports and supporting evidence of U.S. citizenship, and are protected by the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 USC 552(a)). Passport records do not include evidence of travel such as entrance/exit stamps, visas, residence permits, etc., since this information is entered into the passport book after it is issued.

The Privacy Act allows persons to obtain copies of their own records and the records of their minor children. The requester?s notarized signature and a copy of requestor's valid photo identification are required along with any information that would help locate the records. A search for one?s passport record is free with the notarized request.

Third party requesters may obtain a record with a $60 fee per name as long as one of the following is also included in the request:

·         Notarized consent from the owner of the passport record,

·         Proof of guardianship,

·         Death certificate, or

·         Court order signed by a judge of competent jurisdiction requesting the U.S. Department of State to release passport records.

The only exception to this requirement is when the owner of the passport records was born 100 years or more ago. The third party request does not have to be notarized.

All requests for passport records issued from 1925 to present should be mailed to:

Department of State, Passport Services

Research and Liaison Section, Rm 500

1111 19th St N.W.

Washington, DC 20524-1705

or call 202-955-0447

© excerpt from The Public Record Research TIPS book