Practical examples of examples of how to fill out a passport application form

Real-world examples of how to fill out a passport application form (DS-11)

Let’s start where most people get stuck: what does a properly filled-out U.S. passport application actually look like in everyday life? Instead of abstract instructions, here are real examples modeled on Form DS-11, the standard form for first-time U.S. passport applicants.

Note: These are sample scenarios, not official templates. Always compare with the latest instructions on the U.S. Department of State site: travel.state.gov.

We’ll walk through several examples of examples of how to fill out a passport application form for different situations:

• An adult with a simple, straightforward application
• A child under 16 applying with parents
• An applicant with a recent name change
• Someone born abroad to U.S. parents
• An applicant who doesn’t know one parent’s details
• A person with a hyphenated or two-part last name
• Someone renewing in person after a lost passport

Each example of a filled-out passport application focuses on the trickier lines that raise questions for most people.

Example of a simple adult passport application (first-time)

This is the cleanest scenario and one of the best examples to start with. Meet Alex Taylor, 29, born in Chicago, never had a passport before.

Name section (Lines 1–3 on DS-11)

• Last Name: TAYLOR
• First Name: ALEXANDER
• Middle Name: JAMES
• Other Names Used: N/A

Why this works: The name matches Alex’s birth certificate exactly. If your driver’s license uses a nickname (like Alex instead of Alexander), you still use your full legal name as it appears on your citizenship evidence.

Date and place of birth

• Date of Birth: 04 / 15 / 1995
• City & State: CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, USA

Always spell out the state or use the USPS abbreviation (e.g., IL). Don’t leave out “USA” if you were born in the United States.

Contact and mailing address

• Mailing Address: 1234 W OAK STREET, APT 5B
• City: CHICAGO
• State: IL
• ZIP Code: 60607
• Primary Phone: (312) 555-0182
• Email: alex.taylor@example.com

If your mailing address is temporary (like a college dorm), consider listing an address where you’ll reliably receive mail for 6–8 weeks.

Height, eye color, hair color, occupation

• Height: 5 ft 10 in
• Eye Color: BROWN
• Hair Color: BLACK
• Occupation: SOFTWARE ENGINEER

Use simple, standard colors (brown, blue, green, hazel, black, gray). Avoid creative answers here.

Travel plans

• Date of Trip: UNKNOWN
• Length of Trip: UNDECIDED

This is one of the most common examples of confusion. It’s fine to write “UNKNOWN” or “UNDECIDED” if you don’t have tickets yet. You do not need booked travel to apply.

Emergency contact

• Name: MARIA TAYLOR
• Relationship: MOTHER
• Phone: (312) 555-0199
• Address: SAME AS APPLICANT

The emergency contact can live outside the U.S. and doesn’t need to be a relative, but should be someone who can be reached in an emergency.

Child application: examples of how to fill out a passport form for minors

Next, let’s look at examples of examples of how to fill out a passport application form for a child under 16. This is where parents often get nervous.

Say you’re applying for your 8-year-old daughter, Lily Carter, born in Dallas. Both parents will appear in person.

Name and applicant info

• Last Name: CARTER
• First Name: LILY
• Middle Name: ROSE
• Date of Birth: 09 / 02 / 2016
• Sex: F
• City & State of Birth: DALLAS, TEXAS, USA

Parent/Guardian information (Lines 10–11)
For Parent 1:

• Last, First, Middle: CARTER, EMILY ANNE
• Date of Birth: 03 / 22 / 1988
• Place of Birth: AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA

For Parent 2:

• Last, First, Middle: CARTER, MICHAEL JOHN
• Date of Birth: 07 / 17 / 1986
• Place of Birth: HOUSTON, TEXAS, USA

Both parents will bring government-issued ID. This is a textbook example of how to fill out the parent section when both are U.S.-born and present.

Parental consent
For kids under 16, both parents generally must appear and consent. If one parent can’t appear, check the official rules and sample forms at travel.state.gov.

Emergency contact
You can list a parent again as the emergency contact, or another adult relative.

Name change example: recently married or divorced

Now let’s look at one of the best examples of how to handle a name change on a passport application. Meet Jordan Lee, who got married and changed their last name from LEE to PARKER.

Current legal name (Line 1)

• Last Name: PARKER
• First Name: JORDAN
• Middle Name: ELIZABETH

Other names used (Line 9)

• Other Names Used: JORDAN ELIZABETH LEE

This is a classic example of when you absolutely should list your prior name. Jordan will bring a certified marriage certificate as proof of the name change.

If you’ve had more than one former name, you can list them all separated by commas, or attach an additional sheet if needed.

Signature
Jordan signs as: Jordan E. Parker
The signature should match how you sign legal documents now, not how you signed under your old name.

Born abroad: examples include U.S. citizens born outside the U.S.

Another common scenario: you’re a U.S. citizen, but you were born outside the United States. This is where good examples of how to fill out a passport application form really help.

Imagine Daniel Ortiz, born in Madrid, Spain, to two U.S. citizen parents stationed there for work.

Birth information

• City & Country of Birth: MADRID, SPAIN

Do not write the U.S. state where your parents were from. You must list the actual city and country where you were born.

Parent information
Parent 1:

• Name: ORTIZ, CARLA MARIE
• Place of Birth: SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, USA

Parent 2:

• Name: ORTIZ, MIGUEL ANTONIO
• Place of Birth: EL PASO, TEXAS, USA

Daniel will bring a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) or other proof of citizenship. The State Department explains acceptable evidence here:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/citizenship-evidence.html

This is one of the clearest real examples of how U.S.-born parents and foreign birth are shown together on the form.

Example of limited parent information (unknown parent)

Sometimes you simply don’t know one parent’s details. The form allows for that, but you need to be honest and consistent.

Meet Sam Brooks, 24, raised by a single mother and no information about the father.

Parent 1 (known parent)

• Name: BROOKS, ANGELA MARIE
• Date of Birth: 01 / 11 / 1975
• Place of Birth: CLEVELAND, OHIO, USA

Parent 2 (unknown)

• Name: UNKNOWN or NONE
• Date of Birth: UNKNOWN
• Place of Birth: UNKNOWN

This is a realistic example of how to fill out the application when one parent is truly unknown. Do not invent information. If you have partial info (like a first name only), you can include it, but be prepared to explain if asked.

In more complex situations (adoption, guardianship, etc.), check the State Department’s guidance for children and parents:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/under-16.html

Hyphenated and two-part last names: real examples

Names can get messy, especially in countries where two surnames are common. Here are real examples of how to show that cleanly.

Meet Ana García López, who uses both last names as her legal surname.

Name section

• Last Name: GARCIA LOPEZ
• First Name: ANA
• Middle Name: ISABEL

If your legal documents show a space instead of a hyphen, copy that format. If they show a hyphen, you’d write:

• Last Name: GARCIA-LOPEZ

This is a simple example of how to keep your name consistent with your birth certificate or naturalization certificate. The passport should match your primary evidence of citizenship.

Lost passport: examples of how to fill out a new DS-11

If you lost a previous passport, you’ll usually complete DS-11 again and an additional lost/stolen form (DS-64). Here’s one of the best examples of how that looks in practice.

Meet Priya Shah, who had a passport issued when she was 17 and lost it in 2023.

Have you ever been issued a U.S. passport?
Priya checks YES.

Most recent passport

• Passport Book Number: UNKNOWN
• Issue Date: APPROX. 06 / 2013
• Status: LOST

It’s perfectly acceptable in this example of a lost passport situation to write “UNKNOWN” if you don’t have the number. Just be as accurate as you can with dates.

Priya will also complete Form DS-64 and explain where and when the passport was lost. The instructions for lost or stolen passports are here:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/lost-stolen.html

Signing, dating, and common mistakes: real examples to copy (and avoid)

Even people who fill everything else out correctly trip up at the end. Here are examples include what a correct signature section looks like—and what to avoid.

Correct signing example

• You complete the entire form in black ink.
• You do not sign it at home.
• At the acceptance facility (post office, clerk of court, etc.), the agent asks you to raise your right hand, swear the information is true, then sign.

Your signature line might look like:
/s/ ALEXANDER J. TAYLOR
Date: 01 / 10 / 2025

Incorrect signing example

• You sign at home before going in.
• You cross things out messily or use white-out.
• You sign with a nickname that doesn’t match the name on the form.

If that happens, you may be asked to redo the form. This is why seeing examples of how to fill out a passport application form—including the signature step—can save you a second trip.

2024–2025 updates and tips you should know

A few practical notes that matter right now:

Processing times
Processing times change. Before you apply, check the current estimates:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/processing-times.html

In 2024–2025, routine processing has often ranged from several weeks to a few months, depending on demand. Expedited service costs extra but can be faster.

Health and travel planning
If you’re getting a passport for international travel, it’s smart to look at health and vaccine guidance early. The CDC’s travel health section is a good starting point:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Online tools
While first-time DS-11 applications still require an in-person visit, you can usually fill and print the form online to avoid handwriting errors. The official form-filler is on travel.state.gov—avoid any site that tries to charge you just to access the form.

Seeing these examples of examples of how to fill out a passport application form side by side with the official instructions can help you catch small issues before they become big delays.

FAQ: common questions with examples of passport form answers

Q: Can you give examples of how to list travel plans if I don’t have tickets yet?
Yes. You might write:

• Date of Trip: UNKNOWN

• Length of Trip: UNDECIDED
  Or, if you have a rough idea:

• Date of Trip: APPROX. 08 / 2025

• Length of Trip: 2 WEEKS

Q: What is an example of a good emergency contact entry?
A solid example:
JAMES CARTER, FATHER, (555) 555-0123, 890 PINE ST, DENVER, CO 80203
This shows full name, relationship, phone, and a complete address.

Q: Do I need to list my middle name?
If your middle name appears on your birth certificate or naturalization certificate, the safest approach—backed by many real examples of accepted applications—is to include it. Your passport should reflect your full legal name.

Q: Can I write “N/A” for sections that don’t apply?
Yes. For example, if you’ve never used another name, “Other Names Used: N/A” is fine. Just don’t leave lines blank without a reason.

Q: Where can I see official examples of current forms?
The best place to compare your form with official guidance is the U.S. Department of State’s passport page:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply.html
They don’t always show fully filled-in samples, which is why guides like this—with examples of how to fill out a passport application form—are helpful.

If you keep these scenarios in mind and use them as your personal library of examples of examples of how to fill out a passport application form, you’ll walk into your appointment with a form that’s neat, accurate, and far less likely to bounce back for corrections.