In April, the U.S. State Department announced it would release a limited edition passport featuring a portrait of President Donald Trump on the inside cover. Almost immediately, the Reddit conversation exploded with questions about whether the new design would be automatically applied to all new and renewed U.S. passports.
According to CNN, a State Department official said the passport “will become the default passport from the Washington Passport Office when it becomes available” for people applying for new passports at the 19th Street Northwest location in the capital.
And although the exact release date has not yet been announced, the release of the new passport is tied to the United States’ 500th anniversary celebrations in July this year.
“As we celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary in July, the State Department is preparing to release a limited number of specially designed U.S. passports to commemorate this historic occasion,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott confirmed in an emailed statement to Afar on May 5.
If your passport is due for renewal or you’re applying for a U.S. passport for the first time (or applying for your child’s passport for the first time), you may have questions. Here are some answers.
If I need to get or renew a new passport, should I get a Trump Passport?
The short answer is “no.” If you apply in person outside of Washington, D.C., you will not be able to receive a passport with Trump’s portrait on it.
Most U.S. passport renewals must be done online, though commemorative passports will be the default for those applying in person at the Washington Passport Agency office, according to NPR. Therefore, most people will likely skip the visit to the Washington office required to receive a Trump-only passport.
“Regardless of your political affiliation, if you live outside of Washington, D.C., you are less likely to be able to obtain a limited-edition passport featuring the current president, but it will still be provided to you ‘when available,'” according to the State Department, Katie Nastro, a spokeswoman for the travel app Going, told Afar in an email. “Above all, let this be a reminder to check your passport book often to find out when a new passport will be issued.”
Just how limited are these limited edition passports?
NPR reported that the passport bearing Trump’s likeness will mark the first time a living president will be commemorated on the coveted travel document. The new passport features a portrait of Trump, from the shoulders up, wearing a coat and tie, printed above the text of the Declaration of Independence. His image is surrounded by an American flag motif and has a gold signature below it. Another page of the new passport design includes an image of the Founding Fathers signing the Declaration of Independence.
Initially, 25,000 to 30,000 new passports will be available, a fraction of the more than 160 million U.S. passports said to be in circulation around the world as of 2023.
“The new design will be available to all American citizens who apply for a passport at rollout and will continue as long as space is available,” Piggott said, adding that there will be no additional charge for the limited edition passport.
Where and how can I get a standard passport?
If you are obtaining a U.S. passport for the first time, including adults and children, or if your previous passport was issued before age 16 (or if you are applying for the first time at age 16 or 17, a number of factors are taken into account), fill out the DS-11 form and bring it to a designated passport acceptance facility. These locations include libraries, court clerks, etc., depending on your area.
People who need to renew their passports can apply for renewal online through the official website of the US Department of State, which is normal. Remember that for some countries, your current passport must expire at least 3 to 6 months before you can board a flight to that country.
Unless you are planning to travel abroad in the next 14 days (or have a life-or-death emergency), all passport renewals that can be filed within one year of your current passport’s expiry date must be applied for online. In the applicable cases listed above, a same-day renewal service is available for face-to-face passport renewals. Reservations can be made online and must be made in person at a passport office.
According to the FAQ section of the State Department’s website, it can take up to two weeks from the date you apply for passport renewal by mail for your application to be marked as “in progress.”
Current processing times for passport renewals by mail are 4-6 weeks for scheduled service and 2-3 weeks for emergency service, with a standard application fee of $130 plus a $60 surcharge ($22.05 surcharge for 1-3 day return by mail).