Passport
Tarrant County residents who need a U.S. passport can complete many first-time passport application services through Tarrant County Clerk passport acceptance facilities. This article explains where passport services are available, how appointments work, which applicants can use the county's passport offices, what documents to prepare, how payment works, processing options, passport books versus passport cards, and what to expect after submitting an application. It also explains common situations that cause delays so applicants can arrive prepared for their appointment.
Passport services offered by the County Clerk
The Tarrant County Clerk operates several passport acceptance facilities where eligible applicants may submit passport applications in person. Information about locations, appointment availability, forms, fees, processing guidance, and preparation materials is available through the official Tarrant County Clerk Passport Information page.
The passport acceptance facilities primarily process:
First-time adult passport applications.
Passport applications for children under age 16.
Applications for children who must apply again because children's passports cannot be renewed.
The County Clerk also provides passport photo services at its passport offices.
The county advises that most adult passport renewals are handled through the mail under U.S. Department of State regulations rather than through an in-person appointment at a county passport acceptance office.
Appointment scheduling
Appointments are preferred at most Tarrant County passport acceptance facilities. Walk-in service is available as time permits at most locations, although availability depends on the day's schedule.
The Downtown Plaza passport office operates differently from the other passport offices. That location is open only on Thursdays and accepts customers by appointment only.
Appointments may be reserved through the official Tarrant County passport appointment system. The scheduling system also allows applicants to:
Create a new appointment.
Cancel an existing appointment.
Reschedule an existing appointment.
The County Clerk recommends checking the scheduling system regularly because additional appointment times are added as they become available.
Passport office hours
Most Tarrant County passport acceptance facilities accept passport applicants Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
The Downtown Plaza office follows a separate schedule and accepts passport applicants only on Thursdays by appointment.
Who should apply in person
County passport offices primarily serve applicants who need to submit a new passport application in person.
According to the County Clerk's passport appointment checklist, the offices process:
First-time adult passport applications.
First-time passport applications for children.
Applications for children under age 16 who must apply again.
Most adults renewing an existing passport are instructed to complete the renewal process through the mail in accordance with Department of State regulations. Information about renewal eligibility is available through the official Department of State passport renewal page.
Documents to bring
Applicants should prepare every required document before arriving. Missing documentation or incorrect payments may require the appointment to be rescheduled.
Citizenship evidence
Applicants must provide evidence of U.S. citizenship. Examples listed by the County Clerk include:
U.S. Passport Book.
U.S. Passport Card.
Naturalization Certificate.
Certificate of Citizenship.
Certified birth certificate, with the long-form version preferred.
Consular Report of Birth Abroad.
Photocopies of citizenship documents are not accepted as evidence of citizenship.
Birth certificates must meet the requirements described by the County Clerk. The certificate should include an official raised, embossed, or multicolored seal issued by the city, county, or state, list both parents, and show a file date indicating it was filed within one year after birth.
Hospital birth certificates are not accepted as citizenship evidence.
Government-issued identification
Applicants must bring valid government-issued photo identification along with a photocopy of both the front and back.
Examples identified by the County Clerk include:
Driver license.
State-issued identification card.
Military identification.
Passport reflecting the applicant's current appearance.
Naturalization certificate used as identification.
Passport photograph
Each application requires one passport photograph. Applicants may bring their own qualifying passport photo or have passport photos taken at the County Clerk passport office.
Social Security number
Applicants should be prepared to provide their Social Security number during the passport application process.
Requirements for children
Special appearance requirements apply to applicants under age 18.
Applicants age 16 and 17
Applicants who are 16 or 17 years old must appear in person with one parent.
Applicants age 15 and younger
Children who are 15 years old or younger must appear in person with both parents named on the birth certificate.
The birth certificate is required to establish the parent-child relationship, even if the child previously had a passport.
Additional guidance regarding children's passport applications is available through the official Department of State page for passports for children under 16.
Application forms
Applicants should arrive with their application completed whenever possible. Those who need additional time may arrive early to complete paperwork before their appointment.
The Department of State provides official passport forms and a Form Filler tool through its Passport Forms page. Applicants should follow the instructions associated with the correct form for their situation.
Payment requirements
The County Clerk accepts only checks or money orders for passport transactions.
Temporary checks are not accepted.
Applicants generally need two separate payments:
One check or money order payable for U.S. Department of State passport fees.
One check or money order for Tarrant County Clerk processing and photo service fees.
The County Clerk allows the processing fee and passport photo fee to be combined into one payment when applicable. Applicants bringing their own acceptable passport photo only pay the processing fee to the County Clerk.
Adult passport fees
For applicants age 16 and older, the published fee schedule includes routine and expedited options.
Routine Passport Book application fee: $130 payable to the U.S. Department of State.
Routine Passport Card application fee: $30 payable to the U.S. Department of State.
Routine Passport Book and Card application fee: $160 payable to the U.S. Department of State.
Tarrant County Clerk processing fee: $35.
Passport photo service: $15.
Applicants requesting expedited service add the published expedited fee to the Department of State payment. Optional overnight return delivery fees are also available where applicable.
Fees for children
The published fee schedule for applicants age 15 and younger includes:
Routine Passport Book application fee: $100.
Routine Passport Card application fee: $15.
Routine Passport Book and Card application fee: $115.
Tarrant County Clerk processing fee: $35.
Passport photo service: $15.
Expedited processing and optional overnight return delivery charges are available according to the published fee schedule.
Passport book or passport card
Applicants may choose a passport book, a passport card, or both when eligible.
According to the U.S. Department of State:
A passport book is valid for international travel by air, land, and sea.
A passport card is intended for travel by land and sea between the United States and certain destinations including Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and some Caribbean countries.
A passport card cannot be used for international air travel.
Applicants uncertain about which travel document best fits their needs can review the official comparison of the U.S. passport book and passport card.
Processing times
The County Clerk's passport information sheet lists approximate processing estimates of:
Routine processing: approximately 4 to 6 weeks.
Expedited processing: approximately 2 to 3 weeks.
The Department of State notes that total turnaround time includes mailing time before processing begins and mailing time after the passport is issued. Applicants planning international travel should consider the complete timeline instead of relying only on processing estimates.
Preparing for the appointment
Applicants who arrive organized are less likely to experience delays or need another appointment.
Before leaving for the passport office, confirm that you have:
Your completed passport application if prepared in advance.
Acceptable evidence of U.S. citizenship.
Your original government-issued photo identification.
A photocopy of the front and back of your identification.
A passport photograph or plans to purchase photo service at the passport office.
Your Social Security number.
The required checks or money orders.
Required parents or guardians if applying for a child's passport.
Applicants missing required documents or proper payment may be asked to reschedule for another appointment.
After the application is submitted
Once an application has been accepted and forwarded for processing, applicants may monitor its progress through the U.S. Department of State.
The official Passport Application Status system allows applicants to check the progress of an application.
Applicants checking status manually should have:
Last name.
Date of birth.
Last four digits of the Social Security number.
The Department of State explains that it can take up to two weeks after submitting an application before the status first appears as "In Process."
Common reasons appointments are delayed
Many appointment problems can be avoided by reviewing the County Clerk's preparation checklist before arriving.
Examples of issues that commonly interrupt passport appointments include:
Incomplete passport applications.
Missing proof of citizenship.
Unacceptable birth certificates.
Missing photo identification.
No photocopy of identification.
Incorrect payment method.
Temporary checks.
Required parents or guardians not present for a child's application.
Missing passport photograph when photo service is not being purchased.
Reviewing all required documents before the appointment helps reduce the chance of returning for another visit.
Passport acceptance locations
Tarrant County offers multiple passport acceptance facilities throughout the county, allowing residents to choose the office that best fits their location and appointment availability. Most locations welcome walk-in applicants when scheduling permits, while appointments remain the preferred option.
Residents planning to visit the Downtown Plaza office should remember that this location accepts passport applicants only on Thursdays and only by appointment.
Relevant passport offices
Dionne Phillips Bagsby Southwest Subcourthouse
6551 Granbury Road, Suite 210, Fort Worth, Texas 76133
Phone: 817-248-6210
300 150 Tarrant County Plaza Building
200 Taylor St, 3rd Floor, Fort Worth, Texas 76196
Phone: 817-248-6298
J.D. Johnson Northwest Subcourthouse
6713 Telephone Road, Suite 205, Lake Worth, Texas 76135
Phone: 817-238-4457
Gary Fickes Northeast Subcourthouse
645 Grapevine Hwy, Suite 210, Hurst, Texas 76054
Phone: 817-248-6080
Southlake Town Hall
1400 Main, Suite 340, Southlake, Texas 76092
Phone: 682-732-3645
Arlington Subcourthouse
700 E. Abram St, Suite 300, Arlington, Texas 76010
Phone: 817-548-3963
Passport FAQs
Should I sign the passport application before my appointment?
Do not sign Form DS-11 in advance. Print the completed form and wait until the passport acceptance agent instructs you to sign it. The Department of State also requires forms to be printed on single-sided, letter-sized paper in portrait orientation. Applicants who are uncertain which form applies can use the official passport form guide and Form Filler.
What happens to my original citizenship documents?
Original citizenship evidence is submitted with the application and forwarded to the Department of State for review. It is returned separately from the new passport, so the two mailings may arrive on different dates. Supporting documents can arrive up to four weeks after the passport book or card. Applicants should not assume the documents are missing simply because the new passport arrived first.
Can one parent apply for a child under 16?
Both parents or guardians generally must appear with the child. When one parent cannot attend, additional documentation may be required, such as a notarized Statement of Consent, Form DS-3053, accompanied by a photocopy of the absent parent’s identification. Sole-custody orders, death certificates, or other legal documents may apply in different family circumstances. Review the official requirements for a child’s passport application before visiting a Tarrant County facility.
Why is my passport status not showing online?
An application may take up to two weeks to appear as “In Process” because it must travel from the acceptance facility to an intake center, undergo payment processing, and be entered into the Department of State system. When checking the official passport application status, enter the applicant’s name exactly as written on the application, including suffixes. For hyphenated names, try versions with and without punctuation.
What if my travel date is less than three weeks away?
A standard county acceptance appointment may not be appropriate for urgent international travel. The Department of State advises travelers leaving in less than three weeks to review urgent appointment eligibility. Passport agency appointments generally require proof of international travel within 14 calendar days, and availability is separate from the Tarrant County Clerk appointment system.