How Passport Services Are Organized in Arizona

Arizona has no state passport agency. Passports are issued by the U.S. Department of State, and offices across Arizona only accept your application, check it and mail it on. These acceptance facilities include post offices, clerks of the superior court, libraries and some city halls. Each location sets its own hours, appointment rules and photo services, so two offices in the same county can work quite differently.

County government carries much of the load. Arizona has 15 counties, and in several of them a county office takes passport applications alongside its other public services. Our database lists names such as the Coconino County Passport Office in Flagstaff, the Yavapai County Passport Office in Prescott and the Navajo County Passport Office in Holbrook. Treat a listing as a starting point and phone before you drive, because hours and appointment rules change without much notice.

The state does shape the paperwork you bring. Certified Arizona birth certificates come from the Arizona Department of Health Services, Office of Vital Records. Most first-time applicants need a certified copy that carries an official seal and lists their parents. An Arizona driver license or ID card from the Motor Vehicle Division works as your photo identification.

What to Bring to an Arizona Passport Appointment

Requirements are set by the State Department and are the same in Yuma as in Flagstaff. For a first passport, plan on this:

At the time of writing, an adult passport book costs $130 for the application plus a $35 acceptance fee, and the application fee is lower for children under 16. Children under 16 must apply in person, with both parents present or with written consent from the one who cannot attend. Confirm current fees on travel.state.gov before you go.

Passport Offices in the Phoenix Valley and Maricopa County

Maricopa County is where most Arizonans, and most of our listings, are found. In Phoenix, the Downtown Phoenix Passport Office sits at 522 N Central Ave in a building lobby and can be reached at 602-253-9648. East Valley options include the Mesa Passport Office at 135 North Center Street, the Tempe Apache Station Passport Office at 1962 East Apache Boulevard and the Chandler Passport Office at 175 South Arizona Avenue. Scottsdale has the Scottsdale Airpark Passport Office at 8175 East Evans Road.

The West Valley is covered by the Arrowhead Passport Office in Glendale at 19801 North 59th Avenue, the Surprise Passport Office on West Bell Road, the Avondale Passport Office on Civic Center Drive and the Buckeye Passport Office on East Monroe Avenue. Further north, the Cave Creek Passport Office on North Schoolhouse Road serves the foothills communities. Browse every listing on our Maricopa County page.

Distance is the main planning issue. The Valley is spread across hundreds of square miles, and a drive from Surprise to Mesa can take well over an hour in rush traffic. Choose the office nearest your home or work rather than the one nearest downtown, and book the earliest slot you can. Passport demand rises in spring and early summer, and a Phoenix summer afternoon is a poor time to wait with children.

Ask by phone whether the office takes photos on site. If it does not, get a 2x2 inch photo at a pharmacy or shipping store first, so you do not lose your appointment over a rejected picture.

Tucson, Southern Arizona and the Border Counties

Tucson is the state's second hub. Our database lists ten offices in the city, including the Desert Foothills Passport Office at 1700 East River Road, reachable at 520-577-8929. More are on the Pima County page. Tucson sits roughly 115 miles from Phoenix by Interstate 10, so there is rarely a reason to travel between the two just for a passport appointment.

East and south of Tucson, Cochise County has the Cochise County Passport Office in Sierra Vista at 100 Colonia De Salud and the Benson Passport Office at 250 S Ocotillo Ave. The Santa Cruz County Passport Office is at 2150 North Congress Drive in the border city of Nogales. The Yuma Passport Office at 2222 South 4th Avenue serves the southwest corner of the state.

Border residents often ask which document they need. A U.S. passport card costs less than a passport book and works for land and sea crossings from Mexico and Canada, but it is not accepted for international flights. If you fly to Mexico or beyond, you need a passport book. Many families apply for both on the same visit.

Between the two large metro areas, Pinal County has three listings. Gila County's Globe Passport Office at 101 S Hill St, phone 928-425-2381, serves the mountain communities east of Phoenix. Winter visitors from other states can use any of these offices, because you do not have to live in Arizona to apply at an acceptance facility.

Northern Arizona, the Colorado River and Rural Offices

North of the Valley, the Yavapai County offices are the Yavapai County Passport Office in Prescott at 120 South Cortez Street, the Camp Verde Passport Office on Finnie Flat Road and the Black Canyon City Passport Office on East K-Mine Road. In Coconino County, the Coconino County Passport Office is at 200 North San Francisco Street in Flagstaff. The Navajo County Passport Office is on Arizona 77 in Holbrook.

Along the western border, Mohave County lists the Kingman Passport Office on Johnson Avenue, the Bullhead City Passport Office on Lakeside Drive and the Lake Havasu City Passport Office on McCulloch Boulevard North. In La Paz County, the La Paz County Passport Office is at 1316 South Kofa Avenue in Parker.

Rural offices are sparse, and one trip can cover a long distance. Winter snow can slow roads around Flagstaff and Prescott, and the Navajo Nation covers a large part of the northeast, so allow extra time. A small-town office may take passport applications only on certain days or by appointment, while a metro office may run slots every day. Call first, confirm that someone can accept applications on your day and ask whether you need to book.

If you already hold a passport, you may not need to visit at all. A passport that was issued when you were 16 or older, less than 15 years ago, and is still in your possession and undamaged can usually be renewed by mail with Form DS-82. That saves a long drive from a place like Parker or Holbrook. The State Department has also been rolling out online renewal for eligible people, so check that option first.

Passport acceptance facilities in Arizona are distributed across post offices, county clerks' offices, and public libraries, providing residents with accessible locations to submit passport applications without traveling to a regional agency. Arizona residents with urgent travel needs may also have access to a regional passport agency for in-person expedited service.

Passport Offices locations are available in 60 cities across Arizona. They are spread across 16 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration of passport offices include Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, reflecting larger populations and greater volumes of international travelers requiring passport services.

Residents of Arizona should verify that their chosen acceptance facility accepts walk-ins or requires an appointment, as policies vary by location. Processing times fluctuate with seasonal demand, so applying several months before planned international travel is strongly advised.

Passport Offices by Counties

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Residents of Arizona applying for a passport should complete their application form in advance, gather all required documents including proof of citizenship and a compliant passport photo, and confirm whether their chosen facility requires an appointment. Many passport renewal applicants in Arizona can mail their DS-82 form directly to a processing center, avoiding an in-person visit altogether.

Browse Passport Offices by county across Arizona to find the nearest location.

Planning a Passport Application in Arizona: Timing and Travel Rules

Timing matters more than location once you have your paperwork. Routine processing at the State Department has recently taken several weeks, and expedited service costs an additional $60 per application, with extra options for faster delivery. Published processing times shift through the year, so check the State Department site the week you apply rather than weeks earlier. A good rule is to apply at least three months before any international trip, and longer if you also need a visa.

Arizona travelers face a second identification question. Since the federal REAL ID rules took effect for domestic flights, an Arizona driver license needs the Travel ID marking from the Motor Vehicle Division, unless you carry another accepted document. A valid U.S. passport book or card is accepted at airport security, so a new passport can double as your flight ID at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport or Tucson International Airport.

Time zones can trip people up. Most of Arizona stays on Mountain Standard Time all year, but the Navajo Nation observes daylight saving time. If you book an appointment on or near tribal land, confirm which clock the office is using.

After you apply, keep your receipt. The State Department offers online status tracking once your application has entered its system, and that is the quickest way to check on it. Offices in our directory cannot see where your application is after they mail it.

Passport Questions Arizona Residents Ask

No. Passports are a federal service, so the U.S. Department of State decides who qualifies, prints the book or card and sets the fees. Arizona's role is limited to supplying supporting records, such as birth certificates from the Arizona Department of Health Services, and to the county and city offices that choose to act as acceptance facilities. Each of those local sites controls its own appointment system, so the State Department cannot tell you whether a specific office in Prescott or Yuma has a slot open tomorrow. Call the office directly.

Fees are the same nationwide. At the time of writing, a first-time adult passport book carries a $130 application fee paid to the U.S. Department of State, plus a $35 acceptance fee paid to the office that handles your application. A passport card alone costs less, and applicants under 16 pay a lower application fee. Expedited handling adds $60. Offices differ on payment methods, and the State Department portion has traditionally had to be a check or money order. Phone the office, such as the Mesa or Chandler locations, and ask before you leave home.

Start with the county seat or the largest town near you. Flagstaff, Prescott, Kingman, Yuma, Sierra Vista, Holbrook, Globe, Nogales and Parker each appear in our listings with a named office. Smaller places such as Camp Verde, Benson and Black Canyon City also have entries. Call to learn which days applications are accepted, because small offices sometimes limit passport hours. If the drive is long, ask whether a nearby town offers more flexible times. You may apply at any acceptance facility in the country, not only in your home county.

A passport card meets U.S. requirements for re-entering by land or sea at Arizona ports of entry such as Nogales, San Luis and Douglas. Flying internationally, including to Mexico, requires a passport book. Mexico sets its own entry rules, which are separate from U.S. re-entry rules, so confirm them with the Mexican government before you travel, especially if you plan to go beyond the border zone. Many Arizona families get both documents, since the card is handy for frequent day trips and the book covers flights and longer journeys.

Often, yes. You can usually renew by mail if your most recent passport is undamaged, in your possession, was issued when you were at least 16 and was issued within the past 15 years. Mail renewal uses Form DS-82 and costs less because no acceptance fee applies. The State Department has also been expanding online renewal for eligible applicants, which removes the trip entirely. If your passport was lost, stolen or issued when you were a child, you must apply in person at an acceptance facility such as the Downtown Phoenix or Desert Foothills offices.

Children under 16 must appear in person, and both parents or guardians normally need to attend together. If one parent cannot come, bring a signed and notarized consent form, DS-3053, along with a photocopy of that parent's ID. Also bring the child's certified birth certificate showing both parents' names, each parent's photo ID with a photocopy, and a 2x2 inch photo. A child's passport is valid for five years rather than ten. Because young children must be present, book a time that suits their routine, particularly during Arizona's hot summer months.