Maryland has no state-run passport office. The U.S. Department of State issues every U.S. passport. What you find across Maryland are local acceptance facilities that check your documents, witness your signature, and forward the application for processing. This page lists those locations, from Baltimore and Rockville to Cumberland, Centreville, and Ocean City, so you can pick one close to home or work.

How Passport Applications Work for Maryland Residents

Federal law and State Department regulations set the rules for passports. Maryland does not set the fees, the processing times, or the documents you must show. The state does supply many of the records you will bring. The Maryland Department of Health's Division of Vital Records issues certified Maryland birth certificates. The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration issues the driver's licenses most applicants use as photo ID. County courts hold the marriage and court records that document a name change.

A passport acceptance facility is the local office that handles the in-person step. In Maryland these are commonly post offices, circuit court clerk's offices, public libraries, and county or municipal offices. Each one sets its own hours, appointment rules, and payment methods. Those details change, so call before you go. The phone numbers in our listings are the quickest way to confirm.

You generally have to apply in person on Form DS-11 in these situations:

Adults with an undamaged passport that is still valid, or expired within the past five years, can often renew online or by mail instead. That saves a trip. If you can renew without visiting an office, do it.

Passport Offices in Maryland by Region

Maryland is a small state with very different local conditions. Where you live changes how easy it is to find an open appointment.

Baltimore and the Central Corridor

Baltimore is the largest cluster in our database by a wide margin. The city and its surrounding suburbs account for the most listings in the state. In Baltimore County, the Catonsville Passport Office at 1001 Frederick Road (410-869-7204) serves the southwest side. The Stevenson Passport Office at 10421 Stevenson Road in Pikesville (410-653-5613) covers the northwest. Having several choices matters. If one location is booked for weeks, another across the county line may have an opening this week.

Farther northeast, Harford County has listings such as the Aberdeen Passport Office at 30 West Bel Air Avenue (410-272-1610) and the Abingdon Passport Office at 2945 Emmorton Road (410-569-4421). Commuters along the I-95 corridor often find it easier to use an office near work than one near home.

The Washington Suburbs

Montgomery County has one of the densest concentrations of listings outside Baltimore. Examples include the Twinbrook Passport Office at 2001 Veirs Mill Road in Rockville (301-762-8536), the Diamond Farms Passport Office at 23 Firstfield Road in Gaithersburg (301-208-3735), the Wheaton Passport Office at 11431 Amherst Avenue in Silver Spring (301-929-7831), and the Kensington Passport Office at 10325 Kensington Parkway (301-949-2863). Demand here is high because many residents travel abroad for work, family visits, and federal or international employment. Appointments fill quickly before summer and holiday seasons.

In Prince George's County, you can try the Bowie Passport Office at 6710 Laurel Bowie Road (301-860-0847), the Hyattsville Passport Office at 4325 Gallatin Street (301-209-8901), or the Largo Passport Office at 9801 Apollo Drive in Upper Marlboro (301-925-1485). Residents near the D.C. line can also compare options on both sides of the border, but always check where your chosen office is located before you book.

Annapolis, Howard County, and Southern Maryland

In Anne Arundel County, the Eastport Passport Office at 821 Chesapeake Avenue in Annapolis (410-267-7051) and the Arnold Passport Office at 1521 Ritchie Highway (410-757-8802) are two listings. The Columbia Passport Office at 6801 Oak Hall Lane (410-381-4373) serves Howard County. Southern Maryland is less dense. The Hughesville Passport Office at 15485 Prince Frederick Road (301-274-3133) is in Charles County. The Abell Passport Office at 21388 Abell Road (301-769-2262) is in St. Mary's County. Travel times here are longer and public transit is limited, so plan to drive.

Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore

Rural Maryland has fewer offices, and they are spread out. In Allegany County you can use the Cumberland Passport Office at 215 Park Street (301-722-8190) or the Midlothian Passport Office at 19911 Old Midlothian Road Southwest in Frostburg (301-689-8143). Hagerstown has the Hagerstown Passport Office at 44 West Franklin Street (301-797-8100). In Garrett County, the Accident Passport Office at 103 South Street (301-746-8420) is a useful local option for the far west. On the Eastern Shore, the Centreville Passport Office at 202 East Water Street (410-758-0640) serves Queen Anne's County. The Ocean City Passport Office at 301 N Baltimore Ave (410-289-8824) serves Worcester County. Rural offices often have limited weekly hours, so a phone call saves a wasted drive.

What to Bring to a Maryland Passport Acceptance Facility

Arriving with the right paperwork is the biggest factor in finishing in one visit. Bring the following:

The application fee goes to the U.S. Department of State, normally by check or money order. The separate acceptance fee goes to the facility, and the payment types it takes vary. Ask when you call. Fee amounts and processing times are set by the State Department and do change, so confirm the current figures on its travel website before you pay.

For a child under 16, both parents or guardians generally need to appear with the child. If one parent cannot come, bring a signed and notarized consent form along with a copy of that parent's ID. Maryland has many notaries at banks, shipping stores, and county offices, so arranging this ahead of time is straightforward.

Timing Your Visit and Avoiding Common Delays

Spring is the busiest period for Maryland offices, as families plan summer trips and cruises. Book early, and apply at least several months before you travel. Many countries require your passport to be valid for six months beyond your arrival date, so check your expiration date as well.

Birth certificates are the most common cause of delay. A hospital souvenir certificate does not count. If you were born in Maryland, order a certified copy from the state Division of Vital Records well before your appointment. If you were born in another state, contact that state's vital records office instead.

Finally, check the office's name against its address. Several listings share a similar naming pattern across towns, and Maryland has many places with similar street names. Confirm the street address, hours, and whether you need an appointment, then go.

Passport acceptance facilities in Maryland 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. Maryland 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 166 cities across Maryland. They are spread across 24 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration of passport offices include Baltimore, Gaithersburg, Rockville, reflecting larger populations and greater volumes of international travelers requiring passport services.

Residents of Maryland 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 Maryland 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 Maryland can mail their DS-82 form directly to a processing center, avoiding an in-person visit altogether.

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

Planning a Passport Trip Across Maryland

Maryland residents are fortunate in one respect. Major international airports are within reach: Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International in Anne Arundel County, plus Reagan National and Dulles across the Potomac. The Port of Baltimore also handles cruise departures. That means a passport often becomes urgent quickly, and a plan helps.

Start by choosing two or three offices near your home or workplace rather than one. Offices in Montgomery County, Baltimore County, and Prince George's County tend to be busiest. Offices in smaller communities such as Centreville, Accident, or Abell may have fewer slots but shorter lines. Compare listings in neighboring counties too, since the best option is not always the one in your own.

Before leaving home, check your documents against the list in the section above. Photocopy your ID and proof of citizenship, and set aside two payment methods. If travel is within a few weeks, ask about expedited service at the time you apply. A passport also works as a REAL ID-compliant document for domestic flights, which is useful if your Maryland license has not been upgraded.

It depends on the facility. Some Maryland acceptance sites take walk-ins during set hours, while others work by appointment only. Busy locations in the Washington and Baltimore suburbs often require booking, especially in spring and early summer. Smaller offices in rural areas may only process passport applications on certain days or at certain times. Because policies differ from place to place and change over time, call the number shown in the listing before you travel. Ask about hours, accepted payment methods, and whether a photo service is available on site. That one call can save you a wasted trip.

No. Passport fees are set by the U.S. Department of State, and they are the same in Maryland as anywhere in the country. You typically pay two charges when applying in person: an application fee to the State Department, and a separate acceptance fee to the facility that handles your paperwork. Optional extras, such as expedited handling or faster return delivery, cost more. Because amounts are updated from time to time, check the State Department's current fee table before you write a check. Confirm with your local office how it accepts the acceptance fee.

Certified Maryland birth records come from the Maryland Department of Health, Division of Vital Records. Check its website for current ordering options, processing times, and identification requirements. The certificate you submit for a passport must be an official certified copy that shows your full name, date and place of birth, and the registrar's filing details, along with a raised, embossed, or multicolored seal. A decorative hospital certificate does not qualify. Order well ahead of your appointment, because mailed requests can take longer than expected. If you were born in another state, request the record from that state's vital records office instead.

You have two main routes. First, ask your local acceptance facility to submit your application with expedited service, which costs extra and shortens the normal wait. Second, if you have confirmed international travel coming up very soon, or a life-or-death emergency abroad, the State Department can schedule an appointment at a passport agency. The Washington Passport Agency in D.C. is the closest one for Maryland residents. Appointments there are limited and you must show proof of travel. Do not buy non-refundable tickets until you know your passport timeline.

Both regions have fewer offices, but they exist. In the west, our listings include the Cumberland Passport Office on Park Street, the Midlothian Passport Office in Frostburg, the Hagerstown Passport Office on West Franklin Street in Washington County, and the Accident Passport Office in Garrett County. On the Eastern Shore, look at the Centreville Passport Office in Queen Anne's County and the Ocean City Passport Office in Worcester County. Hours can be limited, so call first and ask about appointments before making a long drive.

A passport card is valid for entering the U.S. by land and sea from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda, and it is not valid for international air travel. U.S. citizens on a closed-loop cruise that begins and ends at the same U.S. port, such as Baltimore, may be able to sail with a passport card. Still, a passport book is the safer choice. If you miss the ship and must fly home from a foreign port, or if there is a medical emergency, you will need the book. Check your cruise line's requirements before applying.

Our database shows the largest numbers in Baltimore County, Montgomery County, Anne Arundel County, and Prince George's County. If you live in Anne Arundel County, for example, you can compare the Eastport Passport Office in Annapolis with the Arnold Passport Office on Ritchie Highway. More choices usually mean more chances to find an open appointment, especially during peak travel seasons. If your own county's offices are booked, check nearby counties. A short drive can save weeks of waiting.