Getting a U.S. passport in North Dakota rarely means a trip to a big federal building. The state has no passport agency of its own, so applications are handled at local acceptance facilities: courthouses, post offices and a few other public counters. They stretch from Fargo on the Minnesota line to Beach near the Montana border. Our directory lists 55 of them, and most are in small county seats.

This page explains who runs these offices, how the city and rural experiences differ, and what to prepare before you go. Read it alongside the listings, pick an office, call ahead, and avoid a second trip.

Who Issues a Passport for North Dakota Residents

Passports come from the U.S. Department of State. North Dakota does not issue them, and neither do its counties. The offices in this directory act as acceptance facilities. An authorized employee checks your identity, watches you sign the application, collects the fees and mails the package to the State Department. Local staff do not approve or deny anything.

Three kinds of local office handle most of this work. County courthouses, often through the clerk of district court, make up the largest group in North Dakota. Post offices take applications in some larger towns. A few libraries and city offices fill out the list. Federal rules set the procedure, but each host office sets its own hours, appointment policy and accepted payment types.

That last point matters. A courthouse employee who also files court records and handles other county business may take passport applications only at certain times of day. Call first. Ask whether you need an appointment and which forms of payment the office accepts.

Proof of citizenship often starts with a state document. Certified copies of North Dakota birth certificates come from the Vital Records office, part of the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services in Bismarck. Order yours early, because the office will want the certified copy and not a photocopy.

Passport Offices in Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks and Minot

Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks and Minot are the state's four largest cities, and each has two listings in our database. They draw applicants from a wide area, so these are the places where appointments tend to fill first.

In Bismarck, the Bismarck Downtown Passport Office is at 220 East Rosser Avenue, phone 701-221-6512. It sits in Burleigh County, which includes the state capital. Because Bismarck faces Mandan across the Missouri River, people from both sides of the river and from the surrounding farm country use downtown offices like this one.

The Fargo Passport Office is at 657 2nd Avenue North, phone 701-241-6115. Cass County is the most populous county in the state and has three listings in our database. Compare them before you choose. Fargo is also the commercial center for the Red River Valley, and many people from the Minnesota side of the river work here, so expect steady demand.

In Grand Forks, the Grand Forks County Passport Office is at 151 S. 4th Street, Ste 101 S First Floor, phone 701-780-8251. Read the suite and floor details before you arrive, since a downtown government building can be confusing for first-time visitors. Students at the University of North Dakota who need a passport for a study-abroad program often start here, and the best time to apply is well before the semester starts.

In Minot, the Ward County Passport Office is at 315 3rd Street Southeast, phone 701-857-6410. Minot is the hub of north-central North Dakota, and Ward County has two listings. Residents of smaller towns in the region often drive in rather than use a closer office, because they know the Minot counter is staffed for the work.

Dickinson, the largest city in the southwest, also has an office: the Stark County Passport Office at 51 3rd Street East, phone 701-456-7645. Ramsey County's office in Devils Lake, at 524 4th Ave NE, #30, phone 701-662-7018, serves the lake country in the northeast.

Rural Courthouse Offices From Amidon to Cando

Outside the four big cities, passport service in North Dakota runs through county seats. Many of these towns have only a few hundred residents. The offices are small, and the people behind the counter usually know the routine.

The Slope County Passport Office is at 206 Main Street in Amidon, phone 701-879-6275. Slope County is one of the most sparsely populated counties in the state, which is why a courthouse counter doubles as the passport office. Farther east, the McIntosh County Passport Office is at 112 1st Street Northeast in Ashley, phone 701-288-3450. In the badlands region, the Golden Valley Passport Office is at 150 1st Avenue Southeast in Beach, phone 701-872-3713.

Stanton has two listings in our database. The Stanton Passport Office, at 119 Harmon Avenue, phone 701-745-3501, is in Mercer County. Stanton is the county seat, which is why such a small town has more listings than many larger ones.

Along the Canadian border, the Bottineau County Passport Office is at 314 5th Street West in Bottineau, phone 701-228-3983. See the Bottineau County page for the listing. Others nearby include Burke County in Bowbells (103 Main Street, 701-377-2818), Divide County in Crosby (300 North Main Street, 701-965-6831) and Towner County in Cando (315 2nd Street, 701-968-4340). Pembina County's office in Cavalier is at 301 Dakota Street East, phone 701-265-4373. In the southwest, Bowman County is at 104 1st Street Northwest in Bowman, phone 701-523-3450.

Here is the practical advantage of the rural offices: you do not have to apply in the county where you live. Any acceptance facility will take your application. If your home county office has limited hours, a neighboring county seat may suit your schedule better. Rural counters are often quieter than city offices, though they can close for lunch, court days, or when the one trained employee is out. A phone call solves that problem.

What to Bring and What to Expect at a North Dakota Passport Counter

Rules for first-time applicants are the same everywhere in the country. Use this checklist before you leave home:

As of this writing, an adult passport book carries a $130 application fee, with a separate $35 execution fee paid to the acceptance facility. Expedited handling costs extra. Fees can change, so confirm current amounts on the State Department's travel.state.gov site before you go.

Children under 16 follow stricter rules. Both parents normally appear with the child, or one parent brings a signed and notarized consent form from the other. Child passports are valid for five years, while adult passports are valid for ten.

Renewals are different. If your most recent passport was issued when you were 16 or older, was issued within the last 15 years, and is undamaged, you can usually renew by mail or online without visiting an office at all.

Timing deserves attention. Routine processing takes weeks, not days, and many countries require at least six months of remaining validity. If you plan to drive into Canada, ask about a passport card, which costs less than a book and works at land and sea crossings only. It does not work for international flights. Winter weather on I-29, I-94 and US-2 can also close roads, so allow a buffer between your appointment and your trip.

Passport acceptance facilities in North Dakota 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. North Dakota 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 50 cities across North Dakota. They are spread across 46 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration of passport offices include Minot, Fargo, Bismarck, reflecting larger populations and greater volumes of international travelers requiring passport services.

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

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

Planning a Passport Trip Across North Dakota's Long Distances

North Dakota is a big, thinly populated state, and distance shapes how people get passports. A resident of the Red River Valley may have several offices within a short drive. Someone in the southwest or the Missouri Plateau may pass through several county seats before finding the best fit. Treat the trip as an errand you plan, not one you improvise.

Start by choosing two possible offices, one close to home and one near somewhere you already travel, such as a work site, a medical appointment or a shopping trip to Bismarck, Minot or Fargo. Call both. Ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and how payment works. Courthouse offices follow the county calendar, so they close on state and federal holidays, and some close early before long weekends.

Winter matters here more than in most states. Blowing snow can close highways with little notice, so check road conditions before a long drive in the cold months. Spring flooding in the Red River Valley can also disrupt travel. Whenever possible, schedule your visit for a mild-weather week well before your departure date.

Finally, bring everything in one folder: the unsigned DS-11, your certified citizenship document, your ID, photocopies, your photo and your payment. A missing item sends you home, and in western North Dakota that can cost half a day.

Passport Questions North Dakota Residents Ask

No. Any authorized acceptance facility can take your application, whether it is in your home county or three counties away. That helps if your county office keeps short hours. A resident of Mercer County could use the Stanton office, or choose Bismarck if the trip fits a work schedule better. Federal rules are identical at every counter. Only local hours, appointment policies and payment methods differ, so call before you drive anywhere.

It depends on the office, and no single statewide policy exists. Busy city locations in places like Fargo or Grand Forks often prefer appointments. Small county courthouses may accept walk-ins during set hours, but the employee may also be handling court or county business. The safest approach is a short phone call. Use the number in the listing, ask whether you need an appointment, and ask what days and times passport applications are handled.

Certified copies of North Dakota birth records come from the Vital Records office within the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services in Bismarck. You can request one by mail or through the department's approved ordering options. Allow time for processing and delivery before your passport appointment. A hospital souvenir certificate or a photocopy will not work. The State Department needs a certified copy that shows your full name, date and place of birth, and your parents' names.

For a child under 16, bring the child in person, along with the child's certified birth certificate showing both parents, a photocopy of it, and a passport photo. Both parents should normally attend and show photo ID. If one parent cannot come, bring Form DS-3053, the notarized statement of consent, with a photocopy of that parent's ID. Children's passports are valid for five years. Because the child must be present, plan around school hours and ask the office about the quietest times.

U.S. citizens entering Canada and returning to the United States need a passport or another travel document approved for border crossings. Many North Dakotans who live near the border, in places such as Bottineau, Cavalier or Crosby, choose the passport card. It is cheaper than a passport book and works at land and sea crossings, but it cannot be used for international air travel. If you ever plan to fly abroad, get the book, or both. Check current rules with U.S. Customs and Border Protection before you travel.

Often yes. If your last passport was issued when you were 16 or older, was issued within the past 15 years, and is undamaged, you can renew by mail with Form DS-82, or online where the State Department offers it. That saves a long drive in a state with big distances. If your passport was lost, stolen, damaged or issued when you were younger than 16, you must apply in person at an acceptance facility. Check eligibility on travel.state.gov first.