Santa Cruz County Clerk

The Santa Cruz County Clerk, housed in the Santa Cruz County Governmental Center at 701 Ocean Street in the heart of civic Santa Cruz, is one of the most accessible passport acceptance facilities in the county. As a county government office, it handles passport applications Monday through Friday with acceptance hours from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., making it a strong option for applicants who prefer a government office environment over a post office setting.

The Clerk offers scheduled Saturday passport events several times a year — typically four Saturdays annually — where appointments are accepted from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and walk-ins are welcome from 9 a.m. to noon. These Saturday sessions are particularly useful for applicants whose work schedules make weekday visits difficult. Note that this office accepts payment by check or money order only; credit and debit cards are not accepted, so plan accordingly.

Applicants needing expedited service can request the State Department expedite fee for an additional 0. For those in genuine travel emergencies within 14 days, the County Clerk recommends contacting the San Francisco Regional Passport Agency directly. The Ocean Street location sits adjacent to county courts and city hall, making it easy to combine a passport errand with other downtown county business.

Payment here is by check or money order only — no credit or debit cards. If you need a passport in fewer than 14 days, the San Francisco Passport Agency (~73 miles north via Highway 17 and I-280, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes in normal traffic) handles urgent in-person appointments. Browse the full list of acceptance locations across the state on our California passport offices page, or return to the Santa Cruz passport guide to compare all local options.