Tazewell County Circuit Clerk

The Tazewell County Circuit Clerk's Office, situated inside the Tazewell County Courthouse at 342 Court Street in downtown Pekin, is one of the most convenient places in central Illinois to submit a U.S. passport application. As an authorized Department of State acceptance facility, the Circuit Clerk's staff verifies your identity documents, witnesses your signature, and forwards your completed application directly to a federal processing center—making the courthouse a reliable one-stop option for residents across Tazewell County.

First-time applicants, those applying for a minor child, and travelers whose previous passport has expired more than five years ago will all find this office well-equipped to handle their paperwork. The courthouse location in Pekin's historic downtown is walkable from several surface lots and served by Tazewell County Transit routes, so commuting without a vehicle is feasible.

For travelers with imminent departure dates, the Tazewell County Circuit Clerk's Office can expedite the processing of your application packet before forwarding it. Planning ahead remains advisable: routine processing times can stretch several weeks, and the Chicago Passport Agency—approximately two hours north—handles truly urgent cases by appointment only.

Bring your original birth certificate (or naturalization certificate), a valid government-issued photo ID, a completed DS-11 form (do not sign it beforehand), and a check or money order for the acceptance fee. The Illinois passport offices guide on PassportPlaces covers what to expect at courthouse acceptance facilities across the state. If your travel is more than six weeks out, Pekin's other acceptance sites—including the full list of Pekin passport offices—may suit your schedule as well.