Mercer County Clerk's Office

The Mercer County Clerk's Office, perched on the sixth floor of the county's historic West State Street building, serves as Trenton's most central passport acceptance point — directly across from the New Jersey State House in the heart of the capital district. County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello's team processes DS-11 applications for first-time applicants and citizens who cannot renew by mail, and stamps certified copies of citizenship documents on-site.

Walk-ins are welcome during standard business hours, with a convenient Wednesday evening window extending services past the typical 5 p.m. cutoff — a genuine advantage for applicants who cannot leave work midday. Passport photos are taken in-office, so you can complete your application in one stop. The $35 acceptance fee must be paid separately to the Mercer County Clerk by check or money order; federal passport fees go to the U.S. Department of State.

Trenton's dual role as New Jersey's state capital and Mercer County's seat means this office handles a broad mix of applicants: state workers, Rutgers Trenton students, and residents from across the county. Parking is available in the county garage off South Broad Street, and NJ Transit buses on the 600-corridor stop steps from the building entrance.

Bring two separate payments: one check or money order payable to U.S. Department of State for federal fees, and a separate check or money order payable to Mercer County Clerk for the $35 acceptance fee. Cash is not accepted for the county fee. For full details on Trenton passport services, see the Trenton passport offices guide or browse all locations at the New Jersey passport offices directory.