Franklin County Clerk's Office

The Franklin County Clerk's Office serves as a passport acceptance agent right in the heart of downtown Frankfort at 315 West Main Street, a short walk from the Old State Capitol. For residents who would rather handle the paperwork at a county window than at the post office, this is a convenient civilian alternative that has offered passport acceptance for years.

Clerk staff review your DS-11 application, verify your identity and citizenship documents, witness your signature, and forward the sealed packet to the U.S. Department of State. The office can also provide the passport photo for an added fee, and it will look over renewal paperwork at no charge before you mail it. Because Frankfort is the seat of state government, the clerk's office is used to steady traffic from employees and families needing documents in order.

Appointment windows here fall inside the regular weekday schedule, so it pairs well as a backup to the nearby Frankfort post office. If neither has an opening in time, scan the broader list of Kentucky acceptance offices for the soonest slot.

Call ahead at 502-875-8702 to reserve one of the morning or afternoon appointment windows. Bring a certified birth certificate, a valid photo ID, and your completed but unsigned DS-11; non-Kentucky residents should carry two forms of identification. Fees are paid separately - one check to the clerk for acceptance and one to the State Department for the book. First-timers can review the whole checklist on the Frankfort passport page before arriving.