Passport Acceptance Offices in North Dakota
Getting a passport on the northern plains means a little planning, because North Dakota spreads 91 acceptance offices across 59 cities and towns and 53 counties, and the distances between them are real.
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59 cities
📖 About North Dakota
Getting a passport on the northern plains means a little planning, because North Dakota spreads 91 acceptance offices across 59 cities and towns and 53 counties, and the distances between them are real. Fargo and West Fargo in Cass County anchor the east, Bismarck and neighboring Mandan sit at the center, and Grand Forks, Minot, Jamestown, Devils Lake, Wahpeton, and Dickinson give the rest of the state its regional hubs. Out west, the Bakken oil boom around Williston pulled thousands of new residents into Williams County in a short span, and public offices there have worked to keep pace with the demand.
One thing that surprises newcomers: in North Dakota a good share of acceptance happens inside county government buildings — the County Recorder or the Clerk of Court — rather than at the local post office. If your nearest post office does not process applications, the county courthouse in the county seat is very often the next place to check. Members of the military and their families have on-base options too, with acceptance facilities at both Minot Air Force Base and Grand Forks Air Force Base.
Winters here are long and the drives are longer, so timing matters. An office that is open limited hours or staffed by a single clerk can fill its slots quickly, and a closed road or a storm can turn a short errand into a lost day. Confirm hours and whether an appointment is needed before you head out, gather your citizenship proof and photo ID ahead of time, and give yourself a comfortable cushion before any international trip.
🗺️ Areas covered
📝 How applying works
Most passport acceptance offices are U.S. Post Offices, public libraries, and county or city clerk offices that act as official acceptance facilities. You apply in person using Form DS-11 if you are getting a passport for the first time, if your previous passport was lost, stolen, or damaged, if it was issued more than 15 years ago, or if you were under 16 when it was issued.
Fill out the form ahead of time but do not sign it — a passport agent must watch you sign. Some facilities accept walk-ins during set passport hours, while others require an appointment, so it is worth calling the office listed on your city’s page before you go.
🎒 What to bring
💳 Fees
| Service | To U.S. Dept. of State | To the facility |
|---|---|---|
| Adult passport book (age 16+) | $130 | $35 |
| Adult passport card (age 16+) | $30 | $35 |
| Adult book + card | $160 | $35 |
| Child passport book (under 16) | $100 | $35 |
| Child passport card (under 16) | $15 | $35 |
| Child book + card | $115 | $35 |
The application fee is paid to the U.S. Department of State; the $35 execution (acceptance) fee is paid to the facility where you apply. Expedited service adds $60, and faster return delivery is available for a small extra charge. Fees are set nationally and are the same at every acceptance office in the country.
⏱️ Processing times
As of 2026, routine passport applications take about 4–6 weeks to process, and expedited applications about 2–3 weeks, counted from the day the State Department receives your application. Add roughly 2 weeks for mailing on each end.
The busiest season runs from late winter through summer, so apply between October and December when you can. If you are traveling within 14 days, you will need an appointment at a regional passport agency rather than a local acceptance facility.
💡 Good to know
Bring your proof of U.S. citizenship (a certified birth certificate or a prior passport) and a government-issued photo ID, along with a photocopy of that ID. Fees to the State Department and the office's separate acceptance fee are paid separately, so ask which forms of payment each location takes. Many smaller North Dakota offices keep limited hours or run by appointment, so a phone call the day before saves a wasted trip in bad weather. Children under 16 apply with both parents or legal guardians present, and photos should meet the standard 2x2 requirement — bring one made recently if the office does not take them on site.