Polk County Recorder's Office

For Johnston residents who prefer a government service counter, the Polk County Recorder's Office in downtown Des Moines is the county's official passport acceptance agent. It sits inside the Polk County Administrative Building on Court Avenue, a short drive south of Johnston, and it handles new applications for adults and children alongside the recorder's other vital-records duties.

Staff here accept the DS-11 application, verify your documents, and can also provide the required passport photo. Appointments are required and the office reserves its last passport slot at 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, so plan an earlier arrival if you are coming from the north suburbs during the workday.

The recorder's office is a good alternative when the neighborhood post office is booked, and it keeps your errand within Polk County. You can weigh it against the local branch on our Johnston passport guide or see other counties across the state in the Iowa passport directory.

Book your appointment by phone in advance, since the recorder accepts passports by reservation only. Bring a check or money order made out to the U.S. Department of State for the passport fee; the county's separate acceptance and photo fees can be paid by cash, check, or card. Compare travel times against the Johnston branch listed on our Johnston page.