Passport Acceptance Offices in Washington
Washington's 291 passport acceptance offices stretch from the saltwater edge of Puget Sound to the wheat country beyond the Cascade Mountains, and where you apply usually comes down to which side of that range you call home.
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153 cities
📖 About Washington
Washington's 291 passport acceptance offices stretch from the saltwater edge of Puget Sound to the wheat country beyond the Cascade Mountains, and where you apply usually comes down to which side of that range you call home. The rainy, crowded west side clusters the busiest counters — Seattle and Bellevue in King County, Tacoma and the Joint Base Lewis-McChord community in Pierce County, plus Everett, Olympia and Bellingham up and down the Interstate 5 corridor. Most are ordinary U.S. Post Offices, county auditors or public libraries that accept applications alongside their regular work.
East of the mountains the map opens up. Spokane anchors the dry Inland Northwest near Fairchild Air Force Base, while the Tri-Cities of Kennewick and Yakima serve the Columbia Basin. Drivers should plan for real distance out here: crossing from Spokane to Seattle is roughly four to five hours over the passes, and winter weather can close them, so applying close to home saves a long haul.
Washington also holds an advantage few states can claim. The federal Seattle Passport Agency operates inside the state for travelers facing an urgent trip, and the region is both a Canadian border state — the Peace Arch and Douglas crossings sit at Blaine, north of Bellingham — and the main U.S. departure port for Alaska cruises. That mix of everyday counters, a full agency and heavy international traffic shapes how the whole state applies.
🗺️ 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
Photos and payment. Many acceptance offices can take your passport photo on site for a small fee, but not all do — a quick call ahead confirms it and saves a second stop. Application fees go to the U.S. Department of State, while a separate acceptance fee is paid to the office itself, so bring more than one form of payment.
Applicants under 16. Children under 16 must appear in person, and both parents or legal guardians need to give consent — usually by attending together. If only one parent can come, the State Department requires extra documentation, so check the current rules before your visit.
Timing your trip. Processing times are set nationally and change with demand, not by which Washington office you choose. If your departure is close, an acceptance office may not be fast enough, and the Seattle agency's urgent-travel service is the better route.