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obtaining a copy of an ancestor's passport

by Kelly
(Staten Island, NY)

Question: I am looking to obtain a copy of my great-grandfather's passport if that possible.

Answer: The way you obtain a passport record depends on when the passport was issued. For passports issued between 1925 to the present,

1. Your full name at birth and any subsequent name changes;
2. Your date and place of birth;
3. Your current mailing address;
4. Your current daytime telephone number;
5. Your current e-mail address, if available;
6. Your reason for the request;
7. The dates or estimated dates the passports were issued;
8. Your passport numbers or any other information that will help locate your records; and
9. A copy of requester's valid photo identification

Since your are requesting a passport record of someone other than yourself, you also have to include one of the following.

* Notarized consent from the owner of the passport records,
* Proof of guardianship,
* Death certificate, or
* Court order signed by a judge of competent jurisdiction requesting the Department of State to release passport records.

There is no search fee for records. However, if you need a certified copy, a fee of $50 applies. Checks or money orders should be made payable to “Department of State".

All requests for passport records issued from 1925 to present should be mailed to:

US Department of State
Law Enforcement Liaison Division
CA/PPT/S/L/LE
1150 Passport Services Pl, 4th Floor
Dulles, VA 20189-1150
(202) 485-6550

For passports issued before 1925, all you have to do is write to the The National Archives and Records Administration. The address is provided below.

National Archives and Records Administration
Archives 1
Reference Branch
8th & Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC
(866) 325-7208

Comments for obtaining a copy of an ancestor's passport

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Passport applications for deceased relatives
by: Beth

Question: Hello. I'm looking for the passport application of my Grandfather, who is deceased. This makes it impossible to get his approval! How does one go about this?

Answer: If you are looking for passport records, instructions can be found in the following page:

How to Get Passport Records

Request passport copy for deceased relative
by: Anonymous

Question: Can I get a copy of a deceased person's passport information page? I have the death certificate and will. I don't need the whole record. Where to send the request? There are two different addresses on the website.

Answer: The Privacy Act allows you to obtain copies of your records, your minor child, any person for whom you are a legal guardian, or any person who has authorized you to obtain them.

Please send your request to:

U.S. Department of State
Office of Law Enforcement Liaison
44132 Mercure Cir
P.O. Box 1227
Sterling, VA 20166

copy of passport before 1925
by: Carol Griffin

Question: Is there any website I could get a copy of a passport? My granddad bought the Isle of Pines down below Cuba and moved his sawmill and family there in 1917. I would love to buy several copies for each child (3) Long story! Trying to get the stories to go with the geneology.
Thank you.

Answer: You can request for a passport record
from the Department of State.

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