Getting Your Passport
Obtaining your first passport is a surprisingly involved (and expensive) undertaking. This section demystifies the process and offers resources on how to apply, including an annual effort to make the application process easy and accessible, the UNC Passport Drive.
Do you need to apply for a passport? Is your passport about to expire? The application and renewal process may seem daunting, but thankfully, passports remain valid for ten years so you doin’t have to renew it often, and the U.S. State Department provides clear directions that can be found here.
Each year, hundreds of Carolina community members obtain or renew a passport at the annual Passport Drive hosted by UNC Global.
Officials from the U.S. Department of State are on campus once or twice a year to accept passport applications and renewal applications and to answer questions from Carolina students, faculty, staff and their families. Application forms are available at the event, or can be downloaded from the U.S. State Department website.
You can have passport photos taken at the event for $7 (cash or check only) by UNC One Card office staff, or before the event at the UNC One Card Office. You are encouraged to get your photos before the event to avoid waiting. As of November 1, 2016 Passport Services will no longer accept passport photos with eye glasses on. For additional requirements please review the photo requirements on the U.S. State Department website.