TRENTON, N.J. — Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello reminds Mercer County residents planning summer travel to apply for their U.S. passport now.
Every year, a large number of Mercer County residents embark on summer trips to areas that require valid U.S. passports. Residents should check to make sure their passports are valid and not expired.
If you need to apply for a new passport, please start early. Routine applications for U.S. passports are now being processed from eight to 11 weeks, and expedited passports from five to seven weeks. The early-summer season is a good time to apply since the U.S. State Department historically receives a large number of applications as the summer travel season nears.
To apply for a U.S. passport, residents will need:
1) A state-certified birth certificate, a U.S. naturalization certificate, or a previous U.S. passport as proof of U.S. citizenship; and
2) Proof of identity in the form of a current driver’s license or state-issued identification card. A U.S. Passport is valid for 10 years for adults and five years for minors. The cost of a passport is $130 for adults and $100 for minors, plus a processing fee of $35. The federal government requires a separate check for each passport application. Passport photos will be taken on site for $15 or $10 for senior citizens and minors. The Clerk’s Office will accept checks or money orders for payment.
Federal passport guidelines for children require both parents to appear in person –or one parent in person with required documentation — when applying for a passport for a child under 16.
The Mercer County Clerk’s Office processes U.S. passport and U.S. passport card applications Monday through Friday during business hours from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesdays until 6:45 p.m. at the County Clerk’s Office, 209 South Broad St. in Trenton. Appointments are also offered at the Mercer County Connection, located at 957 NJ-33, Hamilton. Appointments are available Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Passport services end one hour before closing.
To schedule an appointment at the Mercer County Connection, please call (609) 890-9800. For more information regarding passports, please visit the Mercer County Clerk’s website at https://www.mercercounty.org/government/county-clerk-/office-services/passports or call 609-989-6473; for Spanish, 609-989-6131.