Need a passport? Apply in person at this special Central Coast event
Need a U.S. passport? You can apply in person at a special Central Coast event.
Santa Cruz County will host a passport acceptance fair on Saturday, April 25.
Two more passport fairs are planned later in 2026.
According to the U.S. Department of State, these rare events offer a “personalized experience,” especially for adults and children getting their passports for the first time.
Here’s what to know:
When is passport acceptance fair in Santa Cruz? Where?
The Santa Cruz County Clerk-Elections Office will hold the passport acceptance fair at Room 310 in the County Government Center, 701 Ocean St. in Santa Cruz.
The event runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 25.
“Appointments are recommended,” county officials said, but walk-ins are accepted from 9 a.m. to noon.
You can make an appointment online or by calling 831-454-2060.
Santa Cruz will host two more passport fairs — on Saturday, Aug. 22, and Saturday, Oct. 3.
Who is eligibly to get a US passport?
To be eligible to get a U.S. passport, you must either be:
- A U.S. citizen by birth or naturalization
- A qualifying U.S. non-citizen national
What documents do I need to bring?
To apply for a passport at Saturday’s event, you’ll need:
- Passport application
- A valid form of photo identification, such as a current valid driver’s license, government ID or military photo ID
- A certified copy of your birth certificate, original certificate of naturalization or an old passport
- Photocopies of your citizenship document and front and back of ID
- Passport photo
- Passport fees
If the passport applicant is under 15 years old, both parents need to be present.
Only one parent has to be present if the applicant is 16 or 17.
What are the rules for passport photos?
Passport photos must be color photos taken in the past six months.
You can find a full list of passport photo requirements online at travel.state.gov.
How much does it cost to get a passport?
If you’re 16 or older and applying for a passport for the first time, you can expect to pay an application fee of $30 for a passport card or $130 for a passport book, according to the State Department.
The application fee for a passport card and book is $160.
In all cases, you’ll also need to pay $35 for an acceptance fee.
The fee for children under 16 is $35 for an acceptance fee, plus $15 for a passport card, $100 for a passport book or $115 for both.
What’s the price to renew my passport?
If you’re 16 or older, you can renew your passport by mail or online for $30 for a passport card, $130 for a passport book or $160 for both.
How long until I receive my passport?
According to the U.S. State Department’s website, it can take four to six weeks to process your passport application — or two to three weeks for expedited service. That doesn’t include mailing times.
If you need a passport for “urgent travel in less than two weeks,” the federal State Department said, make an appointment at a passport agency or center.
You can use the Online Passport Status System to check your application status if you applied by mail or in person, the federal agency said.
Call the National Passport Information Center toll-free at 877-487-2778 for more information.
You can find application forms, instructions and information about fees online on the Merced County website or travel.state.gov/passport.
