Identity
US Passport
A US passport is the federal document that proves your citizenship and identity for international travel. The photo page carries your passport number, full name, date and place of birth, issue and expiration dates, and machine-readable code. Adult passports are valid 10 years; children's, 5.
Routine US passport processing takes 4–6 weeks (it can take up to 2 weeks for an application to arrive and up to 2 weeks to receive the printed passport).
Written & maintained by the Granite team · Last updated June 2026
Overview
The US State Department issues passports, and the photo (data) page is what every border and airline scans. Beyond travel, it's the strongest proof of citizenship and identity you can hold — accepted everywhere a REAL ID is, and then some.
The expiration date deserves special attention: many countries require at least six months of validity remaining to admit you, so a passport that's "not expired" can still be rejected. Renewals also take weeks — the State Department lists routine processing at 4–6 weeks — so the date is worth tracking well ahead.
When you’ll get your US Passport
- You applied for your first passport or a child's
- You renewed an expiring or expired passport
- You're planning international travel and need to check validity
- You need proof of citizenship for a job, benefit, or REAL ID
- You replaced a lost or stolen passport
What’s on your US Passport
These are the fields Granite reads and extracts automatically the moment you upload one.
- Passport Number
- The unique identifier for your passport book or card.
- Full Name
- Your legal name as printed and machine-readable on the data page.
- Date & Place of Birth
- Used to confirm identity and citizenship.
- Issue Date
- When the passport was issued.
- Expiration Date
- When it expires — many countries require 6+ months remaining.
- Type / Endorsements
- Book vs card, and any endorsements or limited validity.
How long to keep it
Keep a copy of your current passport permanently, and hold onto expired passports too.
Expired US passports are valuable: they're accepted as proof of prior citizenship and travel history, and the State Department asks for your most recent passport when you renew. A clear copy of the data page also speeds replacement and consular help if the book is lost or stolen abroad.
How Granite handles your US Passport
Granite reads your passport's data page — passport number, name, birth details, issue and expiration dates — and files it with your identity documents. It can warn you months before expiration (in time for the six-month rule and slow renewals), and keeps a clear copy of the data page handy in case the physical book is lost while you're traveling.
FAQ
US Passport: common questions
- How do I renew my US passport?
- Most adults can renew online at opr.travel.state.gov — the only official portal — or by mail using Form DS-82 if you're eligible. You'll need your most recent passport, a new photo, and the fee. The State Department lists routine processing at 4–6 weeks, so apply well before any trip and check the six-month validity rule for your destination.
- How long is a US passport valid?
- If you were 16 or older when it was issued, your US passport is valid for 10 years; if you were under 16, it's valid for 5 years. The expiration date is printed on the data page. Many countries also require at least six months of validity remaining beyond your trip, so a passport that isn't technically expired may still be too close to renew.
- What is the six-month passport rule?
- Some foreign destinations require your passport to have at least six months of validity beyond your travel dates, and some airlines won't let you board if it doesn't. So even a valid, unexpired US passport can be rejected at check-in or the border within that window. Always check the destination's requirement and renew early — routine processing runs 4–6 weeks.
- Should I keep my expired passport?
- Yes. Expired US passports prove prior citizenship and travel history, and the State Department asks you to submit your most recent passport when renewing. When you renew by mail, your old passport is returned to you unless it's damaged. Keep expired books rather than discarding them — and keep a digital copy of the current data page in case the physical passport is lost or stolen abroad.
- What do I do if my passport is lost or stolen abroad?
- Report it to the nearest US embassy or consulate immediately to get an emergency replacement and prevent misuse. Having a copy of your passport's data page dramatically speeds this — it gives consular staff your passport number and details to verify your identity and issue a temporary travel document.
Sources
This page is checked against primary and authoritative sources:
Keep your US Passport in one place.
Drop it in once. Granite reads it, files it, and makes it findable forever — by you today, and by the people who'll need it later.