PASSPORT BOOK

A Passport Book is valid for international travel by land, sea and air. Passport Book applications are accepted at the Lafayette parish Clerk of Court Office. In order to obtain a Passport Book, the application must have the following and appear in person:

• Proof of U.S. Citizenship, which is a certified copy of your birth certificate/card or naturalization certificate.
• Proof of identity, I.E.; a valid driver's license, government ID card, etc.
• Two (2) passport photographs (studio pictures, 2"x2") which should be no more than six (6) months old.
• Fees are $75.00 for adults, age 16 and over (an adult Passport Book is valid for 10 years).
• Fees are $60.00 for children , age 15 and under (a child Passport Book is valid for 5 years); see special requirements below for children under the age of 16.
• Payable by check or money order to: US Department of State
• A $25.00 execution fee, payable by separate check, money order, or cash is due the Clerk of Court.
• Currently Passport Book processing takes 4 - 6 weeks. You may pay an additional $76.25 (expedite fee of $60.00 plus return overnight postage of $16.25) to receive your routine or renewal Passport Book in three (3) weeks.  The expedite fee does not include overnight delivery to the passport agency.  The customer must arrange, at the post office only, for this overnight delivery to insure receipt of their Passport Book in 3 weeks.
• To obtain the forms online please click on the following link:
Passport Forms or www.travel.state.gov.

PASSPORT CARD

The Passport Card is for travel by land or seal between the United States, Canada, Mexico, the caribbean and bermuda.

As of february 1, 2008 applications are being accepted. The Passport Card will not be processed and issued until Spring 2008.

For a Passport Card, the application must appear in person and present the same documentation required for a Passport Book.

• Fees are $20.00 for adults, age 16 and over (and adult Passport Card is valid for 10 years).
• Fees are $10.00 for children, age 15 and under (a child Passport Card is valid for 5 years). See special requirements below for children under the age of 16.
• Payable by check or money order to: US Department of State
• A $25.00 execution fee, payable by separate check, money order, or cash is due the Clerk of Court.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILDREN UNDER AGE 16 (As directed by Public Law 106-113 and 22 CFR 51.28:.)

To submit an application for a child under age 16 both parents or the child's legal guardian(s) and the child must appear and present all of the following:

• Evidence of child's U.S. citizenship, which is a certified birth certificate or naturalization certificate and previous passport if applicable and
• Evidence of child's relationship to parents or guardian(s), and
• Parental identification (valid pictured State or Government ID)

If only one parent appears you must also submit one of the following:

• The non-applying parent must complete a statement of consent or special circumstances issuance for the minor child (Form DS-3053). This form must be notarized.
• Primary evidence of sole authority to apply, or
• A written statement (made under penalty of perjury) explaining the second parent's unavailability.  This statement also needs to be notarized.

RENEWALS

A Passport Book may be renewed if an application can meet the following guidelines:

• Must submit Passport Book issued within last 15 years
• Was at least 16 years old when your most recent Passport Book was issued
• Two (2) passport pictures (2"x2"), which should be no more than six (6) months old.
• Use the same name as on most recent Passport book OR submit proper certified documentation reflecting name change.
• The fee for renewal of adult Passport Book is $75.00
• Payable by check or money order to: US Department of State. There is no execution fee for the renewal
• The renewal of a passport may be mailed by the application.

BIRTH CERTIFICATES / BIRTH CARDS

The Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court office has access to birth certificates for Louisiana only.  We can retrieve birth certificates back to 1983.  The cost to receive a birth certificate from the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court is $24.00.  This is a walk-in service only.

We can retrieve birth cards from approximately 1930 until near current date. The cost to receive a certified birth card is $14.00 cash. This is a walk-in service only.

Birth certificate information may be found at Louisiana Vital Statistics or you may download  Birth Certificate order form PHS 520A (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader, free from Adobe Systems)

If you have a question about the status of a  pending application, please call the: