Hernando County Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller

Passport Services

Overview

A passport is necessary when traveling out of the jurisdiction of the United States. The Clerk’s Office serves as an official Passport Application Acceptance Facility on behalf of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consulate Affairs.

  • U.S. Passport Books are valid for International Travel by Air, Sea or Land
  • U.S. Passport Cards are only valid for Travel by Land and Sea between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. Not valid for Air Travel.

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs sets and regulates policies for U.S. Passport applications, renewals and fees. Visit www.travel.state.gov for further details or any additional information you may be seeking that is not found on this page.

Completed passport applications are accepted in both our Brooksville and Spring Hill locations, and are submitted by our office to the U.S. Passport Services Agency for processing.  Passport applications are mailed via USPS Priority Mail to the Miami Passport Agency the next business day after submittal to our office.

You will receive your passport in the mail directly from the U.S. Passport Services Agency.  Lead times for processing by the Passport Agency fluctuate and are posted on the U.S. Department of State website.  You can view current lead times and check the status of your application on the U.S. Department of State website at www.travel.state.gov. You can also contact the National Passport Information Center via telephone or email at the contact information below if you have any questions or if any issues arise after your application has been submitted, as they make all final decisions regarding the passport applications and documentation.

Miami Passport Agency
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Monday – Friday
Phone: 1-877-487-2778
E-mail: 
NPIC@state.gov
Website:
http://www.travel.state.gov/

To Obtain a passport, you must submit the following:

  • A certified copy of your birth certificate with a raised or colored seal and with a filing date within one year of birth. Hospital certificates, birth notices, birth registrations or announcements, naturalization papers, or old passports are NOT acceptable.  If you have misplaced your birth certificate you must provide an affidavit from the Custodian of Records in the county or state in which you were born stating that your birth certificate is not on record, and three documents must also be submitted to substantiate the date and place of your birth;
  • One recent passport photo for each passport applied for, and photos must meet the U.S. Department of State requirements in size, background and color/contrast (photo service available in our office for a fee; see below for more information);
  • The application fee in the form of a check or money order made payable to the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, which is $130.00 per adult and $100.00 for children ages 15 and under; for expedited services, there is an additional $60.00 fee;
  • The Clerk processing fee of $35.00 in the form of cash, check made payable to CLERK OF CIRCUIT COURT,or credit/debit card (additional processing fee applies);
  • Identification – Present a valid Driver License or State ID card and a copy of the front and back of the license or ID card, on two (2) separate pages (copying service available in our office for a fee);
  • The DS-11 (Application for Passport) –  answer questions 1-21 only.  IMPORTANT: DO NOT SIGN THE APPLICATION AS IT MUST BE SIGNED UNDER OATH IN FRONT OF ONE OF OUR PASSPORT ACCEPTANCE AGENTS.

Children 16 and 17 Years of Age:

  • Must provide a valid Driver License and have at least one parent present.  The parent(s) applying with the minor must provide a valid photo ID and must also sign the application in the presence of the Passport Acceptance Agent;
  • If at least one parent cannot be present, it is recommended that one or both parents provide parental consent by completing the DS-3053 form and sending it with the minor.  The form requires that the parent signature be notarized, otherwise, there may be a delay in receiving the passport;
  • If the minor does not have a valid Driver License, then both parents must be present, show ID, and sign the application in front of a Passport Acceptance Agent.

Children Under 16 Years of Age:

  • Children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by their parents.  Both parents’ signatures are required on the application and both parents’ Driver Licenses will be used for identification purposes.
  • If the child’s last name is not the same as the parents, please inform a clerk.  A certified copy of the marriage certificate or divorce papers may be required to show a link between both names for proof of citizenship.

Passports are valid for 10 years from the date of issuance for individuals aged 16 or older and 5 years for individuals aged 15 and younger. 

The above items must be submitted with your application and will be returned along with your passport.  If you have any questions about meeting any of the above requirements, please call the Clerk’s Office Customer Service Center at (352) 540-6768 or visit one of our Customer Service Centers located in Brooksville (20 N. Main Street, Room 165) or Spring Hill (7405 Forest Oaks Boulevard) for more information.  Please note:  Because of the time involved in processing a passport application, we cannot accept applications after 4:00 pm.

Instant Passport Photos:

We are pleased to announce that we now provide instant photos to accompany the application for U.S. Passport form. Customers may take advantage of this convenient service at either of our Customer Service Center locations, at 20 N. Main Street, Room 165, Brooksville, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or at 7405 Forest Oaks Boulevard, Spring Hill, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Customers may opt to have their instant photos taken for a minimal fee of $13.00 plus tax.

Renewal of Existing Passport

If you wish to renew your passport and it was issued less than 15 years ago you must complete a Form DS-82 In accordance with the regulations of the U.S. Department of State, applications to renew your passport must be mailed directly to the U.S. National Passport Processing Center at the address found on Form DS-82.  The Clerk’s Office is not permitted to forward your renewal application. For additional information and suggestions to assist you with completing this form, please view Completing a U.S. Passport Renewal Application.

Adult passports issued within the last 15 years may be renewed by mail. Expiring passports issued to children under the age of 16 cannot be renewed, but will be treated as a new passport which requires that a new passport application (DS-11) be completed.

Passport Fee Schedule

The passport fee schedule is determined by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consulate Affairs. To review all fee options, please follow this link: Passport Fees

Passport Fee schedule

Item Fee
U.S. Department of State Fee – Adult Passport Book, ages 16 and older (fee payable to U.S. Department of State) $130.00
U.S. Department of State Fee – Ages 15 and under Passport Book (fee payable to U.S. Department of State) $100.00
Clerk Execution Fee $35.00
Photo for U.S. Passport Application $13.00 plus tax