Saturday, March 9, is National Passport Day and the Santa Cruz County Clerk is joining the Department of State by offering Saturday passport hours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Santa Cruz County Clerk/Elections Department, 701 Ocean St., Room 210, Santa Cruz.
The County’s regular passport acceptance hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 pm. The County Clerk provides special Saturday hours four times a year and is joining the National effort on March 9 providing a fifth Saturday of passport services in Santa Cruz County this year.
The Saturday passport hours are particularly helpful for families who need passports. Both parents must appear with children under the age of 16 in order to apply for a passport. Parents must show photo identification, such as a driver’s license, as well as submit a copy of the front and back of each parent’s identification. Applicants who are 16 or 17, must appear with one parent who must show photo identification and provide a copy of the front and back. If the minor has photo identification, it must also be shown and a copy of each side submitted along with the application. If the applicants do not provide their own copies, the County Clerk can make copies for $1 each.
To apply for a passport, you must submit the following along with a completed application:
- Photo identification, such as a driver’s license;
- A copy of the front and back of the photo identification on 8 ½ x 11 inch plain white paper;
- A certified copy of evidence of citizenship, such as your certified birth certificate; and
- One recent color passport photo, size 2 x 2 inches.
U.S. citizens must present a valid passport book when entering or re-entering the United States by air. U.S. citizens entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda at land borders and sea ports of entry must present a passport book, passport card, or other travel documents approved by the U.S. government.
Passport books cost $80 for citizens under the age of 16 and $110 for citizens age 16 and over. The Passport card is $30 for persons age 16 and older or $15 for persons under age 15. Each applicant must also pay a processing fee of $25 per passport. The U.S. Department of State only accepts checks or money orders for passport applications submitted by mail. The $25 processing fee must be paid in cash or check.
More information on travel requirements and how to apply for a U.S. passport is available at www.travel.state.gov. U.S. citizens may also obtain passport information by phone, in English and Spanish, by calling the National Passport Information Center toll-free at 1-877-487-2778 or calling the Santa Cruz County Clerk’s Office at 831-454-2060.
