Gov Wants Your Gripes on Filling Out Passport Forms
Published Date: 2/14/2025
Notice
Summary
The Department of State wants your feedback on the U.S. passport application form, DS-11. If you or your family plan to get or renew a passport, this affects you! They’re checking if the form is clear and not too time-consuming, so speak up by March 17, 2025—no cost changes yet, just a chance to make the process smoother.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
New Sex-Offender Attestation Added
The DS-11 passport application form was revised to add an applicant statement affirming that the applicant is not required to register as a sex offender, in accordance with International Megan's Law (34 U.S.C. 21501 et seq., and 22 U.S.C. 212b). This attestation is part of the current renewal of OMB control number 1405-0004.
Form Now Requests Biological Sex at Birth
The DS-11 form language was changed to replace the term "gender" with "sex," and the form will request the applicant's biological sex at birth as male "M" or female "F". This change was made to comply with Executive Order 14168 and will be reflected in the revised DS-11 fields and instructions.
Time Burden to Complete DS-11 Quantified
The Department estimates 12,669,500 respondents will each spend an average of 85 minutes to complete the DS-11, for a total estimated burden of 17,948,460 hours. Completing the DS-11 is listed as "Required to Obtain or Retain a Benefit" (a U.S. passport).
Plain-Language and Format Updates to DS-11
The DS-11 has been updated with plain language and general format changes intended to improve clarity and usability of the passport application. The Department is soliciting public comments on the clarity and burden of the proposed collection through March 17, 2025.
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Key Dates
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