Passports

PASSPORTS

As a service to the citizens of Madison County and surrounding areas, the Madison County Chancery Clerk's Office is proud to serve as a Passport Acceptance Agent in cooperation with the U. S. Department of State.

Applications

Passport Applications are available in our office located at 146 West Center Street on the Historic Square in Canton, Mississippi or may be downloaded at http://travel.state.gov. Please do not sign applications until you arrive in person in our office. For more information, please contact Billie Jo Arnold, Deputy Clerk at 601-855-5524 or any other Deputy Chancery Clerk at 601-859-1177. You may also email us at bjarnold@madison-co.com.

Requirements

In order to submit a proper Passport Application, the following documents must be presented to our office:

  1. an original or a certified copy of the applicant's birth certificate, previously issued U. S. Passport, or Certificate of Naturalization;
  2. a valid driver's license or other state-issued identification card;
  3. two (2) passport photos. For an additional fee of $10.00, our office can now make these for you while you wait;
  4. the proper fees as set forth below;

For children under age 14, both parents or legal guardians must appear before our office in person, and both parents must sign the child's application in front of a representative of our office. Both parents must submit a valid driver's license, passport, military identification card ,or other state-issued identification card. The child does not sign the application. However, for children 14 and over, the child must sign the application along with at least one parent. The consenting parent must submit a valid driver's license, passport, military identification card or other state-issued identification card. Our office must also be presented with an original or a certified copy of the child applicant's birth certificate, previously issued U. S. Passport, or Certificate of Naturalization, or a court decree establishing custody or guardianship. Passport photos and proper fees must also be submitted.

For a more detailed statement of requirements for submission of a Passport Application, please log on to http://travel.state.gov.

Fees

For applicants 16 years of age and older, the following fees must be paid by separate check, money order, bank draft or cashiers' check:

  1. U. S. Department of State -- $67.00 ($52.00 if applicant is under age 16) (application processing fee)
  2. Madison County Chancery Clerk -- $30.00 (application execution fee)

Expedited service is available from the U. S. Department of State as follows:

  1. U. S. Department of State -- $60.00 (expedited service fee)
  2. Madison County Chancery Clerk -- $37.20 (overnight delivery charges)

This additional $60.00 fee insures processing by the U. S. Department of State within three (3) working days of receipt by the Department. The additional $37.20 fee constitutes overnight delivery charges to and from the Department. With expedited service, your passport should be received by you within two (2) weeks from the date of submission.

  1. Madison County Chancery Clerk -- $10.00 (passport photo fee)

The Madison County Chancery Clerk's office will take and print passport photos while you wait. This service is optional and any other photos meeting U. S. Department of State requirements will suffice. For more information about passport photos and Department specifications visit http://travel.state.gov.

How Long Does it Take?

Using regular service, applicants should receive passports within eight (8) weeks of the date of submission. Using expedited service, applicants should receive passports within two (2) weeks of submission.

Renewals

Passports can be renewed by mail if:
  1. the applicant can submit his or her most recent U.S. Passport to the Department;
  2. the applicant was at least 16 years old when his or her most recent U.S. Passport was issued;
  3. the applicant's most recent U.S. Passport was issued less than 15 years ago; and
  4. the applicant uses the same name as was on his or her most recent U.S. Passport, or had his or her name changed by marriage or court order and can submit paper documentation to reflect that change.

If these requirements are met, renewals can be processed without having to appear in our office or at any other acceptance agency. Simply go to http://travel.state.gov and download form DS-82 "Application for U.S. Passport by Mail" and carefully follow the instructions on the form.

More Information

For more information, please contact Billie Jo Arnold, Deputy Clerk at 601-855-5524 or any other Deputy Chancery Clerk at 601-859-1177. You may also email us at bjarnold@madison-co.com, or log on to http://travel.state.gov.