Passport Offices and Expedited Passports in North Carolina
North Carolina does not have a State Department passport agency yet, so most residents apply for a first passport at an acceptance facility such as a post office or a county clerk of superior court's office. For urgent travel the nearest agencies are in neighboring states, or you can use a registered courier such as Allstate Passports & Visas. This page lists acceptance facilities in 44 North Carolina cities, explains each option, and shows the cheapest and fastest ways to get a North Carolina birth certificate.
Choose your city
Charlotte area: Charlotte, Concord, Cornelius, Gastonia, Huntersville, Lincolnton, Monroe, Mooresville
Raleigh, Durham and the Triangle: Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Clayton, Knightdale, Morrisville, Smithfield
Piedmont Triad: Greensboro, High Point, Winston-Salem, Burlington, Lexington
Western North Carolina: Asheville, Hendersonville, Waynesville, Cullowhee, Morganton, Hickory, Rutherfordton
Fayetteville and the Sandhills: Fayetteville, Hope Mills, Raeford, Lumberton, Southern Pines, Rockingham, Clinton
Southern coast: Wilmington, Shallotte, Jacksonville
Eastern North Carolina: Greenville, Goldsboro, Kinston, Rocky Mount, Wilson, Elizabeth City, Ahoskie
Your options in North Carolina
Passport acceptance facilities
Use an acceptance facility for a first passport, a child's passport, or a replacement for a lost or stolen one. Many post offices and clerk of superior court offices work by appointment. Your city page above lists the facilities near you.
Bring Form DS-11 without signing it, proof of U.S. citizenship such as a certified birth certificate, a photo ID plus a photocopy, and one passport photo. Expect two separate fees: one to the U.S. Department of State and one to the facility.
The nearest passport agencies
From Charlotte, the Charleston Passport Center in South Carolina is usually closest. From Raleigh and Eastern North Carolina, the Washington Passport Agency in DC is a similar distance, and from Asheville the Atlanta Passport Agency is nearest. The State Department plans a Charlotte Passport Agency, scheduled to open by 2028. Every agency sees applicants by appointment only, and only if they travel internationally within 14 days or need a foreign visa within 28 days. How to book an agency appointment.
Allstate Passports & Visas
We are a private courier registered with the U.S. Department of State, not a government office. We check your paperwork and hand-carry your application to a passport agency, so you do not have to leave the state for an appointment. Call (800) 672-1015, text (206) 522-5995, or read about our passport services.
Birth certificates in North Carolina
There are three ways to get a certified birth certificate in North Carolina. The Register of Deeds in the county where you were born charges $10 per copy, the lowest price. Any county Register of Deeds can print a certificate for a birth anywhere in North Carolina from 1971 on, for $24. And NC Vital Records in Raleigh has records from 1913 and charges $24 for the search and one copy, with extra copies at $15.
Certified copies are issued to the person named and close family, such as a spouse, parent, sibling, child, grandparent or grandchild, or to an authorized agent or legal representative. Bring a valid photo ID. Adoptees must order from NC Vital Records in Raleigh. Details are on the CDC page for North Carolina vital records.
North Carolina passport questions
Is there a passport office in North Carolina?
Not yet. The nearest State Department agencies are the Charleston Passport Center in South Carolina, the Washington Passport Agency in DC and the Atlanta Passport Agency. A Charlotte Passport Agency is planned to open by 2028.
What is the cheapest way to get a North Carolina birth certificate?
Go to the Register of Deeds in the county where you were born, where a certified copy costs $10. Any other county Register of Deeds can print it for $24 if you were born in 1971 or later.
Can I renew my passport online in North Carolina?
Yes, if you are eligible. The State Department's online renewal works the same in every state and is meant for adults renewing a regular passport who are not traveling soon. If your trip is close, use an agency appointment or a registered courier.
Which passport agency is closest to Charlotte?
The Charleston Passport Center in South Carolina is usually the closest today. The Atlanta Passport Agency is a similar drive. Both see people by appointment only, for travel within 14 days or a visa needed within 28 days.
Information checked October 2026. Related pages: passport renewal, new passport, passport for a child, lost or stolen passport.
