Iowa state
Passport Offices and Expedited Passports in Iowa
Every passport acceptance facility in Iowa, city by city, plus the state rules for renewals and birth certificates.Every passport acceptance facility in Iowa, city by city, plus the state rules.
- 11 acceptance facilities11 facilities
- 2 city guides
Where to apply in Iowa
11 acceptance facilities in 9 cities
For first passports, children’s passports and lost or stolen passports. Most locations require an appointment; open your city’s guide for photo places, FedEx drop-offs and local tips.For first, child and lost or stolen passports. Tap a region to see each city’s facilities.
Data checked October 2026
Central Iowa
Northeast Iowa
- Black Hawk County Recorders Office 316 E. 5th Street, Waterloo 50703 316 E. 5th Street Walk-ins welcomeWalk-ins
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Waterloo Post Office
300 Sycamore St, Waterloo 50701
300 Sycamore St · Mon to Fri, 9 AM to 12 PM and 1 to 3 PM
(319) 274-2210
Mon to Fri, 9 AM to 12 PM and 1 to 3 PM
(319) 274-2210 Walk-ins welcomeWalk-ins
Other cities
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Cedar Falls Post Office
221 W 6th St, Cedar Falls 50613
221 W 6th St · Mon to Fri, 9 AM to 4 PM
(319) 266-4734
Mon to Fri, 9 AM to 4 PM
(319) 266-4734 Walk-ins welcomeWalk-ins
- Pottawattamie County Recorders Office 227 South 6th St, Council Bluffs 51501 227 South 6th St Walk-ins welcomeWalk-ins
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Des Moines Post Office
1165 2nd Ave, Des Moines 50318
1165 2nd Ave · Mon to Fri, 8:45 AM to 3:30 PM
(515) 283-7599
Mon to Fri, 8:45 AM to 3:30 PM
(515) 283-7599 Walk-ins welcomeWalk-ins - Polk County Ia Recorders Office 111 Court Ave, Des Moines 50309 111 Court Ave Walk-ins welcomeWalk-ins
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Granger Post Office
1902 Oak St, Granger 50109
1902 Oak St · Mon to Fri, 9 AM to 12 PM and 1:30 to 3:30 PM; Sat, 9 to 10:30 AM
(515) 999-0927
Mon to Fri, 9 AM to 12 PM and 1:30 to 3:30 PM; Sat, 9 to 10:30 AM
(515) 999-0927 Walk-ins welcomeWalk-ins
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Johnston Post Office
5874 Merle Hay Rd, Johnston 50131
5874 Merle Hay Rd · Mon to Fri, 9 AM to 3 PM; Sat, 9 to 11 AM
(515) 303-8224
Mon to Fri, 9 AM to 3 PM; Sat, 9 to 11 AM
(515) 303-8224 Walk-ins welcomeWalk-ins
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Norwalk Post Office
1105 High Rd, Norwalk 50211
1105 High Rd · Mon to Fri, 9 AM to 3 PM; Sat, 9 to 10:30 AM
(515) 981-5871
Mon to Fri, 9 AM to 3 PM; Sat, 9 to 10:30 AM
(515) 981-5871 Walk-ins welcomeWalk-ins
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Ash Creek Post Office
3311 100th St, Urbandale 50323
3311 100th St · Mon to Fri, 9:30 AM to 1 PM and 2 to 3:30 PM
(515) 334-5683
Mon to Fri, 9:30 AM to 1 PM and 2 to 3:30 PM
(515) 334-5683 Walk-ins welcomeWalk-ins
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Waukee Post Office
500 W Hickman Rd, Waukee 50263
500 W Hickman Rd · Mon to Fri, 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 to 3 PM; Sat, 9:30 to 11:30 AM
(515) 987-5409
Mon to Fri, 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 to 3 PM; Sat, 9:30 to 11:30 AM
(515) 987-5409 Walk-ins welcomeWalk-ins
Data checked October 2026
Four ways to get your passport in Iowa
- In person About 6 to 8 weeks At an acceptance facility
- By mail About 6 to 8 weeks Eligible renewals only
- At a passport agency Often same day to a few days Travel within 14 days, by appointment
- Through Allstate As quick as 4 business days All passport types, hand-carried
Iowa state rules
What’s specific to Iowa
Iowa has no passport agency; Minneapolis and Chicago are both several hours from Des Moines. A Kansas City agency is planned. By appointment only, for international travel within 14 days or a foreign visa needed within 28 days.No agency in Iowa; Minneapolis or Chicago. By appointment only, for travel within 14 days or a visa needed within 28 days.
Routine: National Passport Processing Center, P.O. Box 90155, Philadelphia, PA 19190-0155
Expedited (+$60): P.O. Box 90955, Philadelphia, PA 19190-0955
For births from the 1980s on, any county recorder can issue it. Mainly the person named and immediate family, with ID; mail requests need a notarized signature.Any county recorder, for births from the 1980s on. Close family only, with ID.
Official ordering page →In detail
Getting a passport in Iowa
Iowa has no State Department passport agency, so Iowans apply for a first passport at an acceptance facility such as a post office or a county clerk of court's office, and travelers in a hurry head to Minneapolis or Chicago. A registered courier such as Allstate Passports & Visas is another option. Our Iowa city pages currently cover West Des Moines and Waterloo. This page explains each option and how to get an Iowa birth certificate at almost any county recorder.
Acceptance facilities in Iowa
To get a first passport, a passport for a child, or a replacement for a lost or stolen passport, you apply in person at an acceptance facility, usually a post office or a county office in Iowa. Many work by appointment. The city pages above list facilities in Central and Northeast Iowa, and the State Department's facility search covers the rest of the state.
Bring Form DS-11 but do not sign it ahead of time, a certified birth certificate or other proof of citizenship, a photo ID and a copy of it, and one passport photo. You pay the State Department fee and a separate facility fee.
The nearest passport agencies
From Waterloo and Northern Iowa, the Minneapolis Passport Agency is usually the closest. From Des Moines, Minneapolis and Chicago are both several hours away. The State Department plans a Kansas City Passport Agency, which will be closer for Southern Iowa once it opens. 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.
Birth certificates in Iowa
A certified Iowa birth certificate costs $20, after the state raised the fee from $15 on July 1, 2026. For births from the 1980s on, any county recorder's office in Iowa can issue the certificate, wherever you were born. For older births, go to the recorder in the county of birth or to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. Mail requests need a notarized signature, and VitalChek is the only outside company authorized to take orders.
Only entitled people can get a certified copy, mainly the person named and immediate family such as parents, children, spouses, siblings and grandparents, with ID. If you still have an old pink or blue wallet-size Iowa birth certificate issued between 1993 and 2009, you can exchange it for a full certified copy at no charge. Details are on the Iowa HHS page on requesting a certified record.
Through Allstate
Ship your documents to us from anywhere in Iowa
FedEx Priority Overnight arrives the next business morning; documents that reach us by 10 AM Pacific Time start processing that day.
Questions
Iowa passport FAQ
Call (800) 672-1015 or text (206) 522-5995.
No. The Minneapolis and Chicago passport agencies are the closest today, and a Kansas City Passport Agency is planned. All see people by appointment only, for travel within 14 days or a visa needed within 28 days.
Yes, if you were born in Iowa in the 1980s or later. For earlier births, use the recorder in the county of birth or the state office. Each certified copy costs $20.
Yes, if you are eligible. The State Department's online renewal works the same in every state and is designed for adults renewing a regular passport with no trip soon. If you travel soon, use an agency appointment or a registered courier.
Pink or blue wallet-size certificates issued between 1993 and 2009 can be exchanged for a full certified copy at no charge. Bring the old card, a completed application and your ID.
Why choose us
Hand-carried, not mailed
A registered courier submits your application in person.
100% money-back guarantee
Miss the processing time you paid for, and you can request a full refund of our expediting fee. Excludes applications the government puts on hold and cancellations after submission. Our promise →
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