Passport Offices and Expedited Passports in Kentucky
Kentucky has no State Department passport agency yet, so almost everyone applies for a first passport at an acceptance facility such as a post office or a circuit court clerk's office. For urgent travel the nearest agencies are several hundred miles away in other states, which is why many Kentuckians use a registered courier such as Allstate Passports & Visas. This page covers 6 Kentucky communities, explains each option, and shows how to get a Kentucky birth certificate, which is one of the least expensive in the country.
Choose your city
Lexington and the Bluegrass: Lexington-Fayette
Louisville area and Central Kentucky: Bardstown, Elizabethtown, Shelbyville, Shepherdsville
Western Kentucky: Paducah
Your options in Kentucky
Passport acceptance facilities
Acceptance facilities take applications for first passports, children's passports and lost or stolen replacements. Many circuit court clerk offices and post offices in Kentucky accept passport applications, some by appointment. Your city page above lists the facilities nearby.
Bring Form DS-11 unsigned (sign it only in front of the agent), proof of U.S. citizenship such as a certified birth certificate, a photo ID with a photocopy, and one passport photo. The application fee goes to the U.S. Department of State and a separate execution fee to the facility.
The nearest passport agencies
From Louisville and Lexington, the closest State Department agencies are in Chicago, Detroit and Atlanta, roughly 300 to 400 miles away. The State Department is building a Cincinnati Passport Agency. It will be the closest agency for much of Kentucky once it opens, so check travel.state.gov for the opening date. 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 review your documents and hand-carry your application to a passport agency, so you do not have to drive to another state on short notice. Call (800) 672-1015, text (206) 522-5995, or read about our passport services.
Birth certificates in Kentucky
The Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics in Frankfort has birth records from 1911 to the present. A certified copy costs $10. You can order in person at 275 East Main Street in Frankfort, by mail, by leaving your application in the drop box at the visitor entrance, or online through VitalChek, which adds a processing fee.
Births before 1911 were recorded irregularly. For those, contact the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. If your trip is close, ordering in person in Frankfort or online with faster shipping is quicker than standard mail. Details are on the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics birth certificate page.
Kentucky passport questions
Is there a passport office in Kentucky?
Not yet. Kentucky has no State Department passport agency today. The nearest are in Chicago, Detroit and Atlanta, and a Cincinnati Passport Agency is under construction. Everyone else applies at an acceptance facility or renews by mail or online.
When will the Cincinnati Passport Agency open?
The State Department has not announced a firm date. Construction began in January 2026. Check travel.state.gov before planning a trip there.
Can I renew my passport online in Kentucky?
Online renewal is a national State Department service, so Kentucky residents follow the same rules as everyone else. It is meant for adults renewing a regular passport who are not traveling soon. If your trip is close, an agency appointment or a registered courier is faster.
How much is a Kentucky birth certificate?
$10 per certified copy from the Office of Vital Statistics in Frankfort. Ordering online through VitalChek adds a processing fee.
Information checked October 2026. Related pages: passport renewal, new passport, passport for a child, lost or stolen passport.
