Passport Offices and Expedited Passports in Massachusetts
Massachusetts residents can apply for a first passport at acceptance facilities across the state, many of them post offices and city or town clerk's offices. For urgent travel there is a State Department agency in Boston, and a registered courier such as Allstate Passports & Visas is another option. Our Massachusetts city page currently covers Wareham Center on the South Coast. This page explains each option and how birth certificates work in Massachusetts, where your city or town clerk is often the quickest source.
Choose your city
South Coast: Wareham Center
Your options in Massachusetts
Passport acceptance facilities
Acceptance facilities handle first-time passports, passports for children and replacements for lost or stolen passports. Many post offices and city or town clerk's offices take passport appointments. The Wareham Center page lists facilities on the South Coast, and the State Department's facility search covers the rest of the state.
Bring Form DS-11 unsigned until the agent asks, proof of U.S. citizenship such as a certified birth certificate, a photo ID with a photocopy, and one passport photo. You pay the application fee to the U.S. Department of State and an execution fee to the facility.
The Boston Passport Agency
The Boston Passport Agency is the State Department's office for Massachusetts. It sees applicants by appointment only, and only if they travel internationally within 14 days or need a foreign visa within 28 days. The National Passport Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, also sees applicants by appointment. Bring proof of travel. 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, which helps if you live in Western Massachusetts or on the Cape and cannot spend a day in Boston. Call (800) 672-1015, text (206) 522-5995, or read about our passport services.
Birth certificates in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts your birth certificate is kept by the clerk of the city or town where you were born, and also by the town where your parents lived at the time. Town clerk fees are set locally and are often between $5 and $15. The state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics holds copies of every Massachusetts birth record and can be faster if you order online and pay an extra fee.
Massachusetts is one of a few states where most birth records are open to the public. Some records are restricted, for example when the parents were not married at the time of the birth. Those can go only to the person named or a parent listed, with ID. Details are on the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics website.
Massachusetts passport questions
Is there a passport office in Massachusetts?
Yes, the Boston Passport Agency. It sees people by appointment only, for travel within 14 days or a visa needed within 28 days. Everyone else applies at an acceptance facility or renews by mail or online.
Where do I get a Massachusetts birth certificate?
From the clerk of the city or town where you were born, or where your parents lived at the time, or from the state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. Town clerks are often the quickest and cheapest.
Can I renew my passport online in Massachusetts?
Online renewal is a national State Department service, so Massachusetts 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, book an agency appointment or use a registered courier.
Is there another passport agency near Massachusetts?
Yes. The National Passport Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, also sees applicants by appointment, and it can be convenient from the North Shore.
Information checked October 2026. Related pages: passport renewal, new passport, passport for a child, lost or stolen passport.
