Passport Offices and Expedited Passports in Oregon

In detail

Getting a passport in Oregon

Oregon has no State Department passport agency, so Oregonians apply for a first passport at an acceptance facility such as a post office or a county clerk's office, and travelers in a hurry look north to Seattle or south to San Francisco. A registered courier such as Allstate Passports & Visas is another option. This page covers 17 Oregon cities, explains each option, and points out an Oregon birth certificate rule that surprises many applicants.

Acceptance facilities in Oregon

First-time applicants, children and anyone replacing a lost or stolen passport apply in person at an acceptance facility. In Oregon that usually means a post office or a county office, and appointments are common. Each city page above lists the places near you.

What to take: Form DS-11, filled in but not signed, a certified birth certificate or other proof of U.S. citizenship, your photo ID plus a photocopy, and one passport photo. Budget for two fees, one paid to the U.S. Department of State and one paid to the facility.

The nearest passport agencies

From Portland, Salem and Eugene, the Seattle Passport Agency is the closest, about three hours from Portland. From Medford and Southern Oregon, the San Francisco Passport Agency is nearer. Agencies only see people with an appointment who travel internationally within 14 days or need a foreign visa within 28 days. How to book an agency appointment.

Birth certificates in Oregon

Here is the rule that catches people out: Oregon county vital records offices can only issue birth certificates during the first six months after a birth. If you are older than that, you order from the state, the Oregon Health Authority's Center for Health Statistics at 800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 205, in Portland. The state office has walk-in and appointment hours, and also takes orders by mail and online through VitalChek. Each certified copy costs $25.

Oregon birth records are restricted for 100 years. During that time, only the person named, immediate family such as parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, legal representatives and certain government agencies can get a certified copy, and you must show valid ID. The state's eligibility page lists who qualifies and which IDs are accepted.