State Department Tests Online DS-11 Passport Applications Through 2027

The U.S. Department of State plans to test online submission of Form DS-11 for selected passport applicants from November 16, 2026, through November 20, 2027. DS-11 is the standard application for first-time passports and applicants who cannot use the department’s existing online renewal process. At present, online applications are limited to eligible renewals filed with Form DS-82. The pilot therefore tests a digital pathway for a broader and operationally significant group of applicants, while remaining a service-delivery initiative rather than an announced procurement opportunity.

Applicants will begin through America.gov, the White House’s AI-powered chatbot, and answer questions to determine whether they qualify. Eligible participants will be directed to Login.gov for identity verification, then submit application information and a passport photo, select a passport product and delivery method, and record themselves reciting the required oath affirming the accuracy of their information. A passport agent will review the recording and other submitted materials. The workflow combines guided intake, identity assurance, secure document and image submission, and human review—capabilities that federal digital-service vendors may track as requirements evolve.

The initial eligibility group includes adults in the United States who previously held a valid U.S. passport but are not eligible to renew using DS-82, and first-time adult applicants able to establish U.S. citizenship with a Certificate of Naturalization. The department has indicated that later expansion may include applicants using U.S. birth certificates, Certificates of Citizenship, or Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, as well as eligible applicants located overseas. That potential expansion could broaden the volume and complexity of digital intake and verification needs, but the department has not announced a procurement path, contract vehicle, funding amount, or timetable for acquiring vendor support.

The operating scale provides a useful market signal: the State Department processed approximately 13.9 million DS-11 applications in fiscal year 2025, while completing the current paper application takes an average of 85 minutes, according to the department. The pilot will help determine whether online submission reduces applicant time and will generate data on the experience and technology. For GovCon teams, the actionable step is to monitor pilot results and any subsequent agency notices, and to assess relevant capabilities in digital forms, identity proofing, secure uploads, workflow integration, accessibility, and agent-review tools. There is no proposal deadline or immediate vendor action specified.

• The pilot runs from November 16, 2026, to November 20, 2027 and covers online submission of Form DS-11 for selected applicants.
• America.gov will provide the initial eligibility questionnaire and application access; Login.gov will perform identity verification.
• Applicants will submit a passport photo, select a passport product and delivery method, and record the required oath for agent review.
• Initial participants include certain U.S.-based adults with a previously issued passport who cannot use DS-82 renewal and first-time adults with a Certificate of Naturalization.
• Potential later eligibility categories include U.S. birth certificates, Certificates of Citizenship, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, and eligible applicants overseas.
• The department processed roughly 13.9 million DS-11 applications in FY2025; its existing paper application takes an average of 85 minutes to complete.
• The agency expects to measure applicant time savings and other pilot results; the amount of time saved is not yet known.
• Vendors can use the pilot as a market signal for digital intake, identity verification, secure document and photo submission, and agent-review capabilities.
• No solicitation, contract award, funding amount, procurement contact, proposal deadline, or vendor action is identified; this is not a current bidding opportunity.