Passport Fair takes place Monday, April 29

If international travel plans are in your future, you’ll want to mark your calendar for the Wake County Register of Deeds Passport Fair on Monday, April 29. The fair runs from 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. in Room 100 of the Wake County Commons Building, 4011 Carya Drive, Raleigh.

The Passport Fair is open to the public, and appointments are not necessary — you can drop in at any time. Parking is free and easy.

“We’re looking forward to providing a seamless, stress-free way for people to navigate the passport application process,” said Tammy Brunner, Wake County Register of Deeds. “Our dedicated passport unit staff — along with additional ROD employees — will be on hand to ensure a smooth, convenient experience.”

Passports will not be issued on site, but staff will mail your applications and documents to the U.S. Department of State for you. It currently takes about eight weeks for passports to be processed routinely (plus mailing time). Expedited processing and delivery options are available. More details can be found attravel.state.gov.

This is the first large-scale Passport Fair the office has held since opening its Passport Acceptance Facility in 2022. Smaller events held at county regional centers have been extremely popular, with spots filling up in two to three days.

Who can get a passport at the Passport Fair?
To be eligible to participate in the Passport Fair, you must fall into at least one of the following categories:

• You are applying for your first U.S. passport.
• You are younger than 16.
• Your previous U.S. passport was either:
  • Issued when you were younger than 16
  • Issued more than 15 years ago
  • Lost, stolen or damaged.
     

If you need to renew your current passport, you can do it by mail. Information is available at travel.state.gov.

What do I need to bring?
It’s critical that you bring all required documents, so double check that you have everything before heading over! A complete checklist is available on the Register of Deeds website.

• A completed passport application form
• Proof of U.S. citizenship — certified birth certificate, expired passport or naturalization certificate. If you were born in North Carolina, you may pick up a copy of your birth certificate in our vital records office.
• Proof of identity — driver’s license, military ID or other government-issued ID
• Passport photo — you can bring your own or have one taken at the fair for $12. A list of photo requirements can be found at travel.state.gov.
• Application and execution fees. A full list of passport fees can be found here. Please note that some of these fees can only be paid with a check or money order.
   

For more information, visit the Register of Deeds website at wake.gov/ROD or email ROD.Passports@wake.gov.