Passports
A passport is an official travel document issued by the government that verifies your identity. A person with a passport can travel to and from foreign countries and access consular services. You must have a passport to participate in a study abroad program through PCC.
Apply for Your Passport For the First Time
If you are a U.S. Citizen, visit the US Passports page of the US Department of State website to get started. Standard processing times for passports can take between 7-10 weeks, and expedited times can take between 5-7 weeks.
If you are applying for your passport for the first time, you will need to apply in person. This may require making an appointment at a Passport Acceptance Facility. Use the Passport Acceptance Facility Search Page to find a nearby location. Passport Acceptance Facilities include some county and city offices and some post offices. The following city offices process passports:
City of Beaverton – Finance Office
12725 SW Millikan Way
By appointment only
(photos NOT offered on site)
Multnomah County – US Post Office East Portland Station
1020 SE 7TH AVE. PORTLAND, OR 97214
By appointment only
(photos offered on site)
Washington County Office of Assessment and Taxation
155 N. First, Hillsboro
By appointment only
(photos NOT offered on site)
Lake Oswego Office – Finance Office
380 A Avenue, Lake Oswego
By appointment only
(photos offered on site)
If you are in a rush, you may need to expedite the process for your passport application (can take 5-7 weeks). This can be done for an additional $60, which your can submit via check or money order. Visit How to Get my US Passport Fast for instructions.
Items Needed to Obtain a Passport
- Completed passport application form (DS-11) if applying for the first time. If renewing, use form DS-82.
- Two identical passport photos (2 inches by 2 inches) taken within the last six (6) months. Passport photographs must be on special paper and require a special background. (You can obtain passport photos at your local Walgreens and some other places that process photos. Call ahead to make sure their camera is functioning!)
- Proof of citizenship: This requirement can be satisfied by an original United States birth certificate with a raised seal, a certified copy of your birth certificate issued by the Vital Statistics Department in the state in which you were born (in Oregon, this is the Oregon Health Authority; for other states, the process is different), a previously issued passport, or a certificate of naturalization. These original documents will be submitted with your application and returned to you when your passport is issued.
- Copy of your proof of citizenship (front and back if there is any writing on the back).
- Current picture identification, such as a state driver’s license or ID card.
- Color copy of your picture identification (front and back).
New Policy: Gender Marker
Please note that according to the Department of State passport webpage, “you can select the gender marker you would like printed on your U.S. passport. The gender you select does not need to match the gender on your supporting documentation such as a birth certificate, previous passport, or state ID. We no longer require medical documentation to change the gender marker on your U.S. passport.”
Renewing Your Passport
If you are renewing your passport, you can either make an in-person appointment via the Passport Acceptance Facility Search Page, or submit an application by mail. For more information on renewing your passport visit the U.S. Department of State Travel website.
Already have a Passport
If you already have a passport, great! Just make sure that your passport will be valid 6 months beyond the last day of your study abroad program. While this isn’t a strict rule, sometimes countries (the U.S. included) will turn people away at their borders if your passport will expire within 6 months of your departure date from their country.
International Passport
If you have an international passport, you may have to apply for a travel visa to participate in a study abroad program. Please contact the Education Abroad Office at studyabroad@pcc.edu or by phone at (971) 722-7117 and the Office of International Student Services to confirm your travel arrangements.