Charleston, South Carolina Passport Office Information
How to get a passport in Charleston, SC: Passport Offices & Application Process
In Charleston, South Carolina there is only a single passport office location (e.g. acceptance agent). These passport offices are part of the application process for a new adult or child passport application. The Charleston passport office clerks are official "acceptance agents" for the Passport Agency and can witness your signature and seal your passport documents (if you do not need your passport application sealed then you do not need to visit an acceptance agent).
In addition to the 1 passport office in Charleston, there are (86) other passport offices in South Carolina from which you can get a passport application sealed at. If you are not needing a passport for at least (4-6) weeks, you can visit the sole passport acceptance agent listed below the map on this web page. If you need it faster than that, please see: closest regional passport offices to Charleston, South Carolina and Expedited Passport service options for Charleston.
Local passport offices are typically post offices, county clerk offices, and other government offices (Keep in mind: that not all county clerks, and not all post offices are acceptance agents). These local passport offices don't issue passports; the clerks (acceptance agents) at a local office can witness your signature and "officially" seal your passport application. There is a $35 fee for sealing your application and supporting documentation. Renewals do not need to visit an acceptance agent.
Passport Offices in Charleston South Carolina
Showing the single passport office in Charleston:
 | East Bay Station |
557 E Bay St
Charleston, SC 29403
Other passport offices near Charleston South Carolina
Mount Pleasant Main Post Office - Mt Pleasant - 4.3 MilesJohns Island Post Office - Johns Island - 6 Miles
Cross County Branch - North Charleston - 8.8 Miles
Goose Creek Post Office - Goose Creek - 12.9 Miles
Oakbrook Station USPS - Summerville - 14.2 Miles
Hollywood Post Office - Hollywood - 15.5 Miles
Summerville Main Post Office - Summerville - 17.2 Miles
Regional Passport Offices Close to Charleston
These are passport issuing facilities. You will need to make an appointment and present proof of upcoming travel but in most cases, you will be able to get passport renewal, new passports, child passports, or a lost passport replacement Same Day or Next Day.
Atlanta Passport Agency - 230 Miles
Washington Passport Agency - 391.9 Miles
Miami Passport Agency - 420.9 Miles
Philadelphia Passport Agency - 487.3 Miles
New Orleans Passport Agency - 545.5 Miles
Charleston, South Carolina Passport Forms & Application Guides
Getting a passport in Charleston is easy, it depends on what type of passport application you are doing and how quickly you need it processed. We've written the following passport guides, it doesn't matter if you are in Charleston or not as the process will be similar regardless of where you are, The standard passport processing times right now are 10 to 12 weeks to receive your passport.
* Anyone applying for a new passport in Charleston will need to visit a passport office.
* Charleston isn't near a passport agency, you could try a passport service or arrange to travel to one of the regional offices.
* To renew your passport, you do NOT need to visit a passport office.
- How to get a New Passport Guide
- How to get a Child Passport guide
- How to Replace a Lost (or Damaged) Passport
- Passport Renewal Guide
- Passport Name Change Guide
- How to Get a Second Passport
Passport Renewal in Charleston
Just a quick note about passport renewals because it will save you a lot of time, money, and hassles. It doesn't matter where you are, if you are in Charleston or any other city in South Carolina or any other state for that matter. If you have your old passport that is in good condition, it expired less than 5 years ago (or hasn't expired yet) and you are an adult - you can simply do your renewal paperwork online at the Department of State / Bureau of Consular Affairs and mail it in with new passport photos. It is currently taking 10-12 weeks standard processing or 4-6 weeks for expedited processing. If you need to renew it faster, you MUST have proof of travel and you must visit a regional passport office yourself, the closest ones to Charleston are listed below. If this is not possible or you want to avoid going there yourself, please only then consider using a passport expeditor.
Passport Service for Cities Near Charleston
Residents of the following cities that are close to Charleston can consider using the passport office services in Charleston for their passport application sealing needs.
North Charleston South Carolina, Mount Pleasant South Carolina, Fort Moultrie South Carolina, Sullivans Island South Carolina, Isle of Palms South Carolina, Hanahan South Carolina, Goose Creek South Carolina, Hollywood South Carolina, Summerville South Carolina, Rockville South Carolina, McClellanville South Carolina, Saint Helena Island South Carolina, Andrews South Carolina, Burton South Carolina, Port Royal South Carolina, Yemassee South Carolina, Santee South Carolina, Summerton South Carolina, Hilton Head Island South Carolina, Hilton Head Island South Carolina
Passport Expediting in Charleston, South Carolina
In a hurry and travelling soon? You can use a company that expedites passports in Charleston. Passport expediting companies charge their own set of fees for their service in addition to the government passport application fee and government expediting fee. The cost gets more expensive the faster your passport is needed and it's actually not any faster than visiting a regional passport office yourself. However, using an expediting service is highly convenient as you won't have to go to a regional passport office yourself (for any DS11 application, you will still need to visit a local acceptance agent to get your documents sealed).
Need it Fast? Expedite Now or Read more about 3rd Party Passport Expediting
Frequently Asked Questions About Passports in Charleston, South Carolina
We make the passport application process easier and make getting a passport in Charleston simplier. Our guide to how and where to get a passport in Charleston contains all the passport office information you will need but often times there are still questions:
Getting a passport is pretty much the process same wherever you are, the downside to being in Charleston and needing a passport is that there is no regional passport office nearby. If you need a passport quickly, you will have limited options. With most new passport applicants, the journey will start by going to a local acceptance agent; there is only one passport office in Charleston.
The basic process: fill out the DS-11 New Passport Application, take it with your proof of identity, passport photos, and passport fees to the only passport office in Charleston to witness your signature and seal the documents. Wait 10-12 weeks.
For complete in-depth details see: New Passport Application Guide
There are a couple of different methods to getting your passport processed, which route you choose will determine how fast your passport will be received. By going to a passport service office in Charleston, you have the choice between standard mail-in service (currently taking 10-12 weeks) or expedited mail-in service (takes 4-6 weeks). There are no regional passport issuing offices within 200 miles. You might want to consider using a private passport courier that can expedite your passport application.
Unlike drivers licenses and state IDs, passports are a Federal (national) document, it costs the same no matter what city or state you are in, $130 ($165 with acceptance agent fee) for adult passports and $100 ($135 with acceptance agent fee) for child passports. There may be some additional fees and / or expenses that you might need to pay, please see passport fees for an explaination of all passport fees and costs.
One of the most common questions we get asked is where "where should I get my passport photos taken at?" First, have a look at our in-depth passport photo guide so you know everything there is to know about passport photos. Here are the major stores that take and print passport photos near Charleston.
It is recommended that you call to confirm that your chosen location offers passport photos onsite.
UPS Store - Upper Meeting Street - (0.6 mi)At the Corner of Meeting and Columbus Streets
472 Meeting St
Charleston SC 29403
(843) 203-3466
Price: Cost varies by locationWalgreens #15512 - Charleston - (1.2 mi)
Southeast Corner Of King & Calhoun
380 King St
Charleston SC 29401
(843) 714-6243
Price: Cost at Walgreens locations: $14.99Walgreens #18147 - Charleston - (1.2 mi)
Southeast Corner Of Calhoun St & Ashley Ave
261 Calhoun St
Charleston SC 29401
(843) 805-6022
Price: Cost at Walgreens locations: $14.99CVS #1039 - Charleston - (1.3 mi)
Photo Center
59 George Street
Charleston SC 29401
(843) 720-8523
Price: Cost at CVS locations: $14.99UPS Store - Charleston - (1.5 mi)
Located One Block W Of King St On Market In Historic Downtown Charleston
164 Market St
Charleston SC 29401
(843) 723-1220
Price: Cost varies by locationWalgreens #17043 - Charleston - (2.4 mi)
Northwest Corner Of Ashley River Road & Old Town Road
1115 Old Town Rd
Charleston SC 29407
(843) 766-5593
Price: Cost at Walgreens locations: $14.99CVS #3560 - Charleston - (2.4 mi)
Photo Center
1020 Orange Grove Road
Charleston SC 29407
(843) 556-4064
Price: Cost at CVS locations: $14.99CVS #443 - Charleston - (2.8 mi)
Photo Center
1739 Maybank Highway (corner Of Maybank Hwy And Folly Road)
Charleston SC 29412
(843) 795-0792
Price: Cost at CVS locations: $14.99Walgreens #15442 - Mount Pleasant - (3 mi)
Southeast Corner Of Us 17 (Johnnie Dodds Frontage) & Houston Northcut
389 Johnnie Dodds Blvd
Mount Pleasant SC 29464
(843) 972-4068
Price: Cost at Walgreens locations: $14.99UPS Store - James Island - (3.2 mi)
In The Publix Shopping Center At Folly Rd And Harborview Rd.
520 Folly Rd
Charleston SC 29412
(843) 406-9400
Price: Cost varies by location