Columbia, Maryland Passport Office Information
How to get a passport in Columbia, MD: Passport Offices & Application Process
In Columbia, Maryland there are (3) passport office locations (acceptance agents). These passport offices are part of the application process for a new adult or child passport application. The Columbia 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 3 passport offices in Columbia, there are (206) other passport offices in Maryland 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 any of the passport acceptance agents listed below the map on this web page. If you need it faster than that, please see: closest regional passport offices to Columbia, Maryland and Expedited Passport service options for Columbia.
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 Columbia Maryland
Showing 3 passport offices in Columbia:
 | USPS Simpsonville Post Office |
10400 Shaker Dr
Columbia, MD 21046
| USPS Columbia Main Post Office |
6801 Oak Hall Ln
Columbia, MD 21045
| East Columbia Branch Library |
6600 Cradlerock Way
Columbia, MD 21045
Other passport offices near Columbia Maryland
USPS Elkridge Post Office - Elkridge - 3.6 MilesUSPS Annapolis Junction Post Office - Annapolis Junction - 4.3 Miles
USPS Jessup Post Office - Jessup - 4.5 Miles
USPS Ellicott City Post Office - Ellicott City - 4.7 Miles
USPS Clarksville Main Post Office - Clarksville - 5.5 Miles
USPS Fulton Post Office - Fulton - 5.5 Miles
USPS Catonsville Finance Post Office - Catonsville - 5.8 Miles
City of Laurel - Laurel - 6.1 Miles
USPS Highland Post Office - Highland - 6.6 Miles
USPS Ft Meade Post Office - Fort Meade - 6.8 Miles
Regional Passport Offices Close to Columbia
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.
Washington Passport Agency - 20.9 Miles
Philadelphia Passport Agency - 89.7 Miles
New York Passport Agency - 158.7 Miles
Connecticut Passport Agency - 187.2 Miles
Buffalo Passport Agency - 239.9 Miles
Columbia, Maryland Passport Forms & Application Guides
Getting a passport in Columbia 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 Columbia 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 Columbia will need to visit a passport office.
* Please see regional passport offices close to Columbia, there is one less than 100 miles from Columbia.
* 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 Columbia
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 Columbia or any other city in Maryland 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 Columbia 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 Columbia
Residents of the following cities that are close to Columbia can consider using the passport office services in Columbia for their passport application sealing needs.
Columbia Maryland, Savage Maryland, Jessup Maryland, North Laurel Maryland, Hanover Maryland, Elkridge Maryland, Catonsville Maryland, Laurel Maryland, Arbutus Maryland, Fort Meade Maryland, Severn Maryland, Burtonsville Maryland, Linthicum Maryland, Woodlawn Maryland, Glen Burnie Maryland, Beltsville Maryland, Brookeville Maryland, Pikesville Maryland, Olney Maryland, Greenbelt Maryland
Passport Expediting in Columbia, Maryland
In a hurry and travelling soon? You can use a company that expedites passports in Columbia. 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).
Frequently Asked Questions About Passports in Columbia, Maryland
We make the passport application process easier and make getting a passport in Columbia simplier. Our guide to how and where to get a passport in Columbia 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, with most new passport applicants, the journey will start by going to a local acceptance agent; there are 3 passport offices in Columbia.
The basic process: fill out the DS-11 New Passport Application, take it with your proof of identity, passport photos, and passport fees to any of the passport offices in Columbia 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 Columbia, you have the choice between standard mail-in service (currently taking 10-12 weeks) or expedited mail-in service (takes 4-6 weeks).
While not down the street, the closest option for a passport-issuing facility is the Washington Passport Agency, it's not too far from Columbia and if you can provide proof of travel within the next seventy-two hours, you can make an appointment there and get a passport.
If you have trouble getting an appointment at the Washington Passport Agency, there are additional regional offices that are farther but may be options for you, see regional passport offices near Columbia.
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.
List of places to get passport photos in Columbia
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 Columbia.
It is recommended that you call to confirm that your chosen location offers passport photos onsite.
Walmart Columbia Store - (0.4 mi)Photo Center
6405 Dobbin Rd
Columbia MD 21045
410-740-8483
Price: Cost at Walmart locations: $7.44UPS Store - Columbia - (1.2 mi)
Photo Center
6925 Oakland Mills Road
Columbia MD 21045
(667) 200-5095
Price: Cost varies by locationWalgreens #11949 - Columbia - (1.4 mi)
Southwest Corner Of Thunder Hill & S.H. 175
5585 Twin Knolls Rd
Columbia MD 21045
(410) 730-2789
Price: Cost at Walgreens locations: $14.99CVS #1909 - Elkridge - (1.5 mi)
Photo Center
6480 Old Waterloo Road
Elkridge MD 21075
(410) 799-0291
Price: Cost at CVS locations: $14.99UPS Store - Columbia - (1.6 mi)
Behind Royal Farms On Route 108
8775 Centre Park Dr
Columbia MD 21045
(410) 997-9565
Price: Cost varies by locationCostco Store #1000 - Columbia - (1.7 mi)
Photo Center
6675 Marie Curie Dr
Elkridge MD 21075
(410) 423-4052
Price: Cost at COSTCO locations: $5.99UPS Store - Elkridge - (2.2 mi)
Next To Fitness 19
6030 Marshalee Dr
Elkridge MD 21075
(410) 796-3958
Price: Cost varies by locationUPS Store - Columbia - (2.6 mi)
Wilde Lake Village Center Near David's Natural Market
5305 Village Center Dr
Columbia MD 21044
(410) 964-9001
Price: Cost varies by locationCVS #10094 - Columbia - (2.6 mi)
Photo Center
5405 Lynx Lane
Columbia MD 21044
(410) 740-7273
Price: Cost at CVS locations: $14.99UPS Store - Columbia - (2.7 mi)
Kings Contrivance Village Center Near Michael's Pub
8630-M Guilford Rd
Columbia MD 21046
(410) 290-6900
Price: Cost varies by location