County Suspends Passport Services During Governmental Center Renovation

Grand Traverse County has suspended passport services at the Treasurer's office as of Dec. 1 while the Governmental Center on Boardman Avenue undergoes renovations. County officials announced on Dec. 3 that the Treasurer's office will move to a temporary space that cannot accommodate passport processing, and that all first floor county services will shift to other locations within the building and around the governmental complex during the renovation period.

Passport applications require coordination between the Treasurer's office and the County Clerk's office for photo services. The County Clerk's office will relocate to the historic courthouse, and officials said added security measures at that building make it difficult for residents to obtain the required photos and for the Treasurer's office to offer full passport services. There is no set date for when county passport services will resume.

All existing December passport appointments scheduled through the Treasurer's office will be honored. Residents who need to apply or renew a passport are advised to use officially authorized passport acceptance facilities trained by the State Department. In Grand Traverse County those facilities include the East Bay Township office, the Acme Township office, and the U.S. Post Office on Union Street in downtown Traverse City. A searchable national list of acceptance facilities is available at afdb.travel.state.gov. Information on application forms, documentation requirements, and fees is available at travel.state.gov.

The suspension is likely to affect local travelers planning international trips over the winter and spring, including families, seasonal workers, students studying abroad, and business travelers who require prompt processing. Residents should check processing timelines carefully and allow extra time for passport photo and application steps now that in county processing is paused. Existing appointments through December remain valid, but anyone who prefers to submit an application sooner should contact one of the authorized acceptance facilities or consult the State Department websites for up to date guidance on documentation and fee schedules.

Treasurer Jamie Callahan encouraged residents to use officially authorized passport acceptance facilities trained by the State Department while county services are unavailable. Local officials say they will announce plans for resuming in county passport processing when a timetable is confirmed.