Wake County Passport Fair Set for April 16 at Carya Drive

The Wake County Register of Deeds will hold its annual one-day passport fair on Thursday, April 16, in Room 100 of the Wake County Commons Building at 4011 Carya Drive in Raleigh. Doors open at 8:30 a.m., and the county draws a firm line at 2:30 p.m.: anyone not standing in line by then will not be seen that day. No appointment is needed, and parking at the Commons Building is free.

Register of Deeds Tammy Brunner is direct about what separates successful applicants from those who leave empty-handed. "To help the process go smoothly, we strongly encourage everyone to review requirements ahead of time and make sure all necessary documents are complete before arriving," Brunner said. "A little preparation can make a big difference in ensuring a quick and successful experience."

The fair is built for applicants who must apply in person: first-time passport holders, anyone under 16, and those whose most recent passport was issued before they turned 16, issued more than 15 years ago, or reported lost, stolen, or damaged. Residents currently eligible to renew by mail should skip the fair and use that route instead.

Every applicant must bring proof of U.S. citizenship, which can be a certified birth certificate, an expired U.S. passport, or a naturalization certificate, along with a government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license or military ID. Completing the DS-11 application form before arriving will cut wait times noticeably; blank forms are available on site, but filling one out at the counter slows the line for everyone behind.

The most common mistake: bringing only one form of payment. The execution fee paid directly to Wake County can be covered by debit or credit card, but the State Department application fee requires a check or money order only. Under the updated federal fee schedule that took effect April 8, adults applying for a first-time passport book owe $130 to the State Department plus a $35 execution fee, totaling $165. A passport card runs $65 total. Children under 16 pay $135 for a passport book. Arrive with both payment methods, or risk being sent home to find a checkbook.

Passport photos can be taken on site for $12 or brought from elsewhere; federal specifications covering dimensions, background, and expression are posted at travel.state.gov. Passports will not be issued at the fair itself. Staff will execute applications and submit them to the State Department, where routine processing currently runs about six weeks plus mailing time. Anyone with imminent travel should verify current federal turnaround before April 16.

The full document checklist and additional details are available on the Register of Deeds website at wake.gov/ROD, or by emailing ROD.Passports@wake.gov.