Where to Apply for a Passport in Berks County
Where to apply for a U.S. passport in Berks County: which libraries accept applications, the $130 fee plus $35 execution fee, and what to bring.
If you are applying for your first U.S. passport, or applying for a child, you have to do it in person at a passport acceptance facility. In Berks County, two public libraries do this: the Reading Public Library downtown and the Sinking Spring Public Library, both by appointment. A first adult passport book costs $165 in all: a $130 application fee to the U.S. Department of State plus a $35 execution fee to the library that takes your application.
This guide covers who has to apply in person, where to go in Berks County, what it costs, what to bring, the rules for children, and when you can skip the in-person trip and renew by mail.
Who has to apply in person
You must apply in person, using form DS-11, if any of these is true:
- It is your first U.S. passport.
- You are applying for a child under 16.
- Your most recent passport was issued when you were under 16.
- Your most recent passport was issued more than 15 years ago, or was lost, stolen, or damaged.
If none of those applies, you can likely renew by mail instead (see the last section), which is cheaper and does not require an appointment.
Where to apply in Berks County
Two Berks County libraries are U.S. Passport Acceptance Facilities that accept and forward applications. Both take applications by appointment only, so call first.
- Reading Public Library, Main Library, 100 S. Fifth St., Reading; 610-655-6350. Appointment hours: Monday–Tuesday 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Wednesday–Friday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
- Sinking Spring Public Library, 3940 Penn Ave., Sinking Spring; passport line 610-670-4826. Appointment hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 11 a.m.–6 p.m., Tuesday noon–6 p.m., Saturday 8:30 a.m.–noon.
Both libraries also take the passport photo for $15. The Kutztown Community Library takes passport photos but does not process applications. The two libraries are the appointment-based option in the county, but many U.S. Post Offices also accept passport applications. If the library appointments are full, use the locator at travel.state.gov, or the USPS tool at tools.usps.com, to find another acceptance facility near you.
What it costs
A passport has two charges: the government's application fee, and the acceptance facility's execution fee. You pay them separately, and the library needs two forms of payment.
| Item | Cost | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Adult passport book (16+) | $130 | U.S. Department of State |
| Child passport book (under 16) | $100 | U.S. Department of State |
| Passport card (adult) | $30 | U.S. Department of State |
| Passport card (child) | $15 | U.S. Department of State |
| Execution fee (per application) | $35 | The library |
| Passport photo | $15 | The library |
| Expedited service (optional) | $60 | U.S. Department of State |
So a first adult book runs $165 before photo and any expedited service; a child's book runs $135. The Department of State fee is paid by check or money order made out to "U.S. Department of State." The Reading library takes cash, check, money order, debit, or credit for its execution fee and photo.
What to bring
Come to the appointment with all of this. A missing document is the most common reason an appointment has to be rescheduled.
- Proof of U.S. citizenship: a certified birth certificate with a raised or embossed seal, or your most recent U.S. passport. A photocopy is not enough.
- Proof of identity: a valid driver's license or other government photo ID, plus a photocopy of the front and back of that ID on 8.5-by-11-inch paper, which the acceptance facility keeps. If your ID is from out of state, bring a second form of ID.
- Form DS-11, filled out in black ink. Do not sign it ahead of time; you sign in front of the acceptance agent.
- A passport photo, or plan to have the library take one for $15.
- Two payments: the application fee to the U.S. Department of State, and the execution fee (and photo) to the library.
Applying for a child
A child under 16 must appear in person, and the rules are stricter. Both parents or legal guardians must be present and consent. If one parent cannot come, the applying parent must bring a notarized Statement of Consent, form DS-3053, from the absent parent, along with a copy of that parent's ID. A child's passport is valid for five years, not the ten years an adult book is good for, and every child passport must be applied for in person, even a renewal.
Renewing by mail
If your most recent passport was issued when you were 16 or older, within the last 15 years, is undamaged, and is in your possession, you can usually renew by mail with form DS-82 and skip the acceptance facility entirely. A mail renewal pays only the $130 book fee (no $35 execution fee), and you mail your old passport in with the form. The Department of State has also been offering online renewal for eligible adults; check travel.state.gov for current eligibility and the address to mail a DS-82.
Processing times change through the year, and expedited service costs an extra $60 and can add a faster return-shipping charge. Check the current routine and expedited processing times on travel.state.gov before you book travel.
FAQ
Where can I get a passport in Berks County?
Two libraries accept applications by appointment: the Reading Public Library, Main Library at 100 S. Fifth St. (610-655-6350), and the Sinking Spring Public Library at 3940 Penn Ave. (passport line 610-670-4826). Both also take the passport photo for $15. Many U.S. Post Offices accept applications too; use the travel.state.gov or USPS locator to find one if the library appointments are full.
How much does a passport cost in Berks County?
A first adult passport book is $165: a $130 application fee to the U.S. Department of State plus a $35 execution fee to the library. A child's book is $135. A photo is $15, and expedited service adds $60.
Do I need an appointment for a passport at the library?
Yes. Both the Reading and Sinking Spring libraries take passport applications by appointment only. Call ahead: 610-655-6350 for Reading, 610-670-4826 for Sinking Spring.
Can I renew my passport by mail instead of going in person?
Usually, yes. If your most recent passport was issued when you were 16 or older, within the last 15 years, and is undamaged and in your possession, you can renew by mail with form DS-82 and pay only the $130 book fee. First-time applicants and children must apply in person.
What do I need to bring to a passport appointment?
Proof of U.S. citizenship (a certified birth certificate or your most recent passport), a government photo ID, a completed DS-11 in black ink (unsigned), a passport photo or $15 for one at the library, and two payments: the fee to the U.S. Department of State and the execution fee to the library.
Sources
- Berks County Public Libraries: Apply for a Passport — which branches process applications and what to bring.
- Reading Public Library: U.S. Passport Service — hours, the $35 execution fee, federal fees, and the $15 photo.
- Sinking Spring Public Library: Passport Services — appointment line, hours, and photo fee.
- U.S. Department of State: Passport Fees — the federal application fees, execution fee, and expedited service.
- USPS: Passport Fees and Acceptance — the $35 acceptance fee, $15 photo, and $60 expedited service.
For other county records and services, see our guides to getting a copy of a birth or death certificate and to the Berks County courthouse and its offices.