US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

22 U.S.C. § 213a

Authority to designate additional passport acceptance agents

(a)

Authority to designate

The Secretary may designate any person described in subsection (b) that meets such other requirements as the Secretary may prescribe pursuant to regulations to serve as a passport acceptance agent, unless the Secretary withdraws such authorization on a case-by-case basis with respect to a given person.

(b)

Authorized persons

A person described in this subsection is any of the following:
(1)
An employee of the clerk of any Federal court.
(2)
An employee of the clerk of any State court of record.
(3)
A postal employee at a United States post office that has been selected to accept passport applications.
(4)
An employee of the Department of Defense at a military installation that has been authorized to accept passport applications.
(5)
An employee of a Federal department or agency that has been selected to accept passport applications.
(6)
A United States citizen who, as determined by the Secretary, is employed by and provides services through a reputable, established company or institution and is commissioned or appointed as a notary or notary public or otherwise authorized to perform a notarization under the laws of a State, district, or territorial government.
(7)
Any other person specifically designated by the Secretary.
(c)

Regulations

The Secretary shall prescribe or revise such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this division.

Pub. L. 118–31, div. F, title LXI, § 6109137 Stat. 967Pub. L. 118–159, div. G, title LXXV, § 7507(a)138 Stat. 2547(, , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 118–31137 Stat. 963This division, referred to in subsec. (c), is div. F of , , , known as the Department of State Authorization Act of 2023. For complete classification of div. F to the Code, see Tables.

Amendments

Pub. L. 118–1592024—Subsec. (b)(6), (7). added par. (6) and redesignated former par. (6) as (7).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Definition

section 6002 of Pub. L. 118–31section 2651 of this titleFor definition of “Secretary” as used in this section, see , set out as a note under .