Submitted by Thurston County Auditor’s Office
As the vacation season approaches, don’t forget to pack appropriately before you visit the Thurston County Auditor’s Office to apply for a passport. The most-missed item for passport seekers is a check book.
Because of requirements by the federal government, the Auditor’s passport processing agents send your payment directly to U.S. Department of State along with your application, and they do not accept payment by cash or card. Auditor staff cannot process application packets without a check, money order or cashier’s check.
“We know that people don’t have a lot of time to waste when they’re planning for long trips, so making sure you have everything you need before you apply for a passport is extremely helpful,” said Mary Hall, Thurston County Auditor. A list of everything you need to bring is available on the Auditor’s Office Passports webpage.
The Thurston County Auditor’s office is the only passport services agency in Thurston County open five days a week for full business hours. You can also get your passport photos taken in the Auditor’s office for the convenience of one stop shopping. In addition to passport and photo services, the Auditor’s office provides licensing, document recording, elections, and county financial services.
The demand for passports is expected to continue to rise as a result of implementation of REAL ID identification requirements. Standard driver’s licenses (non-enhanced) and ID cards will no longer be accepted at airports beginning October 2020. Passengers will need enhanced drivers licenses or passports to board commercial airlines.
The Auditor’s passport office is located at 2000 Lakeridge Dr SW, Olympia, WA 98502 in Building 1, Room 106. For more information about passport services, please visit the Auditor’s Office Passports webpage.
