New Passport
You've never had one, or your most recent one was issued more than 15 years ago.
Renewal
You have your most recent adult (10-year) passport in hand, issued within the last 15 years.
Child's Passport (Under 16)
Minors always apply in person with a parent/guardian — this can't be renewed by mail.
Lost or Stolen
Your most recent passport can't be located, or was reported stolen.
Damaged Passport
Torn, water-damaged, missing pages, or otherwise unusable — even if you still have it.
Name Change or Data Correction
Your legal name changed, or the government printed something wrong on your passport.
Applying for a Passport Card instead of (or in addition to) the Book doesn't change which form you need — you'll pick that on the next screen either way.