American Citizen Services

Passport Services

U.S. Passports Issued Overseas

American citizens residing or traveling abroad who require a new U.S. passport are issued a biometric passport incorporating a photo-digitized image and other enhanced security features. These biometric passports can only be issued in the United States and are sent to our Embassies/Consulates overseas by express mail. For that reason, it takes about two weeks for all overseas  non-emergency U.S. passport applications to be processed. If your passport expires soon, please apply for your new passport at least a month or so in advance. You can then keep your old passport while the new one is being processed. U.S. Embassies and Consulates will continue to issue passports for emergencies requiring immediate travel.

Though this document security benefits all Americans, especially those overseas residents who are frequent travelers, we recognize that this procedure takes more time than previously. Let’s work together to make this process smooth and effective for you. We ask that you take the time to check your passport's expiration date and ensure that you apply for replacements well in advance. A thorough discussion of U.S. passport services worldwide can be found by clicking here and, for a list of our passport services, click here.

Please Note: All children under 14 who apply for U.S. passports must appear in person together with both parents. The child's birth certificate listing both parents' names is also required. Other documentation may be requested.

Emergency passports

Emergency passports will be limited in validity, and cannot be extended. Passport holders will be required, to exchange their limited validity passports for a full-validity photo-digitized passport upon completion of their emergency travel, either through passport facilities in the United States or U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad. There is no additional fee for full validity passports if they are issued within one year.

Change of legal name

As an additional security enhancement, valid passports can no longer be amended. Instead, those requesting name changes will need to apply for replacement passports. If your full validity passport is less than one year old, a new passport with your new legal name can be issued without additional fees.  After one year, the fees are the same as a regular renewal.