Our section on American Citizenship contains information on CRBAs and first-time child passports, child renewals, adult renewals, emergency passports, and Social Security. For further information on all services discussed here, visit the website of the U.S. Embassy.
An emergency passport is given on the spot or within 1-2 days of application.
Presently, one can apply for an emergency passport either for imminent travel (within up to two weeks of travel) or in order to issue or renew an Israeli visa (within 30 days of expiration).
In order to obtain an emergency passport for travel purposes, you need to provide proof of travel; namely, a paid ticket. An itinerary is insufficient; it must have proof that it was already paid for.
Note: Emergency U.S. passports are not valid for travel through France or Belgium.
Obtaining an emergency passport
If there are no appointments available at all, request an emergency appointment via their online form.
Emergency passport application requires the same documentation as for a regular passport, plus either proof of travel or expired visa. See our guide on U.S. passport application for details.
At the appointment, if your need for an emergency passport is approved, you will receive a limited-validity emergency passport, generally for one year. The fee is the same as a regular passport.
If you applied for a full-validity passport but you have not received notification that your passport has arrived, you may contact the Embassy for an emergency passport via email, including a copy of your paid itinerary. You will need to submit a new application form and photos. However, you will not need to pay the application fees again unless they have already mailed the passport to you.
Please note: a visa can be issued in an emergency passport. Visa application should be made within a short time after receiving the passport.
Exchanging an Emergency Passport
To exchange an emergency passport with a full-validity one, you must send:
- Your emergency passport
- A passport picture (if the emergency passport was for a newborn, the new picture should be a current one)
- Form DS-5504 (if the applicant is under 16 years old, one parent must sign the form on his behalf)
- If you do not have a Social Security number (common in the case of new babies), include a signed and dated statement that you or your child was not yet issued a Social Security number.
This application may be submitted by mail only. If you want the passport returned to you by mail, include return service. If you want it returned by courier, write that down and place it in the application package along with your contact information.
If the exchange is made within one year of the issuance of the emergency passport (i.e. before it expires), it is free.