Renewing an Emergency Passport for a Full-Validity Passport

If you were issued an emergency, limited-validity passport at an Embassy or Consulate because you had urgent need of travel, you should apply to renew this passport for a full-validity passport as soon as possible.

Please note that two consecutive emergency passports cannot be issued. Your next application must be for a full-validity passport, which will be printed in the United States.

Application Requirements

Please bring the following documents with you:

• Your emergency passport: This passport will be cancelled and returned to you with your new passport;
• Passport application form DS-5504: Parents should sign for children under age 16. Form DS-5504 must be printed on separate sheets of paper. Do NOT print this form on the front and back of the same sheet;
• Two identical 5x5 cm passport photographs: The Embassy will reject any photographs that do not meet the specified requirements. Vending machine photographs and photographs printed on a home computer are unacceptable;
• If the endorsement on the last page of your emergency passport states that your passport was issued under 22 CFR 51.41, you must also submit proof of citizenship in the form of one of the following:
  • a U.S. birth certificate;
  • a U.S. naturalization certificate;
  • a U.S. certificate of citizenship;
  • a U.S. consular report of birth abroad; or
  • an expired passport;
• If the endorsement on the last page of your emergency passport states that your passport was issued under 22 CFR 51.28, you must also submit proof of identity in the form of one of the following:
  • a valid passport of any country;
  • a valid driver"s license with photograph;
  • a national identity card with photograph;
  • a valid U.S. or state government ID card; or
  • a U.S. military ID card;
• Fees: There is no fee for this service if the application for a full-validity passport is submitted within 12 months from the date the emergency passport was issued.

Processing Time

The application for a full-validity passport will be sent to the United States for printing with a secure, photo-digitized image of the bearer. You should allow seven working days for your application to be processed. When your new passport is ready, you will need to come back to the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy to pick it up. Your emergency limited-validity passport must be submitted to the Consular Officer. It will be cancelled and returned to you at this stage.

Expired Emergency Passports

If your emergency passport is no longer valid, you must follow the instructions for normal Passport Renewal, which will require you to pay renewal fees.

If your passport was issued under 22 CFR 51.41 and/or 22 CFR 51.28 (check the endorsement on the last page of your passport), you will also have to submit the following in addition to the listed requirements for your specific renewal:

Proof of Citizenship (if your endorsement specifies 22 CFR 51.41):

• a U.S. birth certificate;
• a U.S. naturalization certificate;
• a U.S. certificate of citizenship;
• a U.S. consular report of birth abroad; or
• an expired passport;

Proof of Identity (if your endorsement specifies 22 CFR 51.28):

• a valid passport of any country;
• a valid driver's license with photograph;
• a national identity card with photograph;
• a valid U.S. or State government ID card; or
• a U.S. military ID card.