The Department of State issues emergency U.S. passports to applicants who need to travel immediately due to emergency situations.
If you want to apply for an emergency passport, you need to understand that its issuance is strict; therefore, the consular officer will determine if your situation meets the standard for an emergency. In general, you may be given an emergency passport if:
- your U.S. passport was lost or stolen and you need to travel in less than two weeks;
- you have a medical emergency; and
- you have an emergency situation that does not meet the above criteria but is severe enough to warrant emergency action.
For lost or stolen passports without an urgent need for travel, you need to follow the standard passport application procedure to replace your lost or stolen passport. You will have to fill out and submit Form DS-64, Statement Regarding a Lost or Stolen Passport, Form DS-11, Application for a U.S. Passport, as well as the other required documents.
If your situation is not considered urgent, the consular office may advise you to book an online appointment.
An emergency passport has the same fees as a regular passport; however, it will expire shortly after your urgent travel has been completed.
Below are the situations that may require you to apply for an emergency passport and their respective application steps.
Table of Contents
Life-or-Death Emergencies
According to the Department of State, you may be eligible for an appointment if your immediate family member has died or is seriously ill or injured while abroad and you need to travel outside the United States within 72 hours or three business days.
Immediate family members include parents, legal guardians, children, spouses, siblings, and grandparents.
You must provide the following:
- A passport application form. Normally, you would need to submit Form DS-11, unless your passport application falls under other conditions.
- Passport and processing fees
- A document proving your U.S. Citizenship
- Your identification document
- Your photograph
- Proof of the life-or-death emergency, such as a death certificate, a statement from a mortuary, or a signed letter from a hospital or medical professional. Take note that documents must be in English or translated into English.
- Proof of international travel (itinerary, ticket, reservation) specific to the emergency
Then, contact the Department of State:
- From the United States:
- 1-877-487-2778 or 1-888-874-7793 (TTY/TDD) Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Time, except federal holidays.
- 202-647-400 outside of the hours listed above.
- From outside the United States:
- Contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate nearest you.
Urgent International Travel Plans Within 72 Hours
According to the Department of State, if you are traveling within 72 hours or three business days, you can expedite your application.
Schedule your appointment online via the Department of State’s online passport appointment system or call them at 1-877-487-2778 or 1-888-874-7793 (TTY/TDD) Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Time, except federal holidays.
If you need a foreign visa, the date of your appointment must be within 3 business days of your international travel.
You must provide the following:
- A passport application form. Normally, you would need to submit Form DS-11, unless your passport application falls under other conditions.
- Passport and processing fees
- A document proving your U.S. Citizenship
- Your identification document
- Your photograph
- Proof of international travel (itinerary, ticket, reservation) specific to the emergency
No matter the emergency situation that requires you to travel, have the diligence to check for an appointment. Moreover, because appointments are subject to limitations, you may not be able to make one on your first try. If this happens, try again or call the Department of State for assistance.
Other useful information
These are some of the details that you may find useful during your application:
Fill-out U.S. Passport Forms here.
How to fill out Form DS-11?
First page
Aside from determining whether you are applying for a U.S. passport card, U.S. passport book, or both, by selecting the applicable box, you will have to answer the following nine fields:
- Name
- Date of Birth
- Sex
- Place of Birth
- Social Security Number
- Primary Contact Phone Number
- Mailing Address
- List of all other names you have used legally
Second page
Provide the answers to the rest of the fields:
- Name of Applicant
- Date of Birth
- Parental Information
- Have you ever been married?
- Additional Contact Phone Number
- Occupation
- Employer or School
- Height
- Hair Color
- Eye Color
- Travel Plans
- Permanent Address
- Emergency Contact
- Have you ever applied for or been issued a U.S. Passport Book or Passport Card?
Passport Application Requirements
Documents proving U.S. citizenship
You must be an American citizen, by birth or naturalization; therefore, you need to submit evidence of U.S. citizenship. You can submit one of the following:
- Fully-valid, undamaged U.S. passport — this may be expired
- Birth certificate, meeting the following requirements:
- Issued by the city, county, or state of birth
- Lists full name and date and place of birth
- Shows the date filed with the registrar’s office — must be within one year of birth
- Has the registrar’s signature
- Has the seal of the issuing authority
- U.S. hospital birth record
- Certificate of Naturalization
- Certificate of Citizenship
- Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certificate of Birth
Submit a photocopy of the front of your U.S. citizenship evidence. If the back of the evidence has printed information, photocopy it also. Here are some guidelines for photocopies:
- Legible
- On white 8.5” x 11” standard paper
- Black and white
- Single-sided
Identification documents
You must also establish your identity by submitting proof of identity — one that is a permanent ID card and not secondary. Some of the identification documents you can submit include:
- State-issued driver’s license
- Government employee ID
- Current and valid foreign passport
- Certificate of Naturalization
- Certificate of Citizenship
- Enhanced Tribal Card
- Trusted Traveler ID (Global Entry, FAST, SENTRI, and NEXUS)
Digital identification cards are not acceptable when you apply for your U.S. passport.
Photograph
There are passport acceptance facilities that offer photo-taking services; despite this, you can have your photo taken ahead of time. To avoid processing delays, observe the following requirements:
- Colored, high-resolution photo
- Use a plain white or off-white background
- Photo size must be 2×2” or 51×51 cm
- Wear regular clothes
- Do not wear any headdress or eyeglasses, unless for religious reasons
Passport Fees
Here are the appropriate fees:
| Product | Application Fee |
| Passport Book | $110 |
| Passport Card | $30 |
| Passport Book and Card | $140 |