The US State Department issues a limited number of emergency orders. passport It depends on the specific case for US citizens who need a passport to travel.
Emergency passports are available for survival situations and for those trying to replace a lost or stolen passport.
US citizens need to this type of passport While abroad, you may apply for an emergency passport from your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate; the emergency passport will be valid for limited travel.
Here’s everything you need to know about emergency passports.
What is an emergency passport?
“An emergency passport is a limited-validity passport issued by a U.S. embassy or consulate in an emergency or emergency situation to a U.S. citizen who must return to the United States as soon as possible from abroad,” a State Department spokesperson said. “The emergency passport has a purple cover with the words ‘emergency passport’ on the front.”
Emergency passports are only valid for a maximum of one year.
Emergency passports are issued in the following cases:
- To replace a lost or stolen passport
- To assist in a life-threatening emergency such as serious illness, injury, or death in your immediate family (the U.S. government considers parents or legal guardians, children, spouses, siblings, and grandparents to be “immediate family” — aunts, uncles, and cousins do not count) requiring travel within 72 hours
“An imminent life-threatening emergency means an emergency that immediately and seriously endangers the health or safety of the applicant or another individual (such as a life-sustaining medical procedure that can only be performed in another country) or impairs the applicant’s ability to care for a dying relative or attend the funeral of a relative,” the U.S. Embassy in Bern, Switzerland said. “Applicants for a life-threatening exception must provide documentary evidence sufficient to establish the circumstances.”
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Where can an emergency passport be used?
Several countries, including Francenot allowing Americans to enter with emergency passports.
“The French government does not recognize the 12-page U.S. emergency passport issued by U.S. embassies and consulates abroad as a valid travel document for visa-free entry into France,” the U.S. Embassy in France said. “If you travel with this emergency passport, you may be denied boarding and/or entry by immigration officials.”
Only those in transit France Those en route to the United States can do so with an emergency passport.
Because the State Department does not maintain a list of countries that accept emergency passports, travelers should check entry and exit requirements of their desired destination.
“Some countries may not accept emergency passports and you may be refused entry by immigration officials or denied boarding by airline staff,” note. U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau. “We strongly recommend that you thoroughly research your destination’s entry and exit requirements before traveling.”
Processing times will vary by embassy and availability. For example, the US Embassy in Switzerland Emergency passports are issued during business hours. Passports are usually available within 24 hours and must be picked up in person.
How to apply for an emergency passport?
The process for applying for an emergency passport is similar to the process for replacing a lost passport. The State Department recommends that travelers contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for assistance.
Travelers must apply in person for a replacement passport. The process includes taking a passport photo and paying an expedited passport fee, which costs the same as a non-emergency passport ($130 plus $60 for expedited service).
“If you plan to leave the country soon, please provide the consular officer with detailed information about your trip. We will make every effort to assist you promptly,” a State Department spokesperson said. “If there is not enough time to obtain a regular passport, the Consular Section may issue you an emergency passport with limited validity, which may be valid for up to one year.”
Victims of serious crime or disaster who cannot afford passport fees may be eligible for a free, limited-validity emergency passport.
Last line
Not having a passport when an emergency requires you to travel abroad can be very worrying — but you can still get an emergency passport to get where you need to go as quickly as possible.
If you are abroad, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate at your destination and find out if they issue emergency passports and if the country you are traveling to accepts them.
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