Not every post does passport work

Many consulates handle limited American Citizen Services, and a few handle none at all. Always confirm the service list on the post's own website before travelling to it.

Appointments are the norm

Almost all overseas passport and notarial services are appointment-only, and slots can be booked weeks ahead. Emergency travel is handled through a separate urgent request channel.

Posts follow local holidays as well as U.S. federal holidays, so published counters hours change often. We link to the official page rather than repeating hours that could be out of date.

Plan for longer timelines

Overseas applications are pouched to the United States for printing. Build in extra weeks, especially if you also need visas or residency stamps transferred into the new book.

Bring more identity evidence than you think

Overseas officers cannot pull U.S. state records quickly. Original citizenship evidence, photo ID, and photocopies of everything shorten a second visit.

Emergencies have an after-hours line

For arrest, death, serious injury, or a lost passport with imminent travel, the post's main number routes to a duty officer outside business hours.

Passport services at U.S. embassies and consulates

What changes when you apply from outside the United States — the forms are the same, but appointments, fees, timelines, and delivery all work differently.

How long each service takes Appointment finder

Renew a passport overseas

Most adults with an undamaged, recent passport book can renew by mail or at a post, but the mailing address and payment method are set by each embassy or consulate — not by the domestic renewal process.

1Confirm on the post's own website whether renewals are handled by mail, drop-off, or appointment.
2Complete form DS-82 (or DS-11 if you are not eligible to renew) and print it single-sided.
3Bring or enclose your most recent passport book and one 2x2 inch photo that meets U.S. standards.
4Pay the fee in the currency and method the post specifies. Overseas processing usually takes longer than domestic service — plan several extra weeks.

DS-82 DS-11

First passport for a child born abroad

Babies born to U.S. citizen parents overseas are usually documented with a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) and a first passport at the same appointment.

1Book a CRBA / first passport appointment at the embassy or consulate that serves your area.
2Both parents (or a documented exception) normally attend with the child in person.
3Bring the local birth certificate, parents' proof of U.S. citizenship and identity, and evidence of the parent's physical presence in the United States.
4Complete DS-11 for the child's passport; children under 16 always apply in person.

DS-11

Lost or stolen passport abroad

Report the loss immediately and contact the nearest post. If you are travelling within days, posts can often issue an emergency limited-validity passport so you can continue or return home.

1File a police report where local authorities require one, then call the post — after-hours duty officers handle genuine emergencies.
2Complete DS-64 (statement of loss) together with DS-11 for the replacement.
3Bring any identity evidence you still have: a photocopy, a driver's license, a birth certificate, or a witness who can attest to your identity.
4An emergency passport is limited-validity and is normally replaced with a full-validity book later.

DS-64 DS-11

Name changes and corrections

Corrections within one year of issuance are free with DS-5504; later name changes use DS-82 or DS-11 depending on eligibility.

1Gather the legal document that proves the change: marriage certificate, court order, or divorce decree.
2Foreign-language documents usually need a certified English translation — ask the post what it accepts.
3Submit the correct form with a new photo and your current passport book.

DS-5504 DS-82

Fees, payment, and mailing overseas

Application fees match the U.S. schedule, but posts set the accepted currencies, payment methods, and return-delivery options. Courier return is often required and paid separately.

1Check the post's fee page before you travel to the appointment — cash-only and card-only posts both exist.
2Expedited service and overnight delivery generally are not available the way they are inside the United States.
3Keep the receipt and any tracking number; it is your only proof while the book is in transit.

Common overseas rejection pitfalls

Using a locally sized photo instead of the U.S. 2x2 inch square — the most common overseas rejection.
Signing the form before the officer witnesses it.
Arriving at a consulate that does not perform passport services for your case.
Assuming U.S. expedited timelines apply overseas — they generally do not.
Bringing no photocopies, forcing a second appointment.
Booking travel before the new book is physically in hand.

Find your post All passport forms

Contact details from usembassy.gov post listings. Hours, appointment systems, and the exact service menu are set by each post — always confirm on the official page. PassportOffices is a private, independent resource and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State or any government agency.