How Do You Get an Emergency Passport?

Emergency passports are real and obtainable, but only for documented urgent travel. The exact process depends on your nationality. For US citizens, this is the most common scenario, and the system, while bureaucratic, is workable.

What qualifies as an emergency

For US citizens, emergencies include: serious illness or death of an immediate family member abroad, medical emergencies requiring travel, and other urgent humanitarian situations. Routine travel does not qualify, even if your trip is in three days.

The State Department”s definition is reasonably broad but does require documentation (death certificates, medical records, hospital letters).

US citizen process

Schedule an appointment at one of 26 US Passport Agency offices. Appointments are limited; book through the State Department”s scheduling system or call 1-877-487-2778.

Bring: completed DS-11 form (or DS-82 for renewal), passport photo, proof of citizenship (birth certificate or naturalization certificate), photo ID, payment for fees, evidence of travel within 14 days, and documentation of the emergency reason.

Same-day passport issuance is possible at agency offices for documented emergencies. Otherwise, expect 1-3 business days.

Costs

Standard passport book: USD 130 application fee plus USD 35 execution fee. Expedited service adds USD 60. Emergency in-person service does not add additional fees beyond expedited.

Passport card (cheaper, USD 30) only works for land/sea entry to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. For air travel, you need a passport book.

Lost passport abroad

If you lose your passport while traveling internationally, contact the nearest US embassy or consulate. They can issue an emergency passport for return travel, typically valid for 1 year and limited in scope.

Keep digital copies of your passport (photos in cloud storage) before traveling. Replacing a lost passport is dramatically faster when you can prove your previous identity.

For non-US citizens

UK citizens: contact HM Passport Office for premium 1-day or fast-track 1-week services.

Canadian citizens: Passport Canada has 24-hour and 2-3 day expedited services for documented urgent travel.

EU member states: each country has its own emergency procedures, generally similar to the US system. Contact your country”s passport authority directly.

Common mistakes

Showing up at an agency without an appointment for emergency service. Most agencies require appointments for any expedited processing.

Lacking evidence of imminent travel. Bring printed flight confirmations or other proof of travel within 14 days.

Inadequate documentation of the emergency reason. The State Department needs to verify the urgency, not just take your word for it.

Tips

If you have time but not much, pay for expedited normal processing rather than betting on emergency services. Standard expedited takes 7-9 weeks normally; the priority expedited service available at agencies takes 4-6 weeks.

For routine renewals, the standard process now takes 4-6 weeks (down from longer pandemic-era times). Plan ahead when possible.