Passport Renewal, Replacement, First Time Applicants, and Amendments

American Citizen Services Unit

Important Notice

As of February 1, 2011 personal appearances , except for emergencies, will be by appointment only. In the step-by-step instruction for each service you will find a link to our appointment system.

Passport Application Procedures

You may apply to renew your U.S. passport at any time. If your passport has expired or is about to expire, we strongly recommend that you take action now to renew your passport. Apart from the inconvenience you may incur in having to apply for a passport at short notice in the event of an emergency, every U.S. citizen abroad should have valid proof of his or her citizenship at all times.

Passports Printed in the U.S.

All passport applications are forwarded by the Embassy to the U.S. for passport printing. DO NOT SEND YOUR APPLICATIONS DIRECTLY TO THE U.S. More information can be found by selecting your specific passport service from the menu at the left side of this page.

Processing Time

Upon receiving a complete application the processing time for a passport is approximately three to six weeks.

Entering and Departing the U.S.

According to Section 215 of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1185), it is illegal for an American citizen to enter or leave the U.S. on anything other than an American passport. This applies to dual citizens as well, meaning that persons holding e.g. both Swedish and American citizenships and passports must enter and leave the U.S. on a U.S. passport. They may not enter/leave the U.S. on a Swedish passport. This applies to children as well as adults.

Personal Appearance of All Minors

To enhance the accurate identification of passport applicants and aid in the prevention of international child abduction and trafficking, the Department of State requires the personal appearance of all minors applying for U.S. passports. This applies even if the child has previously been issued a passport, regardless of place of issuance. The personal appearance requirement for all minors is a further step towards ensuring the integrity of the passport application process. In addition, passports renewal by mail is now restricted to applicants who hold a full validity passport which was issued when the applicant was 16 or older. Applicants who had not turned 16 at the time when the passport was issued cannot renew passports by mail, but must apply in person at the Embassy.