When you are abroad, a passport is the most important legal proof of identity, which is a must for hotel check-in, car rentals, etc. Imagine that you lost your passport in a foreign country, which will drive you mad. How will you continue your journey? Can you go back home? What should you do next? Don’t worry. Obtaining a temporary passport would help you return to your home country safely and as soon as possible.
In this article, we are going to talk about temporary US passports, including eligibility, how to get one, etc.
What Is a Temporary US Passport?
A U.S. temporary passport is a temporary travel document with limited validity and usage issued by the U.S. Department of State in emergencies. For example, you are in urgent need of traveling only to find your passports lost, stolen or expired. As we all know, it takes up to 13 weeks to get a new US passport. Travelers with short-time visas cannot wait for such a long time and the replacement service is sometimes unavailable abroad. US temporary passports are featured with expedited processing and issuance.
When Are You Qualified for a Temporary Passport?
In the following conditions, you are eligible to apply for a temporary passport:
- Your passport is stolen, lost, or damaged when abroad.
- Your passport expires when abroad.
- You are in a rush to visit an immediate family member who is severely sick or passed away.
- You have to travel urgently for legal matters, employment issues or military service.
Restricted Use of Temporary Passport
As it is not a formal passport, it is usually valid for only a few days. If you have a long-term traveling plan, it is suggested to apply for a replacement soon. The consular officer would note down all the countries you are going to, and the date of arrival and departure according to your travel itinerary. Make sure your plan is complete and reasonable in case of being rejected. Additionally, visas that have been stamped on your old passport might be reissued according to the rules and regulations of your destinations.
The temporary passport is used to head to the destination country and stopovers that you have to transit to arrive at the destination. When applying for it to return to America in a foreign country, the immigration officers will take your passport after coming back. When applying for it to travel out of America, it can support a round trip and the immigration officers will take it after returning.
How To Get a Temporary Passport
How to get a temporary passport depends on where you are. Read on our following guide to find out how to get a temporary passport abroad and in the US, as well as how to get one for your child.
Apply for a Temporary Passport Abroad
You can find the location and contact of the nearest embassy or consulate here by country.
The procedures might vary from country to country, so please contact and ask whether you need to make an appointment and what to take with you.
Supposing that you have filed a case with the police, you should hand in the police report to the officer along with the following documents.
- one passport-style photo
- proof of ID, such as ID card or driver’s license
- proof of citizenship, such as the expired passport, or photocopy of the lost passport.
- proof of urgent trip, such as airplane/train/bus/steamer tickets
- travel itinerary (if applicable)
- police report (if you have report loss)
- application form (available in passport offices or embassies)
- payment receipt
Apply for a Temporary Passport in the US
The US State Department provides emergency services for those who wish to travel within 72 hours if your immediate family member abroad has passed away, is under hospice care or suffering life-threatening diseases or injuries. An immediate family member must be your grandparent, parents, legal guardians, spouse, siblings, or children. This service is not available for emergent conditions of uncles, aunts, cousins or other relatives, and traveling abroad for medical service. In order to obtain the passport, you have to call passport agencies and centers at 1-877-487-2778 to make an appointment and bring the following documents to your appointment in person.
- proof of emergency, such as a death certificate, statement from a mortuary or a letter from the hospital signed by a certified doctor. If it is non-English, ask a professional translator to translate it. No notarization is required.
- proof of urgent international travel, such as an airline ticket.
- passport application (available here).
- passport photo
- proof of ID, such as ID card or driver’s license
- proof of citizenship, such as an expired passport, photocopy of the lost passport, or birth certificate is also acceptable when you are in America
- payment receipt
Apply for Temporary Passport for Children
Application for temporary passports for kids goes the same as that for adults. Both parents and the child must appear in the embassy or passport agency in person with the extra documents listed below to prove your guardianship.
- birth certificate
- adoption decree
- court order that establishes custody or guardianship
FAQs:
Q: How long can I get a temporary passport?
A: It depends on where you are and the workload of the authorities. It generally ranges from 1 day to one week.
Q: How long does a temporary passport remain valid?
A: The validity time ranges from a few days to 6 months. In rare cases, you might get a 12-month duration. It is only used for a round trip or a returning trip once. After returning back to your country, remember to replace this limited-time passport with a regular one as soon as possible, so you can travel overseas next time.
Q: Can I extend the temporary passport when it expires?
A: No, because it is not a regular passport.
Q: How much does it cost to apply for a temporary passport?
A: Find out the cost and payment methods on the U.S. embassy or consulate page when you are abroad. The life-and-death emergency service in the US charges $60 expedited fees plus $130 regular fees. If you want to use 1-2 days delivery service, pay another $20.
Q: Can I use a temporary passport to enter another country?
A: It depends on the policies of your destinations. Although it works as a regular passport in emergency cases, some countries don’t recognize temporary passports as valid travel documents. You can learn about the entry and exit rules of your destination here.
Q: Can I get a visa on a temporary passport?
A: Visa application in most countries requires a passport with a least 6 months of validity and 1-2 blank sheets. If your temporary ones do not meet the requirements, you may not get a visa.
Summary
Although it is repeatedly stressed the importance of keeping your passport safe abroad, it can also get stolen, lost or damaged. Temporary passports help you go back home safely and quickly. It is not a perfect travel document, but it is necessary in an emergency. Whether you qualify for it depends on if your regular passport is stolen, lost, damaged or expired in a foreign country and you need it for an urgent trip. Get acquainted with the address and contact of embassies/consulates in your destinations which would help you with traveling issues.
Dolores Xiao