There is no expedited service for regular passport applications lodged overseas.
Please allow at least six weeks to receive your new passport, although it may be faster. Some applications, such as child applications without full consent or for children born through surrogacy, take significantly longer.
Do not make travel plans that cannot be changed before you receive your new passport.
If you need to travel internationally within the next 3 weeks, please provide a printed copy of the evidence when you lodge your application (e.g. airline ticket or letter from your employer). We cannot look at tickets stored on your phone or tablet.
If your new passport is not ready before your travel date, you may be eligible to add an Emergency Passport to your application for an additional fee. An Emergency Passport has only 4 visa pages and limited validity to meet immediate travel needs. An Emergency Passport does not contain a chip and cannot be used to enter or transit the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA). If you are travelling to a country that requires a visa, you should check with the embassy of that country whether a visa can be issued in an Emergency Passport and if there is a minimum passport validity required.
An Emergency Passport is usually issued within 2-3 working days after all requirements are met. Some Emergency Passport applications, such as child applications without full consent or for children born through surrogacy, take significantly longer.
Adding an Emergency Passport after lodgement
If you have not received your new passport and need to travel urgently, you can add an Emergency Passport to an application you have already lodged by emailing your lodging office (Houston applicants - please call) one week before your departure date.
Please email the items below from the email address you listed on your application form:
- Full name and date of birth of person who needs the Emergency Passport (Note: you can request an Emergency Passport only for yourself or your minor child)
- Date and city where you submitted your application(s)
- Whether you applied in person or by mail
- Signed Credit Card Authorisation Form authorising payment of the Emergency Passport fee plus the additional FedEx fee.
- Evidence of travel (e.g. airline tickets or letter from employer)
Cancelling your Emergency Passport
After you complete your travel on your Emergency Passport, please email your lodging office so that your Emergency Passport can be electronically cancelled. Your regular passport will then be sent to you via FedEx.
Note: If you applied for an Emergency Passport only (without paying for a regular passport because you were leaving the United States permanently), you will not automatically receive a new passport. You should make an appointment to lodge a new application for your regular passport in your new country of residence.