Foreign Passport Renewal Directory

How to Renew a Foreign Passport While Living in the United States

Foreign passport renewal is controlled primarily by the government that issued the passport. There is no single U.S. federal renewal procedure for foreign passports. Each embassy or consulate can set its own application forms, appointment system, fees, photo specifications, document requirements, processing times and delivery procedures.

1. Select your country of citizenship and identify the responsible embassy or consular post.
2. Check the official passport-renewal instructions currently published by that government.
3. Confirm whether you qualify for renewal by mail, online renewal, or in-person service.
4. Prepare the required passport, photographs, identity/nationality evidence and U.S. residence or immigration documents if required.
5. Confirm the current fee and accepted payment method before submission.
6. Check current processing times and whether your passport will be returned by mail or collected in person.
7. Keep copies of the application and supporting documents before submitting originals.

Passport Expiration Does Not Automatically Equal Loss of U.S. Status

A foreign passport is issued by the person's country of citizenship, while U.S. immigration status is governed by U.S. immigration law. For many nonimmigrants, the Form I-94 records the authorized period of stay. A passport expiration date therefore should not be treated as an automatic U.S. status-termination date.

Passport validity can nevertheless matter for travel, visa processing, identification documents, and certain immigration procedures. The consequences can differ by status, nationality, state and travel destination, so a person should verify the specific requirement rather than relying on a universal rule.

The Six-Month Passport Rule Is Not Universal

The frequently cited six-month passport rule has important exceptions. U.S. visa and admission rules can depend on the nationality of the traveler and the applicable country-specific passport-validity arrangement.

In addition, passport-validity requirements imposed by a destination country are separate from U.S. immigration requirements. Before international travel, check both the destination country's current entry rules and the requirements for returning to the United States.

Documents: Why There Is No Universal Checklist

A document that is required by one country's embassy may not be required by another. Some countries require proof of U.S. immigration status, while others may request proof of residence, nationality, identity, a previous passport, photographs, consular registration or additional civil documents.

The country-specific guide linked from this directory should therefore be treated as the starting point. Applicants should always compare the information with the issuing government's current official instructions immediately before submitting an application.

Passport Renewal, U.S. Visas and International Travel

Renewing a foreign passport does not itself renew a U.S. visa or extend U.S. immigration status. If a person has a valid U.S. visa in an expired passport, the ability to travel using the old visa together with the new passport can depend on the applicable visa and travel rules.

Before booking international travel, confirm that the new passport will satisfy the destination country's validity requirements and that any U.S. visa, admission and reentry requirements are satisfied.

State Driver's License and ID Requirements

Driver's-license and identification requirements are determined by the individual state. Some states may require an unexpired passport or other identity and lawful-status documentation, while others may accept different combinations of documents. Do not assume that an expired foreign passport automatically causes every DMV transaction to be denied. Check the DMV requirements for the state where you live.

Before You Submit Your Renewal

• Use the issuing government's current official instructions.
• Confirm which consular post has jurisdiction over your U.S. residence.
• Check whether an appointment is required.
• Verify the current fee and accepted payment method.
• Confirm photo dimensions and photograph rules.
• Determine whether originals must be submitted and how they will be returned.
• Check processing times before making international travel plans.
• Keep copies of your passport and application documents.