Immediate and Emergency Travel

If you have immediate or emergency travel plans within 2 weeks and need to apply for or renew a passport you will need to schedule an in-person appointment at a passport agency or center.

Passport agencies and centers:

  1. Process all applications received from acceptance facilities and by mail, and
  2. Serve customers by appointment only who have urgent travel to a foreign country in the next 14 calendar days, or need a foreign visa in the next 28 calendar days

The U.S. Department of State runs each passport agency and center. An agency and center is different than acceptance facilities which may include post offices, libraries, and local government offices.

View Passport Agency and Center locations here.

Urgent Travel:

I have not yet applied

Follow these steps to make an appointment:

  1. Go to the Online Passport Appointment System.
  2. Enter information about your travel plans to see if you qualify for an appointment. You may make an appointment for up to seven members of your household.
  3. Enter your email address. The U.S. Department of State will email you a code which you must enter to continue making an appointment. Check your junk or spam folder if you do not see the code in your inbox.
  4. Enter your mobile phone number. The U.S. Department of State will send you a text message with another code you must enter to continue making an appointment.
  5. Complete the process of scheduling your appointment. 
  6. Check your email for a message confirming the details of your appointment. The system will hold your appointment for 15 minutes. If you do not confirm your appointment within 15 minutes, you will need to start over.
  7. If you need to cancel or change the appointment, click the link in the confirmation email to get information about your appointment. 
 

I have already applied

Follow these steps to make an appointment:

  1. Call 1-877-487-2778 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Mondays through Fridays, or on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  2. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call 1-888-874-7793 for TDD/TTY teletype services. 
  3. The U.S. Department of State will provide you with unique information that they will check on the day of your appointment to confirm your appointment is legitimate. If you are not the appointment holder, the passport agency or center will not be able to see you.
  4. If you need to cancel or change your appointment, please call the U.S. Department of State. Your appointment will be given to a new customer calling to make an appointment. You cannot transfer your appointment.

 

Life-or-Death Emergencies

 

You may qualify for an appointment if you need to travel to a foreign country in the next two weeks because your immediate family member outside of the United States:

  • Has died, or
  • Is dying (hospice care), or
  • Has a life-threatening illness or injury

 

Who is an immediate family member?

  • Parent or legal guardian
  • Child
  • Spouse
  • Sibling
  • Grandparent

The U.S. Department of State does not consider aunts, uncles, cousins, or other relatives to be immediate family members.

If you are traveling to another country for medical services, you will not qualify for life-or-death emergency service. 

 

How do I make an appointment?

Schedule your appointment up to two weeks before your international travel. 

Follow these steps:

  1. Get documentation of the emergency:
    • Death certificate
    • Statement from a mortuary
    • Letter from the hospital. The letter must be on hospital letterhead, signed by a doctor, and explain your relative’s medical condition.
  2. If the document is not in English, get it translated by a professional translator.  
  3. Get proof that you are traveling to a foreign country in the next two weeks such as an itinerary or airline ticket.
  4. Complete a passport application, get a passport photo, and valid government-issued photo ID.
  5. Make an appointment. The process depends on several factors:
    • First, try to make an appointment online if you have not applied for a passport. 
    • If you are unable to get an appointment online or you have already applied for a passport:
      • Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET: Call 1-877-487-2778. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call 1-888-874-7793 for TDD/TTY teletype services.
      • Saturdays, Sundays, federal holidays, and after 8:00 p.m. ET on Mondays through Fridays: Call 202-647-4000. Do not call this number between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. ET on Mondays through Fridays, or if you need Urgent Travel Service