Renewing an Emergency Passport for a Full-Validity Passport

If you were issued an emergency, limited-validity passport at an Embassy or Consulate because you had urgent need of travel, you should apply to renew this passport for a full-validity passport as soon as possible. All applicants, even children, may apply by mail or courier as long as the emergency passport is still valid.

Please note that two consecutive emergency passports cannot be issued. Your next application must be for a full-validity passport, which will be printed in the United States and take approximately 15 working days to process.

Application Requirements

Please submit the following by Royal Mail Special Delivery or via the Embassy's appointed courier service:

• Your emergency passport: This passport will be cancelled and returned to you with your new passport;



• Passport application form DS-5504: Parents should sign for children under age 16. Please ignore pages one and two of the printed instruction pages, as they do not apply when applying for your passport in the United Kingdom. Follow the instructions on this page. Form DS-5504 must be printed on separate sheets of paper; do NOT print this form on front and back of the same sheet. If you experience trouble with the Passport Application Wizard, click here for Form DS-5504 [PDF]. For tips on completing the DS-5504 [PDF], please follow this link;



• Two identical passport photographs: The Embassy will reject any photographs that do not meet the specified requirements. Vending machine photographs and photographs printed on a home computer are unacceptable;



• A self-addressed, prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery envelope (available at any UK Post Office) in which to have your documents returned to you once processing is completed. Inquiries regarding Special Delivery Mail should be directed to your local Post Office. Alternatively, you also have the convenient option of using the Embassy's contracted courier, Secure Mail Services (SMS), whose service can be purchased from the SMS representative in the lobby of American Citizen Services on the day you visit the Embassy. For more information on SMS, please call 0870 950 1760;



• If the endorsement on the last page of your emergency passport states that your passport was issued under 22 CFR 51.41, you must also submit proof of citizenship in the form of one of the following:
• a U.S. birth certificate;
• a U.S. naturalization certificate;
• a U.S. certificate of citizenship;
• a U.S. consular report of birth abroad; or
• an expired passport;



• If the endorsement on the last page of your emergency passport states that your passport was issued under 22 CFR 51.28, you must also submit proof of identity in the form of one of the following:
• a valid passport of any country;
• a valid driver's license with photograph;
• a national identity card with photograph;
• a valid U.S. or state government ID card;
• a U.S. military ID card; or



• Fees: There is no fee for this service.

Applying by Royal Mail Special Delivery

Please submit your passport application, along with all supporting documents and photos, only by using the Royal Mail "Special Delivery" service (available at any UK Post Office). Please do not use the regular mail service. Your envelope should be addressed to:

Passport-by-Mail Service
American Citizen Services
U.S. Embassy
5 Upper Grosvenor Street
London, W1A 2LQ

To ensure the safe return of your passports, you should also enclose a pre-paid Special Delivery self-addressed return envelope that shows postage paid up to 500 grams. Inquiries regarding Special Delivery Mail should be directed to your local Post Office. As the Embassy does not keep track of Special Delivery numbers, you are advised to keep a record of your Special Delivery tracking number so you can track your passport's return to you.

Applying via Secure Mail Services (SMS)

SMS will collect your documents, deliver them to the Embassy, and return them to you once processing has been completed. Detailed information on SMS services and booking is available by calling 0870-950-1760. [Disclaimer]

Processing Time

An application for a full-validity (ten years for adults) passport will be sent to the United States for printing with a secure, photo-digitized image of the bearer. You should allow 15 working days for your application to be processed.

Expired Emergency Passports

If your emergency passport is no longer valid, you must follow the instructions for normal passport renewal, which may require you to appear in person (depending on your age) and will require you to pay renewal fees.

If your passport was issued under 22 CFR 51.41 and/or 22 CFR 51.28 (check the endorsement on the last page of your passport), you will also have to submit the following in addition to the listed requirements for your specific renewal:

Proof of Citizenship (if your endorsement specifies 22 CFR 51.41):
• a U.S. birth certificate; or
• a U.S. naturalization certificate; or
• a U.S. certificate of citizenship; or
• a U.S. consular report of birth abroad; or
• an expired passport;

Proof of Identity (if your endorsement specifies 22 CFR 51.28):
• a valid passport of any country; or
• a valid driver's license with photograph; or
• a national identity card with photograph; or
• a valid U.S. or State government ID card; or
• a U.S. military ID card;

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