How Do I Renew My U.S. Passport While Living Abroad?

Yes, you can renew your U.S. passport while living overseas. Most adults use Form DS-82 and submit their application through the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The renewal fee is $130 for a passport book, and processing typically takes 4 to 6 weeks, according to the U.S. Department of State.

You are eligible to renew (rather than apply for a new passport) if you meet all of the following:

Your most recent passport was issued when you were 16 or older
It was issued within the last 15 years
It is in your possession (not lost, stolen, or damaged)
It is in your current name (or you can document the name change)

If you do not meet all four criteria, you will need to apply for a new passport in person at your nearest embassy or consulate using Form DS-11. Here is everything you need to know about renewing your U.S. passport from abroad, step by step.

Living Abroad With an Expired or Expiring Passport?

You’ll make sure your passport status, IRS records, and expat tax filings stay aligned — especially if you’ve changed your name or moved countries

Can I Renew My U.S. Passport Online From Abroad?

In most cases, no. The State Department’s Online Passport Renewal system requires a mailing address in a U.S. state or territory. It does not accept Army, Fleet, or Diplomatic Post Office (APO/FPO/DPO) addresses. This means most Americans living abroad cannot use the online system.

There are limited exceptions. Some U.S. embassies (such as Japan) have offered fully online renewal processes through their own systems. Check the website of your specific U.S. embassy or consulate to see whether an online option is available in your country.

For most expats, the process is either by mail or in person at your local embassy or consulate.

What Documents Do I Need to Renew an Expired U.S. Passport Abroad?

Whether your passport is expired or still valid, you need the same documents to renew it abroad (as long as it was issued within the last 15 years):

Document	Details
Form DS-82	Completed and signed. Use the State Department’s Form Filler online and print it, or download a blank PDF and complete it by hand in black ink
Your most recent passport	Must be in your possession and undamaged. You will submit it with your application, and it will be returned separately after your new passport is issued (typically about 4 weeks later)
Passport photo	One 2×2 inch (51×51 mm) photo taken within the last 6 months, meeting State Department photo requirements
$130 fee	Payment for passport book renewal. Most embassies accept payment through Pay.gov (credit/debit card or PayPal). Some also accept cash, credit cards, or money orders in person. Check your embassy’s website for accepted payment methods
Name change documentation (if applicable)	Original or certified copy of marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order if your name differs from the one on your current passport

If your passport was lost, stolen, or damaged, you cannot renew it. You must apply for a completely new passport using Form DS-11, which requires an in-person appointment at the embassy or consulate.

How Do I Submit My Passport Renewal Application From Abroad?

Each U.S. embassy and consulate has slightly different procedures. Some require mail-in applications, others require in-person appointments, and others offer both. Always check the specific instructions on your local embassy or consulate website before submitting anything.

General steps:

Step 1: Check your embassy’s website. Find your nearest embassy or consulate, then review its passport renewal page. Check the instructions to see whether to mail your application or schedule an in-person appointment.
Step 2: Complete Form DS-82. Use the online Form Filler tool on the State Department website or download the PDF. If you are abroad, ignore the domestic mailing instructions printed on the form. Follow your embassy’s instructions instead.
Step 3: Pay the $130 fee on Pay.gov. Most embassies and consulates direct overseas applicants to pay online through Pay.gov. Print your email confirmation receipt and include it with your application. For urgent travel, pay by credit or debit card (PayPal payments can take 1 to 2 business days and may delay processing).
Step 4: Submit your application. Depending on your embassy, either mail your completed DS-82, passport, photo, payment confirmation, and any name change documents to the embassy, or bring everything to an in-person appointment.
Step 5: Wait for processing. The typical processing time for passport renewals abroad is 4 to 6 weeks, though this varies by embassy and demand. Your old passport will be returned separately, usually about 4 weeks after you receive your new one.

If you travel frequently, check the “large book” box at the top of Form DS-82 to request a passport with extra visa pages at no additional cost.

How Much Does It Cost to Renew a U.S. Passport Abroad?

The State Department’s fee schedule (effective June 27, 2025) for overseas passport renewal is straightforward:

Service	Fee	Notes
Adult passport book renewal	$130	Standard 10-year validity
Adult passport card (add-on)	$30	Valid only for land/sea travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. Not valid for international air travel
Adult passport book + card	$160	Both documents
Expedited processing	Not available	Expedite service is not offered for renewals processed through embassies and consulates (only available for domestic applications)
1-2 day delivery	Not available	Only for U.S. mailing addresses

Key difference from domestic renewals: When renewing from abroad (excluding Canada), you pay only the $130 passport fee. Do not add the $60 expedite fee or the $22.05 delivery fee. These services are not available for overseas applications.

Accepted payment methods vary by location. Most embassies accept Pay.gov (credit/debit card), but some also accept U.S. currency, local currency, or credit cards in person. Check your specific embassy’s fees page before paying.

How Long Does Passport Renewal Take When Living Overseas?

Routine processing time for passport renewals abroad is 4 to 6 weeks from the date the embassy or consulate receives your application. This does not include mailing time for your application to reach the embassy or for your new passport to be delivered back to you.

Total timeline from start to finish: Plan for 6 to 10 weeks, depending on your embassy’s workload and the local mail service’s speed.

Factors that can extend processing time:

Peak travel seasons (spring and summer)
Incomplete applications or incorrect photos
Name change documentation that requires additional verification
High-demand embassies in major expat destinations

When to renew: Many countries and airlines will not allow entry if your passport expires within 6 months. Start the renewal process at least 3 to 4 months before your passport’s expiration date. If you have an upcoming travel, factor in the total processing time plus mailing time.

Your old passport during processing: You will be without your current passport during the entire processing period, since you must submit it with your application. If you need to travel while your renewal is being processed, contact your embassy about emergency travel options before submitting your application.

What If My Passport Is Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Abroad?

If your passport is lost, stolen, or damaged, you cannot use the DS-82 form to renew it. Instead, you must apply for a new passport in person at your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate using Form DS-11.

For a lost or stolen passport:

Report it immediately using Form DS-64 (Statement Regarding Lost or Stolen Passport)
Contact your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to schedule an in-person appointment
Bring proof of U.S. citizenship (birth certificate, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or naturalization certificate), a valid photo ID, one passport photo, and the $130 application fee plus a $35 execution fee ($165 total)
In emergency situations (immediate travel due to illness, injury, or death of a family member), the embassy may issue a limited-validity emergency passport on the same day or within a few days

For a damaged passport: Normal wear and tear (bent cover, fanned visa pages) does not count as damage. Damage includes liquid stains, significant tears, missing visa pages, unofficial markings on the data page, or hole punches. If your passport is damaged, you must apply in person with Form DS-11.

What About Renewing a Child’s Passport Abroad?

You cannot renew a child’s passport by mail. All children under 16 must apply for a new passport in person at the U.S. embassy or consulate using Form DS-11.

Requirements for minors:

Requirement	Details
Form	DS-11 (new application, not DS-82 renewal)
Appearance	The child and both parents/guardians must appear in person
Proof of citizenship	Child’s birth certificate, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or previous passport
Parental ID	Government-issued photo ID for both parents
Consent	Both parents must consent. If one parent cannot attend, they must provide a notarized Form DS-3053 (Statement of Consent)
Photo	One 2×2 inch photo of the child
Fee	$100 application fee + $35 execution fee ($135 total)

Children’s passports are valid for 5 years (compared to 10 years for adults).

Can Owing Taxes Affect My Passport Renewal?

Yes. The IRS can certify seriously delinquent tax debt to the State Department, which can then deny your passport renewal or new passport application. Under Internal Revenue Code Section 7345, the threshold for “seriously delinquent” is a total tax debt exceeding $66,000 (adjusted annually for inflation).

This is particularly important for expats because penalties for unfiled returns and unreported foreign accounts can add up quickly. For example, a single non-willful failure to file an FBAR can carry a penalty of up to $16,536 per account. Multiple years of unfiled returns with penalties and interest can push your total debt past the $62,000 threshold faster than you might expect.

How it works:

The IRS sends you Notice CP508C informing you that your tax debt has been certified to the State Department
The State Department holds your application for 90 days to give you time to resolve the issue
You can reverse the certification by paying your debt in full, entering into an approved installment agreement, or demonstrating that the certification is erroneous

How to avoid this: Stay current on your U.S. tax filings. If you have unfiled returns, the Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures let you catch up penalty-free before the IRS contacts you.

Quick Reference: DS-82 Renewal vs. DS-11 New Application

Criteria	DS-82 (Renewal)	DS-11 (New Application)
When to use	Passport in possession, issued at age 16+, within the last 15 years, undamaged	First passport, under 16, lost/stolen/damaged, or issued 15+ years ago
How to submit abroad	Mail or in person (varies by embassy)	In person only
Adult fee	$130 (no execution fee)	$130 + $35 execution fee = $165
Minor fee	N/A (minors cannot use DS-82)	$100 + $35 execution fee = $135
Processing time abroad	4-6 weeks	4-6 weeks (varies)
Expedite available abroad	No	No

How Greenback Can Help

Your U.S. passport is your most essential document as an American living abroad. If you have unfiled tax returns or unresolved tax debt that could affect your passport, Greenback can help you get compliant before it becomes a problem.

We help Americans abroad with filing current and back tax returns, including claims for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (up to $130,000 for the 2025 tax year) and the Foreign Tax Credit, catching up on unfiled years through the Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures (penalty-free if you act before the IRS contacts you), resolving FBAR and FATCA reporting obligations, and working with the IRS on installment agreements to address outstanding debt.

No matter how late, messy, or complex your return may be, we can help. You will have peace of mind, knowing that your taxes were done right and your passport is secure.

If you are ready to be matched with a Greenback accountant, click the get started button below. For general questions about expat taxes or working with Greenback, contact us, and one of our Customer Champions will be happy to help.

Renewing Your Passport Is One Step. Staying Tax Compliant Is Another.

You’ll get a complete review of your U.S. filing requirements, foreign reporting obligations, and state tax exposure — so nothing gets missed.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Passport procedures and fees are subject to change. Always verify requirements with your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate and the U.S. Department of State before applying.