Passports

Renewing a Passport without a Personal Appearance

For many adult applicants, you can renew your passport without making a personal appearance at the Consulate. Your assistant or helper can bring everything to the Consulate for processing, saving you the trip.

You can renew your existing passport without a personal appearance if––

You were issued your most recent U.S. passport at age 16 or older and within the past fifteen years, and

You can submit your most recent passport (even if it has already expired within the past fifteen years as long as you meet the other criteria, below), and

Your most recent U.S. passport was issued for full validity and

Your name will remain the same as on your most recent passport.

If you are not eligible to apply for your passport by a third party, you must come to the Consulate yourself in person and apply. Follow this link for full details on applying in person.

Here's what you'll need to renew your passport without a personal appearance:

Appointment
Please make an appointment in your own name, even if an assistant or helper will bring in your application for you. All services are provided by appointment only. Appointments are made online. Make Appointment!

Application Form
Please complete one copy of Form DS-82, available online.

Your Old Passport
We will cancel your old passport and return it to you the same day you apply.

Two Identical Photos
Unacceptable photos are the number one cause for delays in our processing your passport.

The photos must be 2" X 2" (5 cm X 5 cm) with a white background.

Please be careful with the size-- "passport photos" you get at a local photographer's shop are often too small and are intended for Hong Kong people to use to obtain a Hong Kong passport. The photo in your current US passport may be a different size from what is needed for a new passport, as standards have changed from time-to-time.

Here's what your photo should look like:

The photo must be 2 inches by 2 inches with the face size as specified. Your browser may not display the graphic above as the right size.

Fee
The fee for a renewal passport using this application method is US$75 (HK$600) for adults.

We accept US or HK dollars, or VISA, Mastercard, Discover, Diners Club or American Express card.

How Long Does it Take?
Once we have everything we need, processing time is normally about 10 days. However, because computers break and typhoons happen, please don't make any unchangeable travel plans until you have the new passport in hand. We'll mail the completed passport to you.

 

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Last modified: May 12, 2009