Explained: how to renew a US passport when living in France
Check your eligibility for postal applications and find out when an in-person appointment is necessary
US passport renewals are currently being processed within roughly four weeks
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The passport renewal process for US citizens resident in France is straightforward. Renewals can be done by mail, however an in-person visit to the US Embassy or a Consulate General may be required in certain cases (see below).
Current processing times are around four weeks although it can take up to six for your new passport to come through.
Check your eligibility for a US passport renewal by mail
Before beginning your passport renewal application by post, it is important to make sure you are eligible to use the mail renewal service by checking the following apply:
you have your most recent US passport book/card to send in
you were 16 or older when your most recent US passport book/card was issued
you hold a 10-year passport issued within the last 15 years
your passport has not been limited to less than 10-year validity due to damage or multiple thefts or losses
you are not requesting a change in the passport data (other than a name change due to marriage, divorce or court order for which you can submit official documentation to support the change)
Renewal form, fee payment and sending in your application by mail
There are several items you need to include with your postal renewal application.
You will first need to go online to fill in, sign and date the DS-82 passport renewal form. Once completed, print the whole form out.
Next, you must provide a 5 cm x 5 cm colour passport photograph taken in the last six months. There are useful official photo tips to make sure your photo meets the requirements (photos from French booths are not the correct size).
If you have a previous US passport, you must get a photocopy (colour or black and white is fine) of the date page to send in with your application.
The passport you are renewing must also be sent in with your application.
Once you have these documents ready, head to Pay.gov, the secure government website, to pay the passport renewal fee of $130. You will receive payment confirmation by email and this must be printed out and included with your application documents as well.
The last item you need is a pre-paid and self-addressed Colissimo envelope. This must allow for 1kg per person if there is more than one of you applying.
Remember to include your return address on the pre-paid envelope and the main envelope.
Now you are ready to send the whole package to:
U.S. Embassy
Attn: Passport Unit
4, avenue Gabriel
75008 Paris
Who needs to make an in-person passport renewal application?
You will have to make an appointment to renew your US passport in France in person if you fall into one of the following categories:
you are aged 16 or under
you were 16 or under when your previous passport was issued
your previous passport was issued more than 15 years ago
your name has changed since your passport was issued and you do not have any official evidence to support it
your passport was lost, stolen or damaged
In-person application form and documents needed
A different form has to be filled in if you will be making an in-person US passport renewal application. Complete the DS-11 passport application form online then print it out but do not sign it yet.
Again, you will need a 5 cm x 5 cm colour passport photograph taken within the last six months.
For your appointment, you will be required to show evidence of US citizenship, for example:
You must also take along a valid official photo identification document as well as a copy.
As above, you must provide a self-addressed, pre-paid Colissimo envelope, with 1kg capacity per applicant, for the return of your passport.
Making an appointment and paying the renewal fee
Appointments for an in-person passport renewal must be made online. You can choose for your appointment to take place in the US Embassy in Paris, or the Consulate General in Marseille or Strasbourg.
Read also: Four US consulates in France identified as facing possible closure under Trump
More appointments become available daily as cancellations are made, so check back often if you cannot get one straight away.
You will need to take all the required documents with you to the appointment and the passport renewal fee is to be paid there on the day. This can be done by debit or credit card and will cost $165 for an adult passport or $135 for a child.
Additional requirements for children’s passports
Children must attend the in-person appointment for a passport renewal along with both parents or legal guardians if possible.
The same DS-11 form must be completed as above and this time, two 5 cm x 5 cm passport photos are needed.
The child’s birth certificate or consular report of birth abroad plus a copy must be taken to the appointment. Parents need to take their official government-issued photo identification and a copy.
Take along the child’s current passport with a copy of the biodata page as well as the parents’ current passport and copies.
Where only one parent is applying, evidence must be provided that you have sole legal custody of the child. In the case where only one parent can be present for the actual appointment, a DS-3053 consent form must be completed, notarised and taken along. More details can be found on the official Passports for minors page.
The $135 fee for a child’s passport renewal can then be paid online at Pay.gov. Remember to print out the payment confirmation you receive by email and add it to the other documents needed for your appointment.
More details on US passport renewals in France can be found at US Embassy and Consulates in France.
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