How to Renew an American Passport in Canada

You can renew your U.S. passport by mail from Canada.

The easiest way to renew your American passport while in Canada is by mail. You will need to complete the required paperwork and assemble the supporting documents: These include your current American passport, two new passport photos and payment. There are specific qualifications regarding age and other details you must meet in order to be eligible to renew by mail. You need to begin the process in time to receive the new passport by your travel dates; you should allow approximately six weeks for processing.

Things You'll Need

• Form DS-82
• Current U.S. Passport
• Photographs
• Fee

Instructions

Renew Your U.S. Passport by Mail from Canada

1. Check the U.S. State Department guidelines to determine if you qualify to renew by mail. For instance, you must be at least 18 years of age and your recent passport must have been issued within the last 15 years; when you were at least 16 years old. Your passport must have no special limitations and be in undamaged condition to be renewed via mail. If your name has changed, you must provide the original copy of your marriage certificate or name change certificate with your renewal request.

2. Complete passport renewal form DS-82 and use black ink to sign your name as it appears on your current passport.

3. Take two identical color passport photos measuring two inches by two inches with your image between one and one 3/8 inches against a light background.

4. Include payment with your renewal application. It must be a bank or postal money order in U.S. dollars, made payable to the U.S. Consulate General. Personal checks are not accepted.

5. Assemble your package. Include form DS-82, two color passport photos, your current passport and payment. Send original documents; photocopies will not be accepted. All original documents will be returned with your renewed passport. Mail the package using a trackable delivery method to the National Passport Processing Center in Philadelphia, PA.

Tips & Warnings

• Both parents must appear in person at the U.S. Consulate for passport requests for children under the age of 14.

• Take all paperwork, photos and fees to the U.S. Consulate if you need an emergency passport renewal. In addition, you will need to provide proof of emergency need such as an airline ticket. Time is limited on emergency passport renewals. After the emergency has passed, you will need to replace your emergency passport with a regularly issued passport.

• There is a U.S. Consulate in Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City and Halifax.

• Form DS-82 says passports are renewable by mail to those using a U.S. address, but Canada is an exception. If you reside in Canada, you can renew by mail using your Canadian address.

References

• The United States Embassy Consular Services Canada: U.S. Passport Renewal
• U.S. State Department: Renew Passport

Resources

• U.S. State Department: Passport by Mail: DS-82