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Message to U.S. Citizens – Travel to the United States on Expired U.S. Passports (March 24, 2022)
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9 MINUTE READ
March 24, 2022

Location: United Arab Emirates, countrywide

If you are overseas and your U.S. passport expired on or after January 1, 2020, you may be able to use your expired U.S. passport to return directly to the United States until June 30, 2022.

 

You qualify to travel on your expired passport if all the following are true:

  • You are a U.S. citizen.
  • You are currently abroad seeking direct return to the United States.
  • You are flying directly to the United States, a United States territory, or have only short-term transit (“connecting flights”) through a foreign country on your direct return to the United States or to a United States Territory.
  • Your expired passport was originally valid for 10 years.  Or, if you were 15 years of age or younger when the passport was issued, your expired passport was valid for five years.
  • Your expired passport is undamaged.
  • Your expired passport is unaltered.
  • Your expired passport is in your possession.

 

You do not qualify to travel on your expired passport if:

  • You wish to depart from the United States to an international destination.
  • You are currently abroad seeking to travel to a foreign country for any length of stay longer than an airport connection en route to the United States or to a United States territory.
  • Your expired passport was limited in validity.
  • Your expired passport is a special issuance passport (such as a diplomatic, official, service, or no-fee regular passport).
  • Your expired passport is damaged.
  • Your expired passport is altered.
  • Your expired passport is not in your possession.

 

All other passport rules and regulations remain in effect.  The Department of Homeland Security maintains discretion to reject any bearer in accordance with 22 CFR 53.2(b)(7) and 8 CFR 235.1(b).

If you decide to travel on an expired passport, please check with the airline beforehand to ensure that they are aware of this regulation and willing to board you.

 

Please be advised that currently, routine passport processing in the United States can take 8-11 weeks.  For an additional $60, domestic applicants can request expedited service.  Domestic applicants also may request 1-2 day delivery of their completed passport for an additional fee.  See www.travel.state.gov for our current processing times and schedule of fees.  Adults with 10-year passports can renew them by mail instead of appearing in person at a domestic passport acceptance facility.  If you have urgent international travel plans, you may be eligible for an appointment at a domestic passport agency or center.  Appointments are limited and must be scheduled by phone.  For more information, see: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/get-fast.html

If your U.S. passport expired on or before December 31, 2019, please see our website for information on how to renew your passport before traveling.  Emergency temporary passports may be available in some cases for urgent travel.

Actions to Take: 

 

Assistance:

U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassies District, Plot 38, Sector W59-02, Street No. 4
+971 2 414 2200
abudhabiacs@state.gov

U.S. Consulate General Dubai
Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed and Al Seef Streets
+971 4 309 4000
dubaiacs@state.gov

 

You have received this message because you have registered with the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).  If you would like to unsubscribe or change your details in STEP, please go to https://step.state.gov/step/.

 

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