Life-or-death emergency
For the death, serious illness, or life-threatening injury of an immediate family member. This route is phone-first — you cannot book it online.
- Call first. The National Passport Information Center, 1-877-487-2778, is the entry point. Confirm current hours at the official page before relying on them.
- Evidence of the emergency. A death certificate, a signed mortuary statement, or an official hospital letter — translated into English if the original is not.
- Proof of travel. A confirmed international itinerary showing departure inside 3 business days.
- Then the standard set. Form, citizenship evidence, photo ID, photo, and fees.