Are you asking yourself, how can I renew my American Passport in Mexico? Is your Passport about to expire, or did you recently have a child in Mexico that will be eligible for American citizenship? If so, you will be happy to know you can renew or apply for a US Passport at the American Consulate. The American Consulate has locations in most major cities in Mexico. To avoid travel complications, allow a few months for processing of your Passport application. There may be additional delays due to the COVID pandemic so make sure to allow plenty of time for processing. Keep reading below to learn how you can renew your American Passport while in Mexico.

1) Make Your Appointment

First, check your local consulate office website to make an appointment. Many of the American Consulate offices operate with limited working hours to receive visitors. Therefore, always plan ahead and make sure you have an appointment if possible.  That way, you can avoid waiting in long lines or having to come back another day if there are too many people ahead of you.  However, if you have an urgent request and don’t have time to make an appointment, walk-in appointments are also allowed.

2) Come Prepared

Next, it is important to come prepared to allow for faster processing of your US Passport application. To start with, make sure to bring your current American Passport with you. Also, download and print out the appropriate completed application, too.  The US Passport application forms for adults and children are found online at the US Department of State’s website by clicking here. You will also need 2 recent Passport photos.  It is important to have the right size photos for your application. Currently, 2×2 inch sized photos are required when you submit your application. In 2020, a US Passport application fee for an adult is $110 and $80 for children under the age of 16. It is important to note that both parents attend the appointment for a child’s passport application unless one parent has full custody. In addition, the child’s original birth certificate or Consular Report of Birth Abroad will need to be shown to the Consular employee.

3) The Appointment

When you arrive for your appointment, make sure to leave your cell phone as directed and sign in. Wait for your name to be called. For faster service, have all your documents in order. Also,  you should bring your own pre-paid return envelope. Your new American Passport will be returned to you in the pre-paid return envelope once it is ready. In Mexico, reliable shipping companies include Estafeta, DHL or FedEx. Don’t forget to keep a copy of the shipping label receipt. That way, you can use the tracking number to track your package in the mail.  On average, American Passport renewals will take around 4 weeks for processing. Currently, there may be additional delays as many Consulates have limited working hours during the coronavirus and COVID-19 crisis. 

Are you an ex-pat living in Mexico and need to renew your American Passport? If so, we hope this article helped you understand the American Passport application process. If you just want to vacation in the area, call My Vacation to Mexico at 1-800-607-7499. They sell travel packages to stay at the top resorts in Mexico. Plus, they work with the Villa Group who has implemented strict health and safety protocols in response to the COVID pandemic. Call My Vacation to Mexico today and you can book a dream vacation in Mexico and stay safe, too.