World news story

Travelling over the festive period: Is you passport still valid?

Don’t forget to check your passport before you travel; you’ll be surprised at how many people don’t do so before they arrive at the airport!

ETD

Each year many embark on travel overseas to see family and friends or just enjoy a break away from it all. However, don’t forget to check your passport before you travel; you’ll be surprised at how many people don’t do so before they arrive at the airport!

If you’ve lost your passport, or if it’s expired or damaged, you may be able to get an Emergency Travel Document (ETD) from one of our offices in the USA.

How to get an ETD

An emergency travel document lets you leave another country if you can’t get a replacement British passport in time.

You can apply for an emergency travel document (sometimes known as an ‘emergency passport’) if you’re a British national outside the UK and your passport has been lost, stolen, damaged or has recently expired.

Only apply for an emergency travel document if you can’t renew or replace your passport before you need to travel.

You usually can’t get an emergency travel document if you’ve never had a British passport - contact the nearest office in the USA if you need to travel urgently and can’t apply for a passport in time.

What an emergency travel document lets you do

An emergency travel document allows you to leave the USA and travel to your destination via a maximum of 5 countries.

The emergency travel document can also cover a return journey if you’re resident in the USA.

You may also need a visa to travel to or through other countries - check with the embassy or consulate of those countries.

Cost

You’ll have to pay a non-refundable fee of £95 or $149 US Dollars. Payment is accepted by Mastercard or Visa.

How to apply

You’ll need to make an appointment at one of our offices in the USA.

You must bring:

  • a completed emergency travel document application form
  • a recent passport-quality photo
  • proof of your travel plans, eg booking confirmations (or detailed written travel plans if you can’t book ahead)
  • a police report if your passport has been stolen

How to apply for a child under 16

You must take your child to the appointment. You must bring:

  • the child’s completed emergency travel document application form
  • a recent passport-quality photo
  • your passport
  • proof of your travel plans, eg booking confirmations (or detailed written travel plans if you can’t book ahead)
  • written proof that everyone who has parental responsibility for the child agrees to the application
  • a photocopy of the passport photo page of everyone who has parental responsibility for the child
  • a police report if the passport has been stolen

Getting your emergency travel document

Our staff will check if you’re eligible for an emergency travel document. If you’re not, they’ll tell you why.

You may get the document on the day you apply if your circumstances are straightforward. It can take longer if your circumstances are more complex. You may need to change your travel plans.

Using your emergency travel document

The emergency travel document will only be valid for the destinations and dates listed on your travel itinerary, and for a set amount of time. This will be shown on the document.

Your existing British passport will be cancelled in most cases.

Border staff will keep your emergency travel document when you arrive in the UK if it’s your final destination. Border staff in other countries may also keep it after you arrive.

Make an appointment for an Emergency Travel Document in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco or Washington.

Published 21 December 2015