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Dual citizenship is not prohibited by US law. American citizenship is conferred either by birth, by descent (by having an American parent), or by naturalization in the United States through immigration.
American Citizenship by Birth – Born in the USA
All individuals born on US soil are American citizens by law through the principle of jus soli (the law of the soil).
As a US citizen, you can easily apply to renew your American passport from anywhere in the world. Depending on your circumstances, you may be allowed to renew your US passport by mail rather than by appearing in person at the nearest US consulate or embassy.
If this is your first passport application, or your previous US passport has been lost or stolen, you will be required to renew your passport at the nearest American embassy or inside the United States.
American Citizenship by descent – Born Outside the US to an American Parent
While all children born inside the United States are citizens, there are additional legal restrictions governing the inheritance of American citizenship when a child is born outside the US to an American parent.
Generally, at least one parent would need to be a US citizen at the time of the child’s birth, and that parent must have lived in the United States for some time.
How to Apply for a US Passport from Outside the US
US Passport Application By Mail
Unfortunately, US passport applications made by applicants outside the US cannot be submitted online. However, for applicants from Canada, a paper application will be submitted to one of the passport processing centres located inside the United States. The following documents are required:
- Application form DS-82, duly completed and signed in pen
- Original expired/expiring US passport
- US passport photo (2×2)
- US passport application fee – payable using a check or money order in US DOLLARS and drawn on a US financial institution
- (if applicable) proof of name change
If you are renewing a passport, the expired one must be submitted with the application. Any documents submitted with your US passport application must be ORIGINAL documents issued by a government authority – certified copies are not accepted.
US Passport Application – US Embassy
If your previous US passport has been lost or stolen, you must apply using application form DS-11 and will have to appear in person at the US Consulate nearest you. Applicants for a US passport from outside the United States will have to appear at the nearest US consulate or embassy to apply for their US passport if any of these circumstances apply:
- The previous US passport was lost, stolen, or damaged
- The previous US passport expired more than 15 years ago at the time of the application
- The previous US passport was issued while the applicant was under 16 years old
- The applicant is currently under 16 years old
- This will be the applicant’s first US passport
Once your passport application is processed, your old passport will be cancelled and sent to you if it is not damaged in any way, along with any other original documents that were requested for your application. Both your old passport and your new passport will be sent to you using standard US mail.
Please note: the new passport will come in a separate package from the old passport and any other documents.
Our Service
Our office will help you renew or obtain your first US Passport. We will:
- Advise what additional documents may be required for your application
- Review your supporting documents to avoid any complications and subsequent delays to processing
- Complete assist you with completing the passport application
- Advise what originals you must send to our office
- Obtain the acceptable method of payment for your passport application fees
- Submit your originals to to the US passport processing centre in a timely and secure fashion
Start Your US Passport Application
Cost of a US Passport Application
The US Department of State charges the following fees for passport applications with standard processing:
| Age 16 or Over | Age 15 and Under | |
|---|---|---|
| US Passport Book ONLY | USD$110 | USD$80 |
| US Passport Card ONLY | USD$30 | USD$15 |
| US Passport Book and Card | USD$140 | USD$95 |
An additional fee of USD$35 is charged by the US Embassy or Consulate to process in-person passport applications.
Our office charges a professional fee of USD$225 in addition to the fees above to assist with this application.
Urgent Processing
Urgent processing for renewal of a US passport application can be accessed for an additional USD$175, including USD$60 Department of State fee.
US Passport Application Processing Time
| Standard Processing Time | Expedited Processing Time |
| 8 – 11 Weeks | 5 – 7 Weeks |
The average processing times for a US standard passport renewal is approximately 8 – 11 weeks but this is subject to change and has been affected by COVID-19. If your application is missing documentation this will also affect the processing times.
Once you submit your application you can no longer use your passport to travel so it is always advised not to make any travel plans until you receive your new passport.
Traveling on a US Passport
Having a valid passport is not only important for travel purposes but it is also the primary piece of ID when renewing a Canadian permanent resident card and without it your PR card renewal application will not be processed.
