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AMERICANS IN ITALY

How to renew your American passport in Italy

If you're a US national living in Italy and your American passport is expiring soon, here's what you need to know about the renewal process.

Here's what you need to know about renewing your US passport in Italy.
Here's what you need to know about renewing your US passport in Italy. Photo by Global Residence Index on Unsplash

Renewing your American passport while in Italy has a slightly different – and at times more challenging – process than doing so in the United States.

Before starting, you should keep in mind that the process on average takes around five weeks, so be sure to begin well in advance of any international travel.

Here are the steps you should take, and the things to be aware of when doing so:

Determine whether you should renew by mail or make an appointment

Unfortunately, you can’t complete this process online – it involves either an in-person visit or sending documents by mail (the US embassy in Italy introduced an online payment option in 2022, allowing US citizens to apply via postal courier for the first time).

To book an in-person appointment in Rome, Florence, Naples, Milan, Venice or Genoa, use the links provided on the US embassy website’s passport renewal page.

To pay online and submit your application by courier agency, you’ll need to meet certain eligibility criteria.

READ ALSO: Americans in Italy: What to know about planned changes to EU driving licence rules

Applicants who want to use this option must have been at least 16 years old when their most recent passport was issued. The passport should have been issued no more than 15 years ago, and should have a 10-year validity period.

The applicant must have a valid Italian mailing address and be able to send their undamaged passport to the US embassy or one of the general consulates.

Parents can not use the service when applying for new passports for their minor children under the age of 16, but must apply in person.

Whether you’re applying in person or by mail, here’s what you’ll need to do:

Fill out and print the renewal form

As long as your most recent passport was issued in the last 15 years and you were over the age of 16 at the time, then you should complete a DS-82 form (found HERE). If this is not the case for you, then you will likely need to complete the DS-11 form – in which case you must appear in person.

You fill out all the details of the form online, and then click save, at which point it will save your form into a Pdf, that you then print out. When it comes to filling out the emergency contact section, you must list someone living in the US, as the form cannot accept non-US addresses. 

Once printed out, you then need to sign and date the form – failure to do so can mean that your paperwork will not be counted and will be sent back to you. 

Take your identification photo

The next step involves taking a passport identification photo that you will provide with the DS-82 (or DS-11) paperwork.

This photo should have been taken in the six months before your application, and you should not be wearing glasses. The picture must be in colour with a white background, and it must be 2 inches by 2 inches, or about 5cm x 5cm.

If you make your application in person, you should be able to use the photo booths at the Rome and Naples consular sections for six euros, or the one in Milan for five euros.

If making your application by postal courier, you will likely find yourself needing to book an appointment with an independent photographer or studio who will print the photograph with the correct dimensions.

If you are struggling to find a photo studio, then you can email the embassy’s Passport Unit and ask for a recommendation near you.

A new blank US passport being created in 2007

A new blank US passport being created in 2007 (Photo by PAUL J. RICHARDS / AFP FILES / AFP)

Gather your other documents

In addition to the items mentioned above, you’ll also need your most recent US passport and one photocopy.

If this passport is expired, you’ll also need one other valid form of photo ID (such as a foreign passport or driver’s license) and a photocopy.

Finally, if you’re 16 or 17, you’ll need evidence of parental awareness.

At this point, if you have an in-person appointment, you have what you need to file your application at the embassy or consulate.

READ ALSO: ‘What I wish I’d known’: An American’s advice on getting residency in Italy

You can pay the the $130 (for adults) or $135 (for children under 16) renewal fee in cash, in US dollars or the euro equivalent, or US Postal Service money orders payable to the relevant consular office. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Diners credit cards are also accepted.

If you’re making your application by postal courier, here’s what you need to do:

Pay the fee and print the confirmation

Pay the passport application fee via the US government’s secure payment site. You will need to print the electronic confirmation, which you will receive by email after paying the fee. This should be included in the documents sent to the embassy in your passport renewal file. 

Complete a DHL Two-Way Shipping order form

Anyone who wants to submit their US passport renewal application via mail in Italy must use DHL’s courier services and complete a DHL Two-Way Shipping order form.

The US embassy has links to the relevant DHL form you should fill out depending on the consulate to which you are sending your documents. The shipping payment is made online via card.

Applicants who have made an in-person appointment can choose to receive their new passport via mail, in which case they should fill out a One-Way Shipping form (links provided here). You should print out the shipping label and bring it with you on the day of the interview.

Shipping costs $18 each way; those who are submitting multiple passport renewal applications from the same address only need to pay a single fee and post the applications together.

The embassy says that passports lost in transit will be replaced at no extra cost, so there’s no need to purchase additional insurance.

Wait for your new passport to be sent back to you

Your new passport will be sent to you by mail, and the embassy indicates on their website that processing time is typically five weeks. 

You may be able to check the status of your passport while it is being processed online HERE.

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AMERICANS IN ITALY

How to quickly get a US passport for a child born in Italy

What are the steps to apply for a baby's US passport from Italy? How long does it take? Here’s all the experience-based information and tips American parents in Italy should know before beginning the process.

How to quickly get a US passport for a child born in Italy

You’ve left the United States and moved to Italy. Now, you’ve added a baby to this exciting new life. You’ll want to secure their US citizenship and passport straight away.

This article lays out the qualifications for a US passport and the steps to get one. Fortunately, the process is fairly simple, according to people who have done it.

Does your baby qualify for a US passport?

Your newborn qualifies for US citizenship and a US passport under the following conditions:

  •  They were born within wedlock to two US citizen parents.
  • They were born within wedlock and one of the parents is a US citizen who lived for at least five years in the United States, two of which were after age 14.
  • They were born out of wedlock to a US citizen mother who lived for at least five years in the United States, two of which were after age 14, and a non-citizen father.
  • They were born out of wedlock to a US citizen father who lived for at least five years in the United States, two of which were after age 14, and non-citizen mother, provided certain additional requirements are met.

READ ALSO: How to renew your American passport in Italy

When the parent who is a US citizen is the father and the baby is born out of wedlock, there are a few extra steps required.

You’ll attain a sworn statement from the father agreeing to give financial support until they are 18 years old and supply a written statement acknowledging paternity.

If your child does qualify for American citizenship, the next steps are pretty straightforward, although completing the required forms can be time-consuming.

What are the first steps when applying for a child’s US passport from Italy?

The first step is applying for a Consular Report of Birth abroad (CRBA), which documents that your child is a US citizen at birth. Any of the US Consular Agencies in Rome, Milan, Florence or Naples can accept applications for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA) and US passports.

To begin, you’ll apply online. But remember, you’ll need original copies of any documents you upload; you’ll bring these to your in-person appointment at the consulate.

Documents you’ll need include:

  • Your child’s original Italy birth certificate with both parents’ names, along with two photocopies.
  • Your original marriage certificate, if married, plus one photocopy.
  • Your original divorce certificate, if divorced, plus one photocopy.
  • Valid original passport/identification document for each parent, along with two photocopies.
  • Proof of US citizenship, such as a passport, birth certificate, or Certificate of Naturalization, for the US parent(s), plus copies.
  • Proof of physical presence in the United States for the US parent(s), in the form of documents such as school records, university transcripts or employment records.

All foreign-language documents must be accompanied by a simple English translation that does not need to be certified.

In Italy, you can submit your CRBA application and pay the $100 processing fee online, following the specific instructions for the consulate where you want to schedule your in-person appointment.

READ ALSO: What to do if you lose your passport while travelling in Italy

You’ll then be contacted within five business days with a date and time for your interview. You’ll need to bring the originals and photocopies of all the documents listed above, as well as a completed DS-2029 form.

To apply for a US passport for your child at the same time as the CRBA appointment, you’ll need to bring a completed DS-11 (passport application) form and, if in Rome or Naples, a completed SS-5 (social security card application) form.

 You’ll need to bring original copies and photocopies of the following documents:

  •  One 2”x2” (5x5cm) passport picture for your child.
  • Identification for both parents.
  • A physical copy of the completed passport application form (DS-11).
  • Anything else your consulate tells you to bring (such as completed SS-5 form in Rome or Naples).

You’ll need to pay the $135 under-16s passport application fee via cash or card at the appointment.

Important considerations:

For the CRBA, the US parent(s) must report their physical presence in the United States, detailing each trip abroad. In other words, it’s crucial you don’t include time abroad in your list of days staying within the United States. If the dates are incorrect, the processing could be suspended until you correct the dates.

It’s very important for both listed parents to attend the appointment. If only one parent can attend, you’ll need to submit a notarised DS-3053 Statement of Consent from the absent parent. If you have sole legal custody of your child, you’ll need to bring proof, such as a court order.

Bring your child’s passport photo in a separate envelope (to not lose it) but don’t staple it to the passport application.

How long does it take?

Once your application and interview are complete, it takes around 15 working days for Italy’s US consulates to process a CRBA and first passport.

If you have questions, don’t be shy about contacting your consulate for clarification.

Congratulations on your multinational family!

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