The U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Department of State announced U.S. citizens will be able to return to the United States on expired U.S. passport starting May 21, 2021, through December 31, 2021, if they met the below requirements:

  • are currently abroad seeking to return to the United States.
  • are flying directly to the United States, a U.S. territory, or have only short-term transit (connecting flight) through a foreign country on their return to the United States or to a U.S. territory.
  • have an expired passport that was originally valid for 10 years (or 5 years if the individual was 15 years of age or under when the passport was issued).
  • have an expired passport that is undamaged and in their possession.

This announcement comes as there is an unprecedented appointment backlogs to renew passport for U.S. citizens created by the global COVID-19 pandemic at embassies and consulates overseas.

Although U.S. citizens are able to enter the U.S. using their expired U.S. passport as described above, they still cannot be used to travel from the United States to an international destination or to travel to a foreign country for any length of stay longer then an airport connection en route to the United States or a U.S. territory.

We continue to monitor the changing requirements of U.S. immigration policy as a direct result of the ongoing global pandemic. If you have questions about immigration, contact us at ILBSG. We work with you to ensure you get the right advice.

 

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) department of state expired U.S. passport immigration U.S. Citizen