Although it’s not widely advertised, the benefits of having a second passport can come in handy for frequent international travelers.
Have you ever watched a movie where the character suddenly opens a secret compartment, and the camera pans to a drawer of passports? While cinema may portray this as a spy or rescue mission or an attempt to flee the country undetected, it is perfectly possible and legal for some U.S. citizens to hold more than one passport.
Who Is Eligible for a Secondary U.S. Passport?
No, you won’t be able to have a drawer full of U.S. passports under different names for secret missions. However, you can get a second one. The secondary passport, also known as a limited-validity passport, is only valid for four years as opposed to the initial passport, which is valid for ten years.
The ability to obtain a secondary passport is limited to specific scenarios and candidates. On its website, the U.S. Department of State lists these conditions and examples for obtaining a second U.S. passport:
– A foreign country will deny a visa or entry to you because your passport has stamps showing travel to certain countries. For example, some Middle Eastern countries will deny entry if there is an Israeli entry or exit stamp.
– You need multiple visas on an ongoing basis because of frequent international travel. For example, if you work for an international airline or a multinational company.
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– You need a U.S. passport for urgent international travel, but your application for a foreign visa is delayed or cannot be processed in time.
– When you need a special validation for travel to a restricted country or area.
Based on the criteria, the most common applications for secondary passports are members of a flight crew (pilot, co-pilot, or flight attendants), a journalist who covers international news, or those who do business in foreign lands. These examples do not mean that people in other professions are ineligible.
INSIDER TIPTo find out if you are eligible to obtain a second passport, you can review the frequently asked questions section on the Department of State website or contact your local office.
Why Would You Want a Second Passport?
The primary reason for seeking a secondary passport is if you have applied for a visa but have upcoming international travel plans. In a telephone conversation with an agent from passport customer service, he explained that when you obtain a tourist visa for some countries, your primary passport may be out of your possession. He further explained that this is due to the mail-in application process in which your passport is sent to that country’s embassy and sent back to you. While you wait, you can not leave the country. If you plan to country-hop between places that do and do not require a visa within a short window of time, a second passport will be handy. It will allow you to move effortlessly between destinations without interruption.
Border crossing can be nerve-racking. I have never imagined being interrogated by border patrol officers or refused entry into a country. Some countries can deny you access to their territory based on the stamps in your primary passport.
For example, attempting to enter Iran, Kuwait, Libya, Syria, and Yemen if you have been to Israel could prove challenging. These places have denied entry to visitors with a passport stamp from Israel. Alternatively, they provide a paper pass in place of passport stamps. The Israel Tourism blog site shares that the paper pass (which lists all of your information, a photo, and other important details) is the best option for more travel across the Middle East. You can request a passport stamp if you want the souvenir.
How to Apply for Your Second Passport
It can be a tedious process to obtain your secondary passport due to the amount of paperwork. You want to be sure you read everything thoroughly and fill out all forms completely. Otherwise, you could make a costly mistake and have to start the process again, including resubmitting any applicable fees. Double-check everything before starting by reviewing the criteria online for up-to-date information or contacting the help center. Here’s how to start your application process for a secondary passport.
1. Complete a Renewal Application, also known as Form DS-82. You will also need to submit your current ten-year passport alongside this form. You may renew your second passport via this form as well. However, when you submit your second passport for renewal, it will become invalidated and eligible for international travel. Per the U.S. Department of State website, there are some cases in which you will have to apply in person for your secondary passport. In those instances, you will complete a traditional passport application, also known as Form DS-11.
2. Alongside your completed form, you should also provide a signed and dated statement to explain why you need to obtain a secondary passport. The statement should include the places you plan to visit and the roundabout date of travel. You can view (and copy) a sample of a statement on the US Department of State’s website.
3. You will also need to provide a new photo for your passport. There are specific rules to follow for passport photos. To minimize the chance of your application being rejected, your passport photo should be on an unobstructed background without filters or in selfie mode. You can read more about capturing a passport photo and photo requirements here.
4. The last step before submitting your application is to calculate the associated fees. The price for a secondary passport is $130. Other fees will depend on your shipping and processing preferences (standard vs. expedited). You will not be able to pay these fees online or with cash. You can use a money order, personal check, cashier’s check, or otherwise certified check that remits payment to The US Department of State. You can find the schedule of fees online.
Other Things to Keep In Mind About Your Secondary Passport
A secondary passport will adhere to the same processing time as a standard passport. That means if you have upcoming trips that will require the use of your new limited-validity passport, you want to plan accordingly. The current turnabout time to receive a passport is six to eight weeks.
You can receive your passport in two to three weeks with expedited processing. There is an additional fee of $60 for that service. The time it will take to receive your passport in the mail is separate from the processing time. Passports will be subject to your local carrier scheduling, but you can tack on another $20 for one to two-day shipping if you’d like. Upticks in applications and renewals can also affect the processing time.
If you receive a second passport, it will have a different passport number than your primary one. To ensure continued use of trusted traveler programs like Global Entry, be sure the correct number is attached to your travel itinerary. You will want to do this before each trip. However, that is an arduous task. Instead, you can link both numbers to your Global Entry by visiting an enrollment center or selecting the “update documents” option once logged into your online account.
Lastly, be sure you are tracking the expiry of your secondary passport. Not only is the validity shorter by several years, but you will also be under the same entry rules as a standard passport. That means you may not be able to use your secondary passport for entry into a country if your passport is within six months of expiry.