What all do you need to apply for a passport

You must send original documents. Photocopies are not accepted.

If you do not have your original certificates (for example, your birth certificate), you need to get an official copy.

If your documents are not in English or Welsh, you need to send a certified translation.

You can send laminated documents if that’s the only format they are issued in.

You were born or adopted in the UK

What documents you need depend on when you were born.

Before 1 January 1983

You’ll need your full birth certificate or adoption certificate.

On or after 1 January 1983

You’ll need your full birth certificate or adoption certificate and either:

• your mother’s or father’s full UK birth certificate, or the Home Office certificate of registration or naturalisation, or a British passport belonging to one of your parents that was valid when you were born, or a British passport number for either parent

• evidence of one of your parents’ immigration status in the UK at the time of your birth, for example a foreign passport belonging to one of your parents that was valid when you were born

If you send documents relating to your father, you must also send your parents’ marriage certificate.

You were born outside the UK

What documents you need depend on your circumstances.

You have a certificate of naturalisation or registration

You’ll need both:

• your naturalisation or registration certificate
• the passport you used to come into the UK or the foreign passport you’re included on

Citizen of a British overseas territory and born before 1 January 1983

You’ll need all of the following:

• your birth certificate
• your current passport
• the passport you used to come into the UK or the foreign passport you’re included on

Born before 1 January 1983 and your father was born in the UK

You’ll need all of the following:

• your full birth certificate showing your parents’ details
• your father’s birth certificate
• your parents’ marriage certificate
• the passport you used to come into the UK or foreign passport you’re included on

Born on or after 1 January 1983

You’ll need all of the following:

• your full birth certificate showing your parents’ details
• the passport you used to come into the UK or any foreign passport that you’re included on
• evidence of one parent’s British nationality, for example their UK birth or adoption, naturalisation or registration certificate

If these documents relate to your father, you must include the marriage certificate showing when he married your mother.

Your circumstances are different

If your circumstances are not listed, read the guidance booklet to find out what documents you’ll need. If you apply online you’ll be told what documents you need as part of your application.

How your documents will be sent back

The supporting documents will be returned separately from your passport. How you get them depends on the delivery option you choose when you fill in your application.

If you are a U.S. citizen, but have never been issued a U.S. passport, you may apply for a first U.S. passport, using the following guidance to prepare:

1. Fill out and print FORM DS-11

Complete FORM DS-11 online, and print it out single-sided, on two sheets of paper. Back to back printed forms cannot be processed. Do not print the instructions as you are to use this website instead.  At ‘Mailing Address’ list your Dutch address, even if it is only temporary.  You cannot currently list a “Country” when completing the “Emergency Contact” section on our forms. Please list an emergency contact in the United States.  Do NOT sign the form.  Applications filled out by hand may require longer to process.

3. Proof of U.S. Citizenship

You must present either:

• your original U.S. birth certificate, or
• your original Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or
• your original Naturalization Certificate, or
• your original Certificate of Citizenship

4. Proof of Identity

Bring valid proof of identity.  This can be any valid government issued identity document, e.g. a foreign passport or driver’s license, I.D. card, Military I.D., or U.S. driver’s license.

6. Photocopies

Bring a plain photocopy of:

• Your proof of citizenship, and
• your identity document, and
• any other documentation that may be applicable to your application.

Copies of the forms are not required.

7. Passport Application Fee

Consular fees can be paid with any credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, or Diner’s Club).  U.S. debit cards are also accepted if they carry the VISA symbol.  Please note that the credit or debit card must be in the name of the applicant or the accompanying parent or legal guardian if the applicant is under the age of 18.

While a credit card payment is preferred consular fees can also be paid cash in Euros. We do NOT accept U.S. dollars, checks, or PIN cards.  Please bring exact change to the appointment.  For a current list of fees please see (https://nl.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/fees/).

Please keep your wallet with you when entering our waiting room.

8. Set up an appointment

Set up an appointment via the link below.  IMPORTANT: Print the appointment confirmation page or save it on your phone.  You will NOT receive a confirmation e-mail.

• Set up your appointment online.
• Take note of our access and security instructions.

ARRIVE ON TIME
Try to arrive at the Consulate at least 15 minutes prior to your appointment time.  If you miss your slot we must ask you to reschedule.

Note that slots open up if we receive cancellations. Check back with our appointment system regularly if you wish for a earlier appointment slot.

9. Passport will be delivered by mail

Provide a prepaid return envelope

• Size: 23 x 16 centimeters or 9×6 inches – no bigger envelopes, no padded envelopes, no big DHL envelopes, please.
• On this envelope attach your DHL label*, or
• write the passport applicant’s name and address, and stick 5 x regular ‘1’ PostNL stamps in the top right corner.

We cannot send passports to addresses outside of the Netherlands.
*We recommend using the trackable “waybill” from DHL express, or DHL parcel label.  These you must order online at: https://my.dhlexpress.nl/pwa/shipment/package/.
When prompted, please select “Mailbox Parcel”, and enter your personal information as the recipient. Check the option “E-mail Notification”.
When asked about the sender, enter your own name and the following mailing address: John Adams Park 1, 2244 BZ Wassenaar. Use your own e-mail address as sender and receiver so you receive all correspondence regarding your shipment.  The cost of the trackable service begins at €3.95.  Print your DHL label and glue or tape it on your return envelope.

When using regular stamps note this way the shipment is not trackable. Mailing is at your own risk.

All valid passports will be canceled during your appointment as you cannot have two valid passports.  Plan your appointment accordingly as you may be without a valid passport for up to three weeks.

If you are also applying for a passport card, bring two prepaid return envelopes as cards arrive two to three weeks after passport books.

Child under 18 years of age

If you are applying for the first passport for a child under the age of 18, who was born overseas, you must first report the child’s birth.  Please see our section on Reporting a Birth Abroad.

Processing time

Passports are printed in the United States with a secure, photo-digitized image of the bearer.  You should allow for up to 4 to 6 weeks for your application to be processed.

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