If you are planning an international trip and your passport’s condition is questionable, you may want to have it replaced. You do not want to be stuck in a foreign country unable to prove your American citizenship, and this may very well happen with a damaged pasport. You should take precautions in order to prevent any unnecessary mishaps while traveling internationally.

The DS-11 form that you have to fill out is available online at the State Department’s website. You can go onto their site and complete the form and once it is complete you can print it out with all of your information intact.

Do not sign this form until you standing in front of a certified official, either at a passport agency or an Acceptance Agency. It will do you no good if you sign it before you are in the presence of an official, you will just have to fill out another form. Be advised that once you have filled out this application it can only be submitted to the State Department within five days of the date on the application.

The DS-64 is another official document that has to be filled out. This is an official statement to verify why and how your passport became damaged. You will have to provide detailed information as to what caused a damaged American passport.

Also make sure to prepare evidence of U. S. Citizenship. You can do so by providing a U. S. birth certificate or a certificate of naturalization or citizenship from the USCIS. You will need two color photos that are in a 2 inch x 2 inch format with a clear, white background.  This photo should not have been taken more than six months ago.

If you need of your passport quickly, you will have to provide proof of your flight information in order to have your replacement expedited. You will have to pay additional fees for this.  The standard fee for a non-expedited replacement passport is $135.00. You can pay this by money order or check and if going through the process in person, you may be able to pay with a credit card. All checks or money orders must be made payable to the Department of State.

If you are currently outside the US and your passport is damaged you have to report to a US consulate or embassy in the country you are in for help. Even if you are outside of the states you have to provide the same documentation as if you were replacing your passport within the US.

Other passport documentation you will have to provide is verification of US nationality, two standard passport photos, current ID, social security number; and your damaged U.S. passport has to be present so it can be taken in turn for a replacement. In order to safeguard yourself from accidents make sure you copy all of your paperwork that you submit.

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