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Renewal By Mail
United Arab Emirates

Passport Renewal by Mail and Adult Passport Renewal by Drop-Box

Renewal of an Adult’s Passport Issued less than 15 years ago

Effective August 19, 2020, the U.S. Mission to the United Arab Emirates (U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi and U.S. Consulate General Dubai) began accepting passport renewal applications for adults through Emirates Post’s Courier Collection Services.

The U.S. Consulate in Dubai and Embassy in Abu Dhabi continues to offer only limited consular services.  We urge ALL eligible applicants to take advantage of the new courier renewal service to avoid delays.  Application processing time is approximately 3-4 weeks.

Eligibility for Passport Renewal by Mail

You may renew your passport by mail if all of the following requirements apply:

  • Your passport is not damaged and was issued within the last 15 years;
  • You were at least 16 years old when your most recent passport was issued;
  • The passport you are renewing was valid for a 10-year period; and
  • The passport was issued in your current name. (If you have changed your name since your most recent passport was issued, you must submit legal documentation of your name change)

If you are not eligible, your application may require your personal appearance.

Effective April 1, 2021, the Consular Section will use the U.S. Dollar to UAE Dirham exchange rate of $1 USD to 3.70 Emirati Dirhams (formerly $1 USD to 3.69 AED).

Step-by-Step Guide – Adult Passport Renewal by Mail

  1. Confirm that you meet all the eligibility criteria listed above.
  2. Complete form DS-82 – available online here.
    • If you have been issued a social security number (SSN) you MUST provide it on your application for a U.S. passport. If the name on your social security record does not match the name on your passport application, please complete question 9 on the form – ‘List all other names you have used.’
    • If you have not been issued a SSN, you must complete and sign this form (PDF 5KB) and include it in your application.
    • If you are a resident of the UAE and have been issued a SSN, but have misplaced it or do not recall if you have been issued one, contact the Federal Benefits Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Rome for assistance.
    • Disregard the pre-printed instructions on the online forms – the application can be submitted to the embassy, consulate, or office providing consular services for processing.
  1. Attach one passport photograph to the application. The photograph must be 2 x 2 inches, taken in the last six months, and conform with the requirements outlined here.
  2. Print and sign the application form.
  3. Attach one photocopy of the biographic page of your passport.
  4. Place the form inside your most recent U.S. passport.
  5. Obtain a $110 USD (407 AED) non-refundable application fee via Bank Manager’s check or “Cashier’s Check” in AED currency. *If requesting both a passport card and book, please include payment for $140 USD (518 AED).
    • You must have a local UAE bank account in order to obtain a Bank Manager’s check or Cashier’s Check.
    • Make checks payable to: “United States Disbursing Officer”
    • We cannot accept cash, credit cards, or personal checks. We must receive a Bank Manager’s check or Cashier’s check in AED.
    • Do not write anything on the face of the bank check (e.g.: name of the applicant)
    • Please do not include fees other than those stated on this page. There is no expedited service when processing applications outside the United States.
  1. (If applicable) If you have changed your name since your initial application, include evidence of Change of Name to your application, including, but not limited to: Marriage Certificate, Change of Name Deed, Statutory Declaration or a Court Order (name change must have taken place after your passport was issued)
  2. Print and complete this checklist (PDF 259 KB) to confirm your application package is complete. Include the checklist in your application.
  3. Contact Emirates Post at 600599999 to schedule a home collection pickup or visit their website to arrange for the collection of the shipment containing the check, current passport, and application/documents. If using their website, select “Schedule a Pickup.” Create an account and fill out the appropriate segments.

Please note that Emirates Post is not currently accepting passport renewal applications at their physical locations. Applicants MUST arrange for courier pick-up from the applicant’s home.

In addition, Emirates Post cannot answer questions about renewal eligibility or requirements. For questions, email AbuDhabiACS@state.gov (for Abu Dhabi and Al Ain residents) or DubaiACS@state.gov (for Dubai and northern emirates).

  1. Pay 42 AED in cash to Emirates Post for the home collection service. You must pay this when the Emirates Post staff collects your passport items. This fee covers the mail-in service from your home to the U.S. embassy, consulate, or office providing consular services and the fee to return the new passport, old passport, and other documents to your home. The fee must be paid in AED.
  2. Emirates Post will mail your application, passport, and other documents to the following locations:
    • For Residents of Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain
      Consular Section / ACS / Passports
      U.S. Consulate General Dubai
      Corner of Al Seef Rd. and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Rd
      Dubai, UAE
      Tel: +971 4 309 4000
    • Residents of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain
      Consular Section / ACS / Passports
      Embassy of the United States of America
      PO Box 4009 Abu Dhabi, UAE
      Tel: +971-2-414-2200

U.S. citizens with immediate travel plans (within 2 weeks) or other emergencies should contact their nearest consular office in Abu Dhabi (AbuDhabiACS@state.gov) or Dubai (DubaiACS@state.gov) to request an emergency appointment.

Adult Passport Renewal by Drop-Box

Effective March 14, 2021, U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi and U.S. Consulate General Dubai began offering a drop-box option for adult applicants seeking to renew their passports. 

The drop-box is conveniently located inside the embassy, consulate, or office providing consular services.  Applicants may drop off their passport applications at the embassy, consulate, or office providing consular services on Sun-Thurs between 8:00 am- 3:30 pm (except on UAE or US holidays). No appointment is necessary. The application processing time is approximately 3-4 weeks.

Eligibility for Passport Renewal by embassy, consulate, or office providing consular services Drop-Box

You may renew your passport by utilizing the drop-box service if all of the following requirements apply:

  • Your passport is not damaged and was issued within the last 15 years;
  • You were at least 16 years old when your most recent passport was issued;
  • The passport you are renewing was valid for a 10-year period; and
  • The passport was issued in your current name. (If you have changed your name since your most recent passport was issued, you must submit legal documentation of your name change)

If you are not eligible, your application may require your personal appearance.

Effective April 1, 2021, the Consular Section will use the U.S. Dollar to UAE Dirham exchange rate of $1 USD to 3.70 Emirati Dirhams (formerly $1 USD to 3.69 AED).

Step-by-Step Guide – Adult Passport Renewal by Drop-Box

  1. Confirm that you meet all the eligibility criteria listed above.
  2. Complete form DS-82 – available online here.
    • If you have been issued a social security number (SSN) you MUST provide it on your application for a U.S. passport. If the name on your social security record does not match the name on your passport application, please complete question 9 on the form – ‘List all other names you have used.’
    • If you have not been issued a SSN, you must complete and sign this form (PDF 5KB) and include it in your application.
    • If you are a resident of the UAE and have been issued a SSN, but have misplaced it or do not recall if you have been issued one, contact the Federal Benefits Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Rome for assistance.
    • Disregard the pre-printed instructions on the online forms – the application can be submitted to the embassy, consulate, or office providing consular services for processing.
  3. Attach one passport photograph to the application. The photograph must be 2 x 2 inches, taken in the last six months, and conform with the requirements outlined here.
  4. Print and sign the application form.
  5. Submit your most recent original passport with the application.
  6. Also, attach one photocopy of the biographic page of your most recent U.S. passport and place the form inside your most recent original U.S. passport.
  7. Obtain a $110 USD (407 AED) non-refundable application fee via Bank Manager’s check or “Cashier’s Check” in AED currency. *If requesting both a passport card and book, please include payment for $140 USD (518 AED).
  • You must have a local UAE bank account in order to obtain a Bank Manager’s check or Cashier’s Check.
  • Make checks payable to: “United States Disbursing Officer”
  • We cannot accept cash, credit cards, or personal checks. We must receive a Bank Manager’s check or Cashier’s check in AED.
  • Do not write anything on the face of the bank check (e.g.: name of the applicant)
  • Please do not include fees other than those stated on this page. There is no expedited service when processing applications outside the United States.
  1. (If applicable) If you have changed your name since your initial application, include evidence of Change of Name to your application, including, but not limited to: Marriage Certificate, Change of Name Deed, Statutory Declaration or a Court Order (name change must have taken place after your passport was issued)
  2. Print and complete this checklist (PDF 173 KB) to confirm your application package is complete. Include the checklist in your application.
  3. Place the required items in an unsealed envelope.

Instructions for dropping off adult passport renewals

After completing the above steps, you may drop off your passport at the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi or U.S. Consulate General in Dubai on Sun-Thurs between 8:00 am-3:30 pm (except on UAE or US holidays). Applicants will receive an email when the passport is ready for collection at the embassy, consulate, or office providing consular services.

Security will screen the unsealed envelope and return it to you to seal and drop-off into the drop-box.

For questions about the drop-box service, contact AbuDhabiACS@state.gov (Abu Dhabi and Al Ain) or DubaiACS@state.gov (Dubai and Northern Emirates).