Passport Renewal by Mail
Starting April 18, 2022, U.S. citizens in Colombia and Venezuela who are eligible to use a DS-82 form will be able to renew their passports by mail. If you submit the wrong form, you will not receive a refund. You will be asked to submit the correct form and pay the correct fees.
You can use the DS-82 form if ALL of the following are true:
- Your Most Recent U.S. Passport:
- Is undamaged, was never declared lost or stolen, and can be submitted with your application;
- Was issued when you were age 16 or older;
- Was issued within the last 15 years;
- Was not limited from the normal 10-year validity due to damage, mutilation, multiple theft or loss, or non-compliance with 22 C.F.R. 51.41 (see back page of your passport book for this endorsement information); AND
- Was issued using the exact same name you will use on the current application OR you can legally document your name change with an original or certified copy of your marriage certificate or the government-issued document of your legal name change under federal or state law.
If you answered NO to any of the above statements, you are not eligible to use Form DS-82. You must make an appointment and apply in person using the DS-11 application form.
If you are applying for a passport for the first time after age 16, or if you are unable to present a prior 10-year passport (e.g. your last passport was lost or stolen), you are not eligible to use Form DS-82. You must apply in person at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota or Consular Agency in Barranquilla with a DS-11 application form.
For detailed instructions on how to renew your passport by mail, Follow the steps below.
Need more assistance? The travel.state.gov Passport Wizard can help you determine which form you are eligible to use.
NOTE: At this time, applications for Passport Cards cannot be submitted by mail. If you wish to apply for a Passport Card, please refer to the instructions below for Third Party Submission of Form DS-82.
1. Application
Complete the DS-82 form . The Form Filler selects the correct form based on the information you input. It may generate a different form from what you expect.
You must provide a Social Security number if you have been issued one.
If you do not have a Social Security number, enter all zeros in the DS-82 form and submit a signed and dated statement. You must complete all pages of the print it single-sided, and sign and date it.
2. Most Recent U.S. Passport and Photocopy of Bio Page
You must submit your most recent passport and a photocopy of the biographic page with your photo. This passport will be returned to you.
3. Photo
Provide one 5×5 cm photo that meets all requirements.
4. Payment
Pay the passport renewal fee online and include a printed copy of your payment confirmation receipt.
5. Name Change Documents (if applicable)
If the name you currently use is different from the name on your most recent U.S. passport, you must provide the original certified copy of the legal name change document, plus one photocopy. Examples include: marriage certificate, divorce decree, court-ordered name change document. Your name change document will be returned to you.
6. Mail Your Documents
Send your completed and signed DS-82 form (printed single-sided), passport, 5×5 cm passport photo, online payment confirmation, name change document (if applicable), and return shipping waybill as detailed in the shipping instructions below.
Shipping Instructions:
Please visit the nearest DHL branch to purchase two shipping waybills.
Waybill 1: To send the required application documents to the United States Embassy in Bogota, have your application, photo, previous passport, payment confirmation, Waybill 2 (see below), and other documents shipped to:
Oficina de Servicios al Ciudadano Estadounidense
Embajada de los Estados Unidos en Bogotá,
Carrera 45 # 24 B 27
Código postal 111321
Bogotá, Colombia
Waybill 2: To return the previous passport and new passport to the applicant, include a second waybill in your shipment made out with this information:
| SENDER INFORMATION Sender: Embajada EEUU Company: Embajada de los Estados Unidos en Bogotá Content: Documentos Phone Number: +57 601-275-2000 Address: Carrera 45 # 24 B 27 Código postal 111321 Bogotá, Colombia |
RECIPIENT INFORMATION Sender: Applicant Name Applicant phone number: Email Address: Address of Applicant or DHL Store |
Track your shipment at www.dhl.com.co. The current processing time is 8-10 weeks after we receive the complete application.
PASSPORT RENEWAL BY COURIER
If you qualify to renew your passport with Form DS-82 or replace an emergency passport with Form DS-5504 and do not wish to submit your application by mail, you may arrange for an authorized third party to submit your passport application at the U.S. Embassy’s American Citizen Services Unit in Bogota or at the U.S. Consular Agency in Barranquilla.
Please note that if you choose to use a courier to complete your passport renewal, the U.S. Government takes no responsibility and is in no way liable for the actions of the courier.