Damaged Passport Replacement Instructions

Significantly damaged passports are not valid and can no longer be used for international travel. Passports cannot have significant tears, page separation, holes, or be materially altered in physical appearance or composition.

Step 1: Purchase a Replacement Passport on passportexpress.co

Select the service that best meets your travel needs and purchase your expedited passport replacement.

Step:2 Complete Passport Wizard

After purchase, you’ll be redirected to the secure govWorks platform.
There, create an account and complete your child’s passport application using a simple, guided wizard.

Step 3: Gather Required Items

Once the application is complete, govWorks will generate a customized document package. Please ensure all documents are printed single-sided.

Checklist of Requirements:
  1. DS-11 application: This application will be automatically generated from our platform.
  2. Mutilated/Damaged Passport
  3. Proof of U.S. Citizenship: See list of examples
  4. Proof of Identity: See list of examples
  5. Proof of Travel: A travel itinerary or business letter that indicates that you are traveling within 2 weeks (or 4 weeks if you need a travel visa). If you have not made travel plans and don’t have a proof of itinerary, don’t worry, we can help you obtain an alternative document.
  6. Passport Photo: See sample picture
  7. Government Fee: An additional check or money order payable to “US Department of State” is required for all orders. The exact amount can vary from $160 to $190 depending on the type of passport application. Once you place your order, the platform will instruct you on the exact amount of the check and how to write it out.
  8. Letter of Authorization: We will provide you with a Letter of Authorization which allows us to process your passport on your behalf. You must sign and date two copies of this document, preferably using blue ink, and include one of them inside of the sealed envelope and the other outside of the sealed envelope before you send us your documents.
  9. A signed statement explaining the damaged or mutilated condition of your passport.

Step 4: Visit a Passport Acceptance Agent

After completing your passport application and collecting all the items from the checklist you must take it to a Passport Acceptance Agent (AA), who will review it and witness your signature. Passport Acceptance Agents are very common and easy to find in your area, they are usually located at US Post Offices or Courthouses.

Inform the Acceptance Agent that you are using an expediting service to "Hand Carry" your passport application to the government for processing.

The AA will then:
  1. Ask you to sign the DS-11 (DS-5525, if applicable).
  2. Add his/her signature to the DS-11.
  3. Check your ID.
  4. The agent will collect all of your supporting documents and seal them into an envelope with the signed DS-11 Form using an official seal or stamp.

Important: Make sure the (AA) returns the sealed envelope to you so that you can mail it directly to Passportexpress. Send the sealed envelope to Passportexpress as soon as it is sealed. The seal on the envelope expires after four business days.

Step 5: Ship us your passport application package using FedEx

  • Please contact your assigned Customer Satisfaction Representative to quickly go over your documents before you ship them to us and to get your pre-paid Fedex shipping label.
  • Write applicant’s first and last name, date of birth, and date of departure on the sealed envelope.
  • Place the sealed envelope in a FedEx envelope.
  • The second copies of your supporting documents and DS-11 form should be placed in the FedEx envelope alongside (but separate from) the sealed envelope. This allows us to review everything for accuracy before delivering your application for processing. Submitting error free documentation will eliminate delays.
  • Ship the FedEx envelope to our office using the FedEx label provided by Passportexpress.co.