Secondary Passport

Editor's Note (UPDATED February 25, 2023) -- U.S. passports are taking up to seven weeks to process using the government's expedited service.  It is possible to get a passport in less time by scheduling an appointment with the Passport Agency by calling 877-487-2778 and appearing in person at their office.

Atlanta area residents who travel overseas frequently may benefit from obtaining a secondary U.S. passport.  Not everyone is eligible to obtain a second passport, but you may be able to obtain one if you meet specific criteria. 

Normally, U.S. citizens are only allowed to have one valid passport from the State Department.  However, the government may make an exception for business executives, airline employees, travelers visiting certain countries and others facing unique circumstances who might need to obtain a secondary passport.  Specific criteria are outlined on the Visa Supply website at https://www.visasupply.com/us-passport-secondary.html.

A secondary passport is issued by the same country that provided your original passport.  The secondary passport is only good for four years (versus 10 years for the original passport) and may not be extended, however, if there is a continuing need for a secondary passport beyond this four-year validity period, it is possible to renew it.  

Do You Need a Secondary Passport?

There are several scenarios that call for a secondary passport, including:

  • You may be required to submit your original passport to a foreign consulate to obtain a visa to travel to specific countries for your work.  However, if you need to make an emergency trip to another country while the consulate is processing your visa application, you would not be able to travel until the original passport is returned.  This is particularly common among airline employees who may be required to always travel with a valid passport, or perhaps a service technician working for a multinational corporation that may need to make an emergency trip to repair machinery, or attend to tool breaks or other disruptions causing manufacturing downtime.  
  • Certain countries will deny your visa application if your passport shows markings indicated you have traveled to specific nations.  This is not a typical problem for most travelers, but it can be an issue traveling between Arab countries in the Middle East and Israel; Serbia, Kosovo and some parts of Russia; or even for entering China.  For more details on those conflicts, please see https://matadornetwork.com/read/every-passport-stamp-can-ruin-travels and https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Visa_trouble.
  • Americans living outside the United States may also need two passports.  For example, in Thailand (and other Asian countries such as Indonesia), foreigners are required by law to always carry their passport.  Although this law is typically not enforced, there have been more instances of foreigners being stopped on the streets in recent years to crack down on the threat of terrorism and criminal activity.  If you are an American business executive stationed in Bangkok or other type of long-term resident of Thailand, you may need to send your passport to a foreign consulate to obtain a visa to travel outside the country.  Unless you have a secondary passport, you will not have your primary passport available if police stop you on the street to inspect your documents.  For more information, please see https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/436133/passports-better-safe-than-sorry.

Requirements for a Secondary Passport

The form for a secondary passport (DS-82) is available online at https://pptform.state.gov/.  The basic requirements are:

  • Complete Form DS-82 if you have a valid, undamaged passport. (If not, you must first submit Form DS-11 and obtain your primary 10-year passport. See this article on how to obtain a new passport in Atlanta: https://www.visasupply.com/passports-and-visas-101/post/how-to-obtain-a-new-passport-in-atlanta).
  • Submit your valid 10-year passport when applying for the secondary limited passport.
  • A letter requesting a second passport with specific inclusions, such as a statement that you will immediately report the loss of either passport to the U.S. government.
  • A written statement from your employer on company letterhead that justifies the need for a second passport, with your travel itinerary, dates of travel, and other details.
  • One recent passport photo that meets all passport image criteria. (Photo details are listed at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/photos.html.) 
  • Payment of the $190 fee to the U.S. Department of State for the expedited service.

As the list above indicates, there are specific, detailed documents required to demonstrate to the federal government that it should make an exemption to its normal practices and issue a secondary passport.  Visa Supply recommends that applicants use our services to ensure the process is done correctly and quickly, avoiding delays to your upcoming travel.  Since Visa Supply is a private company, we charge additional fees for our services (in addition to the government’s $190 expedite fee for a passport book) to expedite your application.  If you would like Visa Supply to help you obtain a secondary passport, please contact us to arrange an appointment.