So you have decided to purchase a passport. Congratulations, by being able to do so you have the ability to travel internationally. You don’t confront limitations of your current national passport. So where do I start? In almost every country around the world having a passport is vital for many reasons. Some countries require visitors to carry their passports with them at all times within their borders. Failure to do so may result in fines or detainment until the passport can be produced.
Replace your old passport with a new one
The first step is deciding if you are going to apply for a traditional type of passport. It is either a book format, or an electronic visa called e-wallet? The book format has been around longer and is what you typically think of when somebody says passport. The electronic wallet is a newer format that allows for many benefits over the wallet type. For example for frequent travelers they can have a separate visa in their wallet. When they are going to another country with a similar visa. So that you will not have to keep reapplying. The e-wallet also has security features making it harder for people to counterfeit your travel documents. Read more.
Fast and easy way to replace lost, damaged or stolen passports for anyone
After choosing the correct type of passport, you will need to decide where you are going to apply for it. There are around 200 countries in the world. Each country has their own requirements for getting a passport. Each one may be different from another country’s process. The easiest way is to visit your local embassy or consulate if you have one. If not, you can always do some research on the internet for companies. They offer processing services to get your passport made.
After this you will need to prepare all required documents. The list may vary by country but generally there are about 7 types of requirements that will be needed. These are a birth certificate, a driver’s license, proof of citizenship and a foreign passport. If you have it, 2 recent ID photos taken front view face, and back view full body. Visit the website to purchase passport online.
Depending on the country there could be variations to this list. For example, some may require a notarized letter from your current place of work. All of this information can be found on your local government’s website. Do some quick google search for passport requirements will get you all the required data.
Get a new passport in 24 hours
After collecting all the required documentation it is time to begin filling out the forms that were provided by your processing company or embassy/consulate. Make sure they are legible and easy to read. Next, you will want to submit the required documents along with the application itself. This is where all of your planning and research will prove useful. Because, if you have everything needed then it makes it faster and easier for approval.
If going to a facility at a consulate or embassy, be prepared for a long wait. They are usually very busy locations and if you show up on a busy day such as during peak travel days. There is a good chance you will be standing in line for hours. This is not the time to arrive unprepared. Make sure you have somewhere safe and comfortable to sit while waiting especially if bringing young children along with you.
After submitting your application it may take anywhere from 1 hour to 6 months for approval. The longest time period is usually when you are doing this while overseas. It could take up to 4 weeks typically. If done domestically. Moreover, it may take as little as 1 day up to 2 weeks depending on location and processing times.
