Message to U.S. Citizens: Current Status of Passport and Consular Report of Birth Abroad Applications (April 8, 2020)
Effective April 2, the Department of States ceased printing and shipping full validity passports (five year passports for minors under 16, 10 year passports for those aged 16 and older) and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad to Embassies overseas because of public health measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. If you previously applied for a passport or Consular Report of Birth Abroad, you should expect significant delays in receiving your document. Please consider waiting to apply until we resume normal operations.
If you are eligible and choose to send your passport renewal application by mail, be advised that we do not know when your passport will be printed in the United States and sent to the Embassy for further courier delivery to you. If you need your current passport back in the interim, we can return it to you via courier at your expense (5 Euros in Athens, 8 Euros outside of Athens). If you choose to apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad for your child, please follow the instructions on our website. We will review the documents, and if your application is complete, place it in the queue for appointment scheduling when we re-open.
In an emergency and with proof of travel within 72 hours, the Embassy may be able to print an emergency passport for an adult or a minor valid for up to a year. Please email AthenAmericanPassports@state.gov to explain your emergency; do not come to the Embassy without prior approval as you may not be admitted.
The Embassy will send another message when printing passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad resumes in the United States. You may also monitor our website for updates.
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Athens, Greece: +30 210 721 2951; AthensAmericanPassports@state.gov
U.S. Consulate General Thessaloniki: +30 2310 376 300
State Department – Consular Affairs: 888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
