WASHINGTON, USA – The office of the spokesperson for US Department of State, announced that in keeping with the United States commitment to providing the highest levels of service to facilitate US travel abroad, has decided to “lessen travel difficulties created by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and commercial airlines are working to facilitate the ability of US citizens to use certain expired passports to return from abroad directly to the United States.”
In a media note, December 28, the US Department of State, explained:
“US citizens currently abroad whose passports expired on or after January 1, 2020, may be able to use their expired US passport for return travel to the United States until March 31, 2022. Certain criteria apply, and we encourage US citizens to confirm their eligibility for traveling on an expired passport prior to finalizing travel arrangements.”
Recently expired US passports cannot be used to travel from the United States to an international destination or to travel to a foreign country for any length of stay longer than an airport connection en route to the United States or to a United States territory.
The State Department also reminds US citizens that, “as of December 6, 2021, all air travelers, regardless of vaccination status, must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result, taken no more than 24 hours of their flight’s departure to the United States.”
For those wishing to renew their passport upon their return to the United States, current processing times can be found here. For more information, please visittravel.state.gov.
