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Extension of Use of Certain Expired U.S. Passports for the Direct Return of U.S. Citizens to the US
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12 MINUTE READ
December 28, 2021

Travel Alert: U.S. Embassy Lima, Peru
Location: Worldwide
Event: Extension of Use of Certain Expired U.S. Passports for the Direct Return of U.S. Citizens to the United States (December 28, 2021)

For U.S. citizens currently in Peru, if your passport expired on or after January 1, 2020, you may be able to use your expired passport to return directly to the United States until March 31, 2022.

You qualify for this exception if all the following are true:

  • You are a U.S. citizen.
  • You are currently abroad seeking direct return to the United States.
  • You are flying directly to the United States, a United States territory, or have only short-term transit (“connecting flights”) through a foreign country on your direct return to the United States or to a United States Territory.
  • Your expired passport was originally valid for 10 years.  Or, if you were 15 years of age or younger when the passport was issued, your expired passport was valid for 5 years.
  • Your expired passport is undamaged.
  • Your expired passport is unaltered.
  • Your expired passport is in your possession.

You do not qualify for this exception if:

  • You wish to depart from the United States to an international destination.
  • You are currently abroad seeking 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.
  • Your expired passport was limited in validity.
  • Your expired passport is a special issuance passport (such as a diplomatic, official, service, or no-fee regular passport).
  • Your expired passport is damaged.
  • Your expired passport is altered.
  • Your expired passport is not in your possession.

Please be advised that at this time, if you apply in the United States, routine passport processing can take 8-11 weeks.  In the United States, if you need a passport in less than 8-11 weeks due to international travel plans, you can pay an additional $60 fee to expedite your passport, which will shorten the processing time to 5-7 weeks.

If you apply for a U.S. passport in Peru, the process will take approximately 2-3 weeks.

If your U.S. passport expired on or before December 31, 2019, or you will travel to a location other than the United States, please see our website to make an appointment to renew your passport before traveling: https://evisaforms.state.gov/acs/default.asp?postcode=LMA&appcode=1.

Please note that all travelers, including U.S. citizens, are required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within one day prior to arrival in the United States.  Please see: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html for more information.

Actions to Take:

  • All U.S. citizens should enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and ensure you can be located in an emergency.
  • Review your U.S. passport expiration date.
  • Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Peru.
  • Refer to our website for the latest Alerts and Messages for U.S. citizens: https://pe.usembassy.gov/
  • Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information related to COVID-19.
  • For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19, please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.
  • Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
  • Check with your airlines, cruise lines, or travel operators regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.

Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the United States.

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