How to Renew a U.S. Passport From Vietnam: The DS-82, Photo, and Courier
Updated: 5 days ago
Why I Couldn't Renew My U.S. Passport Before Leaving the United States
I was already nervous about renewing my passport overseas even before I left the U.S. That same worry was still there the day that I decided to get this task over with.
The reason I couldn't renew my passport while I was still in the U.S. is that my passport had more than a year before it was due to expire. That meant I didn't qualify for a renewal.
So, I left America knowing that I'd have to either return to get my passport renewed or conduct the renewal from wherever I was abroad.
My Experience Renewing a U.S. Passport From Overseas (Da Nang, Vietnam)
Being a full-time solo traveler, with no intention of returning to the U.S., I decided to renew my passport while traveling overseas.
This was my first time completing the overseas passport renewal application, which you can complete online if you meet the eligibility requirements shown below.
Completing the Online Passport Application
First, you complete the form titled DS-82, the actual passport renewal application for persons who must submit their application by mail or express drop-off through a courier. In Vietnam, the courier is referred to as express mail services (aka EMS).
You can apply for a passport book, passport card, or both.
Give yourself a full hour to complete the application. Read it carefully from start to finish, then return to complete each section.
Printing Your Passport Renewal Application (DS-82 Form) and Supporting Documents
When you're traveling abroad, getting documents printed is a hassle.
If you're staying in a hotel or living in a full-service apartment building, ask the admin staff for help.
Another option is to find a big-brand hotel nearby and see if a concierge can print the documents for you or ask the hotel staff if you can borrow their business center for a few minutes.
Printing services are easier to find around college campuses. Other places to check are a public library, a co-working space, or a hostel.
Pay close attention to the print requirements on the application.
Have two copies of your application and supplemental documents printed. If you forget to fill in something or need to refile your application, you have a printed backup to start from.
Be aware that anyone who prints these documents sees your sensitive information. You can delete these files, but whoever printed your documents may still be able to access them on their device or computer system.
The receptionist at my apartment printed my application and payment information. And even though I deleted the application files from the messaging app we used, my papers were left sitting on the reception counter located in the apartment lobby.
Do You Need a Copy of Your Passport Bio Page?
There is one inconsistency that stumped me. On this web page (see step 5), applicants are instructed to include the bio/signature page of the current passport. Further down the web page, the instructions say to submit the bio/signature page on A4 or letter-sized paper.
However, on the passport application itself, this detail is not stated.
I had my bio page printed on A4 paper to meet the requirement, but instead of submitting this with my passport renewal application, I kept it to use as proof of my identity as I gracefully roam Vietnam without my physical passport.
I'll find out if omitting the A4 bio page caused a processing delay when I follow up on my passport status. I'll update this post when I find out.
Paying for Your Passport Renewal Application
The Overseas U.S. Adult Passport Renewal Fee is $130.00 USD for the booklet only. The chart shows the application fees at the time I wrote this post.
You must make your payment online.
A system glitch prevented me from getting the payment confirmation, and that proof of payment must accompany your passport application.
Since I couldn't retrieve my proof of payment page, I printed the payment confirmation email that was automatically sent to me and included it with my passport application. This 'email receipt' should suffice, and I read somewhere in one of the many online instructional documents that it does. The real outcome is still to be determined, and I'll follow up on this part, too.
Getting a Passport Photo
A very important requirement is that you attach a recent passport photo—one taken within the past six months.
I used Google to locate a passport photo service near me; the reviews made me think I'd chosen a winner.
My reality was different, starting with the address.
Instead of the photographer's studio, I ended up at a cafe.
And when I found the studio, I mistook it for a garage because motorbikes and rain gear obscured the entrance. That's because it really was the garage of the photographer's home.
The photographer welcomed me inside, motioned for me to stand against a wall, and almost immediately started snapping photos.
Reviews raved about the photographer's English; however, he communicated to me entirely through Google Translate and hand gestures.
The passport photo cost was $4.64 USD. I received four photos, an A4-size copy of my passport photo and signature page, and digital files.
While waiting for the photographer to ready my purchase, his wife came from the kitchen and offered to rent an apartment to me. Her pitch lasted about 15 minutes. It came with no juice, wine or snacks. Nor any background music.
The Courier Drop-Off: No Help and Three Tries to (Maybe) Get It Right
This step should have been the easiest, but it is where the passport renewal process was filled with the kind of friction that sticks to your ribs.
Once again, the address that I got from an internet search and entered into Grab didn't match the actual physical location.
The Grab driver helped me locate the correct address, which I wasn't even sure was in the same city that I lived in. The ride took about twenty minutes.
When I entered the building, a worker sitting with his back to the customer entrance glanced over his shoulder at me, then scooted his chair closer to his computer screen without saying a word.
My expectation was that there would be a staffed customer service counter. I was wrong.
I searched for signage to help me figure things out. There was none.
After what seemed like an entire siesta, this same worker brought me a large envelope and a form, followed by a message he'd typed into Google Translate.
When I handed the worker the envelope and courier slip, he told me—through Google Translate—that I hadn't followed his instructions.
I attempted to correct my mistakes. Only I got things wrong for the second time.
I asked for help, and the worker appeared more irritated.
I looked into the faces of two other office workers, hinting for help. But they were busy on their phones.
So off I went to try again, thinking how the simplest things feel like climbing Mount Everest when you don't understand the local language.
Basically, you just need to know which areas to complete on the envelope and courier slip and which to leave blank.
On my first attempt, I completed both areas on the envelope. On the second try, I did the same thing, only I put the addresses in reverse order.
On my third and final attempt, I completed the sections I thought were right and handed everything over. The envelope has large spaces for the consulate's address and for mine, plus a space on the far right, and I'm not certain which space is which.
You also must have the complete address of the U.S. Consulate serving your region as well as your own local residence. Do not rely on Google or AI results. Go to the consular services web page (which automatically directs you to Canada). From there, search for the consulate servicing your region and use that contact information.
The cost for the express delivery service is 259,200 VND (approximately $10.00 USD). It covers your application delivery to the consulate and having your new passport delivered to your home address.
Bring local currency to pay in cash. You will get a receipt. Protect it with your life.
I spent approximately $144.64 USD for the passport application fee, passport photos, and courier. My Grab rides came to $13.79 USD. Total spent: approximately $158.43 USD. Perhaps a real bargain if I count some of this experience as entertainment.
Checking Your Passport Application Status
Even with a receipt, I'm skeptical that my new passport will arrive in six weeks, or at all, if I don't follow up. In two weeks I'll be contacting the consulate to see what my passport renewal status is.
Lessons I'm Passing Along
Ask for the help you need, even if you feel embarrassed or must be persistent. Thich Nhat Hanh teaches the importance of self-compassion, and he teaches that people around us can respond with care and presence, whether we directly ask for their support or whether they observe that help is needed.
Take a screenshot of the way a location presents itself in Google or whatever resource you use to find the place. Many streets, areas, and businesses in Da Nang look the same. With an image to refer to, it's easier to tell if you're in the right place.
Memory often fails when we need it most. Use Notes or another phone app to pin the full address and phone number of the U.S. consulate, along with your own local address and phone number.
Bring a pen. There may not be any, or they may be out of ink.
Use Google Translate to interpret the instructions on the shipping envelope and the courier slip. Make sure the app can access your phone data. This is a true case for having an eSIM, since many small businesses won't have accessible Wi-Fi.
It takes six weeks for your new passport to arrive, unless there are issues with processing. If you need a new passport much sooner, you must make an appointment. If you need deeper assistance, this form is for case-specific inquiries.
Passport renewal information is spread across several U.S. Embassy and Vietnam Consulate web pages, expect to click through a few pages to find details that closely match your situation. This renew a U.S. Passport page contains FAQs and other useful info.
A delayed or lost passport is a crisis for a woman traveling alone abroad. I've had plenty of "I can't believe this is happening" moments, and I wrote this solo travel safety guide to help you prepare for and fix the problems that threaten your money or your life.
