How do I get a U.S. passport, and fast?

A family member in the United States has suddenly become ill or was taken to the hospital and you need to get there fast.  But as a U.S. citizen living in Canada — long before the June 1, 2009, passport requirement — you find yourself in an urgent situation.

You haven’t renewed your U.S. passport yet or it’s in the process of being renewed. Or, worse, you don’t even have one! Don’t stress out — your family doesn’t need two family members in the hospital.

You can renew or apply for a U.S. passport at a U.S. Consulate/Embassy in Canada. You can even talk to a live human being to report a travel emergency or make an appointment.

For passport questions, travel emergencies, or to make an appointment at one of the U.S. Department of State’s  Regional Passport Agencies (click here for html page), contact the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) at:

1-877-4-USA-PPT (1-877-487-2778)

TDD/TTY: 1-888-874-7793

Passport Information is available 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Speak with a representative Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., EST, excluding federal holidays.

You can check the status of your passport online or if you have a general passport question or have not yet applied, you can send an e-mail.

• If you need to apply for a U.S. passport within Canada, click here.
• If you need to renew a U.S. passport within Canada, click here.
• If you need to apply for a U.S. passport within the United States, click here.
• For information about fees, click here.
• For frequently asked questions, click here.
• For a photo composition checklist, click here.
• To obtain forms to apply or renew U.S. passports, click here.
• To find the nearest location to apply for a passport, click here.