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Passport Services
Apply for or renew a U.S. Passport
Passport Assistant
Urgent Travel
Stopped At The Spanish Border
Passport Services
Other Passport Services
Additional Information
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Passport Assistant

To get started, click on the box below to access the “passport assistant,” which will help you
determine your passport eligibility and the required documentation.

Passport Assistant

If you need a U.S. passport for urgent travel

Do you need a U.S. passport for urgent travel?

The U.S. Embassy in Madrid/General Consulate in Barcelona can issue emergency passports under very specific and limited circumstances. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you understand the process:

  • Apply in person. You MUST apply in person without an appointment. Walk in hours U.S. Embassy Madrid (8:00 am – 11:00 am) or U.S Consulate General Barcelona (9:00 am – 12:00 pm), Monday to Friday except on U.S. or local holidays (PDF 220K).
  • Proof of Travel: You must provide evidence that you are traveling within the following days.
  • Passport Application: You must bring in your application filled out online. Applications are filled out and printed on single-sided paper using the online passport application wizard.
  • Proof of citizenship and identity, if available.
  • For Minors (Under 16), please review this section for additional requirements.
  • Processing time: Up to 24 hours.

CAUTION:  Some countries may not accept an emergency passport. Country specific information can be found on the Department of State website .

Stopped at the Spanish border; not allowed to enter the country

If you are denied entry to Spain by Spanish authorities due to not having a visa or not possessing your U.S. passport upon arrival, the U.S. Embassy cannot assist you in entering the country.

Spain, as a sovereign nation, has the right and responsibility to enforce its immigration rules and regulations. The U.S. government has no involvement or influence over Spanish immigration matters.

If you are deemed ineligible to enter Spain, you will typically remain in the airport immigration detention area until a flight is available to return you to your city of origin. This may require an overnight stay at the airport immigration facility, where Spanish border authorities will provide a safe space, food, water, medical assistance, and translators if needed.

Embassy personnel cannot travel to the airport to deliver a U.S. passport or provide a letter to advocate on your behalf.

What Passport Service Do You Need?

First-time applicants

Passport for Minors (under 16)

Renewal for the First Time as an Adult (16 and older)

Lost or Stolen Passport

Adult Passport Renewal

Damaged Passports

Replace a Limited Validity (Emergency) Passport

We strongly encourage you to exchange your limited-validity emergency passport for a new, full-validity passport as soon as possible.

Replace an Emergency Passport

Name Change

If you have changed your name because of a recent marriage, divorce, or legal name change, you can apply for a new passport.

Name Change Information

Correct an Error in Your Passport

You can correct your passport if there is a data or printing error. A data error may include an issue with your name, sex, or place of birth. A printing error may include data missing on the biographical page, discoloration, or crooked printing.

Learn how to Correct an Error in Your Passport

Special Issuance Passports

Visit the SIA Web Page. Only accessible by government device. Contact your military acceptance facility.

Learn more about Special Issuance Passports

Second Passport

If you have a valid U.S. passport book and you meet several requirements, you may be eligible for a second book. Please refer to the Applying for a Second Passport Book site for detailed information and requirements. If you would like to keep your current passport while your second passport is being issue, you would need to apply in person. If you have a 10-year full validity passport, you would need to bring the same documents required for an adult passport renewal.

Passport Cards

The U.S. passport card is a wallet-sized, plastic passport that serves as proof of U.S. citizenship and identity. It has the same validity as the passport book but lacks visa pages. The card is valid for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and some Caribbean countries, but NOT FOR INTERNATIONAL AIR TRAVEL. You can apply for the passport book, card, or both using the same forms. To request a card, please refer to the Get a Passport Card site for detailed information and requirements.

Learn more about Passport Cards

Locations

Find the location of the Consular Services closest to you.

Accessibility

If you need accessibility for your appointment, please request it immediately after scheduling. We make every effort to provide accommodations based on individual needs.

More Accessibility Information

Fees and Forms of Payment

Information on fees for U.S. passports, consular reports of birth abroad, and more.

Learn more about Fees and Forms of Payment

Return of Passport / Tracking Your U.S. Passport

A DHL EXPRESS label is required. You must PRINT out the label and BRING it to your appointment or MAIL it with your passport application for adult renewals. In-person pick up is available ONLY for those with urgent travel within the next 5 days.

  • Track the Process: Visit Passport Status to track the process at the passport center.
  • Completion Notification: When the process is marked as mailed or you receive an email, the passport still needs to return to Spain for delivery and quality assurance processing by the Embassy or Consulate. The estimated delivery date provided is for citizens inside the United States.
  • Delivery to Embassy or Consulate: Passports take up to 5 business days to be received by us from the United States.
  • Delivery to DHL: Distribution can take up to 5 business days.

Holiday Calendar 2026

Please review the Holiday Calendar observed by the U.S. Embassy in Spain before visiting the Embassy or the U.S. Consulate General in Barcelona.

Fraud Prevention Unit

The principal mission of the Fraud Prevention Unit is to safeguard U.S. borders by detecting and stopping fraud in applications for U.S. passports, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, immigrant visas and nonimmigrant visas.

Learn more about Fraud Prevention