Last updated: August 13, 2018
An emergency passport is one that is processed in Israel instead of being flown in from Washington. It may be issued on the spot or within two days. It is valid for one year and costs the same amount as a regular passport.
In order to obtain an emergency passport, you need proof that you will be traveling in the next few days; for example, a paid ticket. An itinerary is insufficient; it must have a reservation number as proof that it was already paid for. Generally, weddings, pre-planned medical procedures, and vacations are not considered emergencies. However, the Embassy often allows emergency passports in some of these cases or for anyone who must travel and will not have a regular passport on time.
The Application Process
First, check whether the online calendar page for first-time passports has an appointment available. Check both the Tel Aviv page as well as the Jerusalem page.
If there are no appointments available at any point before you need to fly, email both the Jerusalem Embassy and the Tel Aviv branch separately according to the following instructions.
Step One: Schedule an Appointment
For the Jerusalem Embassy, email Jerusalemacs@state.gov. For the Tel Aviv Branch Office, email telavivacs@state.gov. Include subject line "URGENT/EMERGENCY Request for CRBA Appointment -[Name of Child]." The Embassy may contact you via the address you email from or from the phone number you include, so both should be readily accessible. Include the following information:
1.Full name, date of birth, phone number and email address of all those who will be present at the appointment.
2.Scanned copies of:
a.Form DS-2029: Application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad, completed but not signed, scanned and attached to the email. If you are applying for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad for more than one child, send in a separate copy for each child.
b.Marriage certificate of parents, if you are legally married
c.Child's Israeli birth certificate
d.Parents' passports
e.Paid ticket with a reservation number in applicant's name
3.Your top two preferences for appointment date.
For the Jerusalem Embassy: any day, Monday through Friday
For the Tel Aviv Branch Office: Thursday (from 8:00 am-11:00 am only)
4.If you will be applying for passports for the Report of Birth Abroad applicant and/or other people at the same appointment, specify the full name of each person (first, middle, last), their dates of birth and the service(s) they each need.
Official policy is for emails to be answered within five business days (approximately one week), but it does sometimes take longer. If all required documents and forms are complete, the Embassy will schedule an appointment for you and notify you of your appointment date and time. Print out the appointment details sheet and bring it along with you to the appointment.
Be sure to arrive on time; if you are over a half hour late, you will probably be asked to reschedule.
Step Two: Day of Your Appointment
On the day of your appointment, bring the required legal documents with you. Forms do not need to be copied.
If Both Parents Are American Citizens
1.Child's original teudat leidah (Israeli birth certificate) from Misrad Hapnim, preferably in English but acceptable in Hebrew, plus three photocopies
2.Passport photo of the baby on a white background. When taking the picture, specify that it is for an American passport. Photo must be 2x2 inches and the height of the head must be between 1-1 3/8 inch. A newborn baby (up to a few weeks) does not need to have his eyes open.
3.Marriage certificate (or certified copy), in Hebrew or English, plus one photocopy. If parents are not legally married, this is not required.
4.Original divorce or death certificates from any of the parents' previous marriages, if applicable
5.U.S. passports of both parents, plus three photocopies (an expired passport may be used as ID up to three years past expiration)
6.Child's Israeli or other foreign passport, if they have been issued one, plus one photocopy
7.Original signed and dated statement that your child has not been issued a Social Security number by the Social Security Administration.If your child has already been issued a Social Security number, skip this form and include his or her Social Security number on the passport application form.
8.Proof of physical presence in the United States: the U.S. citizen parent(s) may present W-2 forms, immunization records, employment records or other acceptable proofs of the fact that they physically resided in the U.S. (School transcripts may be accepted as proof when combined with others.)
9.Form DS-2029: Application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad, completed but not signed
10.Form DS-11: Application for U.S. Passport, completed online or by hand but not signed
If Only One Parent is a U.S. Citizen, or if Both Are U.S. Citizens but Only One or Neither was Born in the U.S.
In addition to bringing the above:
1.The U.S. citizen parent(s) must fill out an affidavit of physical presence.
2.The U.S. citizen parent(s) must bring proof of time spent in the U.S., and prove that s/he was a U.S. citizen prior to the child's birth. Acceptable proofs of U.S. residency include W-2 forms, immunization records, and employment records. School transcripts may be accepted as proof when combined with others.
3.The non-U.S. citizen must bring a form of valid foreign ID (e.g. passport, teudat zehut), plus three photocopies of the biographical page of the document.
Fees
For a CRBA: $100
For a passport: $115
Total when applying for both: $215
Payment may be submitted using any international credit card that can accept charges in U.S. dollars, or in cash, exact change in dollars or shekels (as per the Embassy's daily exchange rate). Personal checks are not accepted. Payment is non-refundable, even if the consular officer later determines that your child is not eligible for citizenship.
Exchanging an Emergency Passport a Full-Validity Passport
To exchange the emergency passport with a full-validity one, you must submit:
- the emergency passport;
- one passport picture (if the emergency passport was for a newborn, the replacement picture should be a current one);
- the letter and receipt that were given to you when you received your emergency passport; and
- form DS-5504 (if the applicant is under 16 years, one parent must sign the form on his behalf).
This application may be submitted by mail, by courier, or by appointment. Be aware that replacements by mail can take up to 6 weeks.
If the exchange is done within one year of the issuance of the emergency passport, you will not need to pay again.
American Embassy
Jerusalem
David Flusser 14
Closed on all American and Israeli holidays and on the last Tuesday of every month.