Applying for a passport or identity card if you live in the United States of America
If you want to apply for a Dutch passport or ID card and you live in the United States of America, follow this step-by-step plan.
Step 1: Create your personal checklist
Creating a personal checklist will show you what documents you need in order to apply for a passport or ID card. Create a separate checklist for each application. This means one for you and one for your child, for instance.
When you have created your checklist, go to step 2.
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Step 2: Check the additional requirements
Your personal checklist (see step 1) will show you that you also need documents from the United States of America in order to apply for a Dutch passport or ID card. You can also see whether your documents need to be legalised and translated.
You must prove that you are legally resident in the United States. You can do this by providing one of the following documents:
- a valid visa and supporting documents (a Form I-797, Notice of Action, issued by the Department of Homeland Security)
- a valid residence permit
- if you also have US nationality: a valid United States passport
- if you also have US nationality but were not born in the United States: a US certificate of naturalisation or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA)
- If you do not have valid US immigration documents: a Certificate of Non-Existence of Naturalization. You can request this document from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
If you are applying for a Dutch passport or ID card for your child for the first time, use their birth certificate as proof of legal residence. If your child has a United States passport, use it as proof of legal residence.
If you have a birth certificate or marriage certificate from the United States, you must have the document legalised with an apostille. Find out more about having documents from the United States legalised.
If you have other documents from the United States, or documents from another country, find out if you need to have them legalised.
If you are renewing your Dutch passport or identity card for the first time since acquiring US nationality, you must have your naturalisation certificate legalised with an apostille.
If you acquired US nationality through your partner, bring proof that you were married at the time of your naturalisation. You can do this with an affidavit of marital status. Your partner must complete this statement and attach a signed and dated copy of their passport or other identity document. It does not need to be legalised by a notary.
You can submit documents written in Dutch, English, German or French. If you have documents in another language, you should have them translated by a sworn translator.
Step 3: Make an appointment
Once you know which documents you need, you can make an appointment in the United States or the Netherlands. Make a separate appointment for every application you wish to submit.
Appointment in the United States
Make an appointment online with the embassy in Washington, DC
Changing or cancelling your appointment
After making an appointment it will be confirmed by email. The email will contain a link you can use to change or cancel your appointment.
Make an appointment online with the consulate-general in Atlanta
Changing or cancelling your appointment
After making an appointment it will be confirmed by email. The email will contain a link you can use to change or cancel your appointment.
VFS Global in Chicago
You can make an appointment to submit your application with VFS Global in Chicago. VFS Global is an external service provider. The location has longer opening times than the embassy in Washington D.C. and consulates-general. Please be aware that submitting your application through VFS Global is more expensive.
- Make an appointment online with VFS Global in Chicago
- If you want to submit applications for several family members at the same time, send an email to chinlpp@vfsglobal.com to make an appointment.
Changing or cancelling your appointment
After making an appointment it will be confirmed by email. The email will contain a link you can use to change or cancel your appointment.
You can skip steps 4 and 5.
Make an appointment online with the consulate-general in Miami
Changing or cancelling your appointment
After making an appointment it will be confirmed by email. The email will contain a link you can use to change or cancel your appointment.
Make an appointment online with the consulate-general in New York
Changing or cancelling your appointment
After making an appointment it will be confirmed by email. The email will contain a link you can use to change or cancel your appointment.
When?
12 and 13 October 2022
Making an application
If you want to apply for a passport or ID card at this location:
- First create a personal checklist at step 1. This will tell you which documents you need for your application. Create a separate checklist for each application.
- Once you have done this, send your application including the required documents as mentioned in your personal checklist in 1 pdf-file to ATL-MVA@minbuza.nl. The consulate general in Atlanta will then contact you as soon as possible, go through the checklist with you and then book your appointment with you. You will then receive a confirmation from the consulate general specifying the time and location of your appointment.
- You can skip steps 4 and 5.
Surcharge
There is an additional fee of € 23 if you apply for a passport or ID card at this location.
Make an appointment online with the consulate-general in San Francisco
Changing or cancelling your appointment
After making an appointment it will be confirmed by email. The email will contain a link you can use to change or cancel your appointment.
Appointment in The Netherlands
You can also submit your passport or ID card application at a border municipality in the Netherlands. If you wish to do this, you can skip steps 4 and 5
You can also submit your passport or ID card application at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. If you wish to do this, you can skip steps 4 and 5
Step 4: Go to your appointment
You must submit your passport or ID card application in person. Even applicants under 18 must appear in person.
Bring all the documents on your personal checklist. For every document the checklist will show you whether you need to provide the original and/or a photocopy.
If you needed to have documents legalised and/or translated, bring the legalised and translated versions with you as well.
The overview of consular fees in the United States tells you how much you will have to pay for a passport or ID card and which payment methods are accepted.
Applying for a passport or ID card at a Dutch border municipality or at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport will cost you less.
No. If you need your current passport or ID card while your application is being processed, you can retain it for the time being.
When do I have to hand in my old passport or ID card?
If you are collecting your new passport or ID card in person, you should hand in your old one when you come to collect it.
If you are having your passport or ID card sent to you, you will need to first send your old one to the embassy or consulate-general. Only then will your new passport or ID card be sent to you. This means that there will be a period when you have no passport or ID card. If you want your old passport or ID card back, inform the embassy or consulate-general.
I have a residence permit or visa in my old passport, what should I do?
If your passport contains visas or a residence permit and you want to keep those pages intact, inform staff of this when you submit your old passport.
After you submit your application you will receive a track & trace code to track the status of your application. You will receive an email when your new passport or ID card is ready.
Step 5: Collect your passport or ID card or have it sent to you
It usually takes 4 weeks until your passport or ID card is ready. You will be contacted if there are documents missing from your application. In this case, it will take longer than 4 weeks until your passport or ID card is ready. You must collect your new passport or ID card within three months; after three months it will be destroyed.
You can collect your new passport or ID card in person from the embassy in Washington, DC, the consulate-general in Atlanta, Miami, New York or San Francisco, or VFS Global in Chicago.
- Washington, DC: make an appointment online to collect your passport or ID card.
- Atlanta: by appointment on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays between 09:00 and 12:00. Make an appointment by sending an email with your name and preferred date and time to atl-passports@minbuza.nl.
- Miami: Monday to Friday between 09:00 and 17:00. You do not need to make an appointment.
- New York: Make an appointment by sending an email with your name and preferred date and time to nyc-visa.passport@minbuza.nl.
- San Francisco: by appointment from Monday to Friday between 09:30 and 13:00. Make an appointment by sending an email with your name and preferred date and time to sfn-ca@minbuza.nl.
- Chicago: Find out when you can collect your new passport or ID card on the VFS Global website. First check which days our offices are closed.
You can have your new passport sent to you by UPS, USPS, FedEx or DHL. To do this, you will need to provide a prepaid shipping label when you submit your application (1 for each application). Read the mailing instructions for more information. If you are applying via VFS Global in Chicago, please see their mailing instructions.
It is not possible to have your new ID card sent to you. You will need to collect it from the embassy in Washington, DC or the consulate-general in Atlanta, San Francisco, Miami or New York.
Contact
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact:
If you are applying via VFS Global in Chicago, you can contact them by emailing chinlpp@vfsglobal.com.