Embassy of the United States

Citizen Services

Passports

Our Services

The Office of American Services Passport/Citizenship Unit:

• Adjudicates citizenship claims;
• Issues first time passports;
• Renews expired passports
• Amends passports to show change of name; validity, or to correct errors;
• Replaces lost/stolen/mutilated passports;
• Registers births of American children born in Belgium;

Selective Service Registration: American citizen males between the ages of 18-25 must register for Selective Service.  Please bring your passport and Social Security Number with you when you come to the Consular Section to register.

Increases to U.S. Passport Fees and New Parental Signature Requirements for U.S. Minors

On February 1, 2008, the U.S. Government will increase its fees for certain U.S. citizen passport services.  For adult applicants renewing a passport, the total fee will increase to $75.  For first-time applicants age 16 and over, the total fee will increase to $100.  The fee for minors under 16 years of age will be $85. 

Effective February 1, 2008, passport applicants who are U.S. citizen minors under the age of 16 must appear personally with their parents to establish identity, proof of citizenship and proof of relationship.   For parental application permission, both parents must appear together and sign, or one parent may appear to sign and submit the other parent’s notarized statement, or one parent may appear, sign, and submit primary evidence of sole authority.  Minors age 16 and 17 may apply in person with their own identification, but for security reasons, parental consent may be required.  If your child does not have identification of their own, a parent will be required to accompany the child and present identification.

Please refer to the Department of State’s website at www.travel.state.gov for complete information on all new requirements, including downloadable revised forms that must be used as of February 1, and the U.S. Embassy website at http://brussels.usembassy.gov , for complete U.S. passport application instructions.

Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the U.S. Embassy’s website http://brussels.usembassy.gov  and the U.S. Department of State's travel website at www.travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found.  The U.S. Embassy also encourages U.S. citizens to review to "A Safe Trip Abroad," found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html, which includes valuable security information for those both living and traveling abroad.  In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.

Citizens living and residing in Belgium are advised to register their presence in the country through the U.S. Department of State's automated online registration system, https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/.  U.S. citizens may also contact the Consular Section at the U.S. Embassy via e-mail or by calling 02-508-2111. This complete message is available on the Embassy’s website at http://belgium.usembassy.gov/.   The Consular Section of the American Embassy in Brussels is located at Boulevard du Régent/Regentlaan 25, B- 1000 Brussels.

Important Notice

Important Notice: According to Section 215 of the U.S Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1185) it is illegal for an American citizen to enter or leave the U.S on anything other than an American document. This applies to dual citizens as well, meaning that persons holding e.g. both Belgian and American citizenships MUST enter and leave the U.S. on a valid U.S. passport; they may NOT enter/leave the U.S. on a Belgian passport. This applies to children as well as adults.

State-of-the-Art Passports

American citizens residing or traveling abroad who require issuance of a U.S. passport are issued the latest state-of-the-art passport incorporating a photo-digitized image and other enhanced security features. These passports are produced at a domestic U.S. passport facility. This increases processing times, but the Department is committed to ensuring that American citizens receive secure documents in a timely manner. American citizens are encouraged to apply early for renewal of expiring passports. It generally takes three weeks to obtain a passport.

U.S. Embassies and Consulates will continue to issue passports in emergency cases. However, emergency passports will be limited in validity and cannot be extended. Bearers will be required to exchange their limited validity passports for full-validity photo-digitized passports upon completion of their emergency travel, either through a passport facility in the U.S. or a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.

New passport requirements for children under 16 are effective from Feb. 1, 2008.