Emergency passport: temporary passport for an adult

Verified 08 March 2021 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of the Interior

In France

A temporary passport may be issued on an emergency basis for medical, humanitarian or professional reasons. The prefectural services decide on the issue depending on the situation. This passport is valid for only 1 year.

A temporary passport can be issued if you are in an emergency situation.

For this type of passport to be issued, you have to justify :

  • urgent displacement, in particular for humanitarian or medical reasons (serious illness or death of a family member),
  • either professional reasons (unexpected departure cannot be postponed).

Warning  

emergency supply shall be granted on an exceptional basis and is not automatic.

Île-de-France

In Paris

You can go, without appointment, to a town hall with the necessary documents for your request.

Who shall I contact

Other municipality

The process can be done in the prefecture of your choice. However, some prefectures require going to town hall beforehand.

Ask the city hall first.

Who shall I contact
Other region

The process can be done in the prefecture of your choice.

Who shall I contact

The documents to be provided depend on the identity documents you already have.

The documents have to be submitted originals.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

You don't have a passport

You have a valid ID card
  • Tax stamp of €30 (it can be bought online)
  • Any document justifying the urgency of the trip and requested by the prefecture (for example, death certificate, hospitalization certificate, employer certificate, pay slip)
You have an expired ID card
Expiry date less than 5 years
  • ID card: original + photocopy
  • Tax stamp of €30 (it can be bought online)
  • Any document justifying the urgency of the trip and requested by the prefecture (for example, death certificate, hospitalization certificate, employer certificate, pay slip)
Expiry date greater than 5 years
  • Tax stamp of €30 (it can be bought online)
  • Any document justifying the urgency of the trip and requested by the prefecture (for example, death certificate, hospitalization certificate, employer certificate, pay slip)
You don't have an ID
  • Tax stamp of €30 (it can be bought online)
  • Any document justifying the urgency of the trip and requested by the prefecture (for example, death certificate, hospitalization certificate, employer certificate, pay slip)

You have an expired passport

Expiry date less than 5 years
  • Old passport: original + photocopy
  • Tax stamp of €30 (it can be bought online)
  • Any document justifying the urgency of the trip and requested by the prefecture (for example, death certificate, hospitalization certificate, employer certificate, pay slip)
Expiry date greater than 5 years
  • Tax stamp of €30 (it can be bought online)
  • Any document justifying the urgency of the trip and requested by the prefecture (for example, death certificate, hospitalization certificate, employer certificate, pay slip)
  • Recent ID card (valid or expired for less than 5 years)

You have a valid passport

  • Old passport: original + photocopy
  • Tax stamp of €30 (it can be bought online)
  • Any document justifying the urgency of the trip and requested by the prefecture (for example, death certificate, hospitalization certificate, employer certificate, pay slip)

FYI  

In order to use a common name that is not already on an identity document, other documents must be provided depending on the nature of the second name: name of the spouse or other parent's name.

€30 in tax stamp

If the application is accepted, the passport is usually manufactured on the spot the same day.

If the passport cannot be manufactured immediately, a receipt is given to you and must be presented to the prefecture when the passport is withdrawn.

You must take the passport at the counter and sign it on the spot.

The passport issued is an electronic passport. It does not allow travel to the United States without a visa.

The old passport must be returned. If it included a visa, it may be kept for the period of validity of that visa.

Your new passport is valid for 1 year.

Abroad

A temporary passport may be issued on an emergency basis for medical, humanitarian or professional reasons. The authorities decide on the issue depending on the situation. This passport is valid for only 1 year.

A temporary passport can be issued if you are in an emergency situation.

For this type of passport to be issued, you have to justify :

  • urgent displacement, in particular for humanitarian or medical reasons (serious illness or death of a family member),
  • either professional reasons (unexpected departure cannot be postponed).

Warning  

emergency supply shall be granted on an exceptional basis and is not automatic.

The documents to be provided depend on the identity documents you already have.

The documents have to be submitted originals.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

You already have a passport

The passport is valid
  • Old passport: original + photocopy
  • €45 cash, money order, check or credit card (depending on the consulates)
  • Photo ID less than 6 months old and conforms to standards
  • Any document justifying the urgency of the displacement (death certificate, certificate of hospitalization...)
  • Proof of domicile
The passport is out of date
Expiry date less than 5 years
  • Old passport: original + photocopy
  • €45 cash, money order, check or credit card (depending on the consulates)
  • Photo ID less than 6 months old and conforms to standards
  • Any document justifying the urgency of the displacement (death certificate, certificate of hospitalization...)
  • Proof of domicile
Expiry date greater than 5 years
  • €45 cash, money order, check or credit card (depending on the consulates)
  • Photo ID less than 6 months old and conforms to standards
  • Any document justifying the urgency of the displacement (death certificate, certificate of hospitalization...)
  • Proof of domicile
  • Recent ID card (valid or expired for less than 5 years)

You don't have a passport

You have an ID card
The ID card is valid
  • ID card: original + photocopy
  • €45 cash, money order, check or credit card (depending on the consulates)
  • Photo ID less than 6 months old and conforms to standards
  • Any document justifying the urgency of the displacement (death certificate, certificate of hospitalization...)
  • Proof of domicile
The ID card is out of date
Expiry date less than 5 years
  • ID card: original + photocopy
  • €45 cash, money order, check or credit card (depending on the consulates)
  • Photo ID less than 6 months old and conforms to standards
  • Any document justifying the urgency of the displacement (death certificate, certificate of hospitalization...)
  • Proof of domicile
Expiry date greater than 5 years
  • €45 cash, money order, check or credit card (depending on the consulates)
  • Photo ID less than 6 months old and conforms to standards
  • Any document justifying the urgency of the displacement (death certificate, certificate of hospitalization...)
  • Proof of domicile
You don't have an ID
  • €45 cash, money order, check or credit card (depending on the consulates)
  • Photo ID less than 6 months old and conforms to standards
  • Any document justifying the urgency of the displacement (death certificate, certificate of hospitalization...)
  • Proof of domicile

FYI  

In order to use a common name that is not already on an identity document, other documents must be provided depending on the nature of the second name: name of the spouse or other parent's name.

The passport costs €45.

You can pay in cash. Some consulates also accept payment by credit card, check or wire transfer. Consult the consulate's website to find out how to pay.

If the application is accepted, the passport is usually manufactured on the spot the same day.

If the passport cannot be manufactured immediately, a receipt is given to you and must be presented to the prefecture when the passport is withdrawn.

You must take the passport at the counter and sign it on the spot.

The passport issued is an electronic passport. It does not allow travel to the United States without a visa.

The old passport must be returned. If it included a visa, it may be kept for the period of validity of that visa.

Your new passport is valid for 1 year.