Message to U.S. Citizens – Direct Return to the United States with Certain Expired U.S. Passports

May 25, 2021

Location:  Turkey

Event:  U.S. citizens may directly return to the United States with certain expired U.S. passports.

If you are overseas and your passport expired on or after January 1, 2020, you may be able to use your expired passport to return directly to the United States until December 31, 2021.

You qualify for this exception if all the following are true:

  • You are a U.S. citizen.
  • You are currently abroad seeking direct return to the United States.
  • You are flying directly to the United States, a U.S. territory, or have only short-term transit (“connecting flights”) through a foreign country on your direct return to the United States or to a U.S. territory.
  • Your expired passport was originally valid for 10 years.  Or, if you were 15 years of age or younger when the passport was issued, your expired passport was valid for 5 years.
  • Your expired passport is undamaged.
  • Your expired passport is unaltered.
  • Your expired passport is in your possession.

You do not qualify for this exception if:

  • You wish to depart from the United States to an international destination.
  • You are currently abroad seeking to travel to a foreign country for any length of stay longer than an airport connection en route to the United States or to a U.S. territory.
  • Your expired passport was limited in validity.
  • Your expired passport is a special issuance passport (such as a diplomatic, official, service, or no-fee regular passport).
  • Your expired passport is damaged.
  • Your expired passport is altered.
  • Your expired passport is not in your possession.

If your U.S. passport expired on or before December 31, 2019, please see our website for information on how to renew your passport before traveling.  Please be advised that currently, routine passport production can take 10-12 weeks.

Actions to Take:  

Assistance:   

U.S. Embassy (Ankara, Turkey)  
110 Ataturk Boulevard
Kavaklidere, 06100
Ankara, Turkey
Tel: +90-312-455-5555
Ankara-ACS@state.gov
https://tr.usembassy.gov/

U.S. Consulate General (Istanbul, Turkey)
Poligon Mahallesi, Sariyer Caddesi No: 75
İstinye 34460 Sariyer
Istanbul, Turkey
Tel: +90-212-335-9000
ACS_Istanbul@state.gov
https://tr.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/Istanbul/

U.S. Consulate (Adana, Turkey) 
Girne Bulvari No:212 Guzelevler Mah.
Yuregir, Adana, Turkey
Tel: +90-322-455-4100
CA-Adana@state.gov
https://tr.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/Adana/

U.S. Consular Agency (Izmir, Turkey)
Izmir@state.gov

State Department – Consular Affairs
1-888-407-4747 or 1-202-501-4444
Turkey’s Country Page

Turkey’s Travel Advisory
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