US State Department Halts Passport Issuing Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

The U.S. Department of State has ceased issuing passports except for “life-or-death emergencies” while coronavirus continues to spread throughout the country.

The new directive, which went into effect in March, was implemented “due to public health measures to limit the spread of COVID-19,”

 The State Department will make an exception for “immediate international travel within 72 hours” in life-or-death situations, including serious illnesses, injuries, or deaths in the immediate family. In that case, applicants would need their full application, proof of the emergency like a signed letter from a hospital or a death certificate (translated into English) and proof of their itinerary or ticket.

To make one of these appointments, applicants need to call the National Passport Information Center at (877) 487-2778 or call (202) 647-4000 outside of business hours.

The State Department said it would continue to fulfill requests for people who had applied for an expedited passport anytime before March 20.

It is not immediately clear when the State Department would start taking applications again.

The new policy also comes as the deadline for Real ID driver’s licenses and ID cards was postponed as the application requires an in-person visit to the DMV.