Renewal by Mail
As an American citizen resident in Switzerland you may apply for a new passport entirely by mail if you fulfill all of the following:
- You must have been the bearer of a passport issued within fifteen years prior to the date of your new application;
- You must submit your most recent U.S. passport with your new application;
- Your previous full-validity passport must have been issued subsequent to your 16th birthday;
If all conditions are met you can use DS-82
Persons who do not satisfy each of these requirements must apply for a passport in person and use form DS-11 . This would include all first-time applicants and persons seeking to replace lost/stolen/damaged or mutilated passports.
What do I need?
- Completed and signed passport application form DS-82.
- Your most recent U.S. passport.
- 1 photograph. Passport photograph requirements are strictly enforced.
- The fee for passport renewal by mail is CHF 110.00. The Swiss franc amount is calculated by the Embassy based on an average exchange rate, not the daily rate used by banks and post offices.
- A self-addressed envelope with prepaid postage for 'A' mail or 'Registered" mail.
- A passport will be issued only in the name in which your previous passport was issued unless the application is accompanied by an original or certified copy of a court order, marriage certificate, adoption decree or divorce decree reflecting the name change. The Swiss Family Book is not acceptable.
How can I pay?
The way to pay in Swiss Francs is with the white postal money order (Postanweisung für das Inland/Mandat de poste interne/Vaglia postale interno) to the following address:
American Consular Services
Sulgeneckstrasse 19
3007 Bern
DO NOT pay into a postal account. The Embassy does not have an account number for U.S. Passports. If payments are done incorrectly and into a postal account, we cannot refund this money.
The Embassy does not accept cash in any currency sent by mail and takes no responsibility for money sent in an envelope. We also do not accept personal checks. Any cash the Embassy receives by mail will be returned. Swiss francs will be returned with a postal money order, minus the post office fee.
Where Do I Mail my Application?
IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants applying for passports by mail must be physically present in Switzerland with a Swiss mailing address.
Please mail your application to the following address:
American Embassy
ACS/Passport Section
P.O.Box
3001 Bern
Telephone 031-357-7011
Fax 031-357-7280
e-mail: bernacs@state.gov
How Long Does it Take?
Except in emergencies (death in family, medical treatment in the U.S.), U.S. passports are produced at facilities in the United States. Please take into consideration that this procedure increases processing time when applying for or renewing passports at an Embassy or Consulate, so plan your travel accordingly.
Please allow a minimum of 15 working days for the processing of fully documented applications, especially during peak travel periods. To ensure a quick turnaround, please do your best to submit a correctly completed application, usable photos, your previous passport, and the required fee. If there is a question or a problem, we will attempt to reach you immediately. Expedited service is NOT available at overseas passport offices.
Mailing the New Passport to You
Unless we receive a prepaid stamped envelope from you (C-5), the Embassy will send your old and new passport to you by 'B' mail, which can take up to 5 days.
Emergency Passports
If you need to travel urgently (for medical reasons, death in the family, replacement of a (recently) stolen passport, victim of serious crime), you may apply for an emergency passport in person at the Embassy in Bern (by appointment). This passport will be limited in validity and cannot be extended. The stolen passport will be put into a 'look-out' system and you will not be able to use if found again.
Privacy Act Statement
The information solicited on form DSP-82 is authorized by, but not limited to, those statutes codified in Titles 8, 18, and 22, United States Code, and all predecessor statutes whether or not codified, and all regulations issued pursuant to Executive Order 11295 of August 5, 1966. The primary purpose for soliciting the information is to establish citizenship, identity, and entitlement to issuance of a United States passport or related facility, and to properly administer and enforce the laws pertaining thereto.
The information is made available for routine use on a need-to- know basis to personnel of the Department of State and other government agencies having statutory or other lawful authority to maintain such information in the performance of their official duties; pursuant to a court order and as set forth in Part 171, Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations (See Federal Register, Volume 42, pages 49791 through 49795.
Failure to provide the information requested on this form may result in the denial of a United States passport, related document or service to the individual seeking such passport, document or service.
NOTE: The disclosure of the identity and location of a person to be notified in the event of death or accident is entirely voluntary. If you do not authorize us to inform anyone, we may be unable to provide you with timely assistance or protection in the event of a family emergency.