I have to go on vacation to Mexico and they are asking me 9 weeks to get a new passport. How to get one faster?
Theo, Paris
Dear reader,
Unfortunately, after two years of the health crisis, demand for travel is increasing and public services are facing a backlog of passport applications. If the procedure used to take 3 to 4 weeks, the delays are getting longer, especially in big cities. What you need to know to expedite your request.
Go through the prefecture
Avoiding going through the City Hall box will save you a little time. So choose the nearest prefecture or sub-prefecture. In Paris, going through the regional police headquarters seems to be the fastest solution. Find out in advance about the terms of obtaining a passport. These are the latter “depending on the location and time frame of the survey. For example, as the summer holidays approach, deadlines may be longer.” warns service-public.fr. An important detail. the location of the survey does not depend on where you live, and you can go to any municipality or prefecture. Sometimes, a little driving can save you weeks of waiting.
Carefully prepare all the documents for the file
Before rushing to the prefecture, make sure you have the complete application file for your new passport with you. Some documents are unchanged. A photo ID valid for less than 6 months, 8 €6 tax stamps (buy online), proof of address, the number of your initial inquiry made online (otherwise, fill out the paper form on site. ). A few additional parts will be required depending on the situation.
Pass in urgent order
Reasons to expedite your request are rare, and requests for “leisure” reasons, such as holidays abroad, have little chance of success. However, note that there is a fast procedure and allows you to issue a temporary passport valid for one year on the same day (maximum 48 hours). You must have a valid reason for this to be accepted. “mandatory and obligatory, of exceptional order”, reports the Public Services website. Consider these compelling family reasons (like death), humanitarian reasons (like helping people in danger), or even urgent professional missions.
If this is your case, run to the nearest prefecture after completing your online pre-application. Add to the file documents (listed below) all the documents you consider appropriate to prove the urgency of your travel; death certificate, hospitalization certificate, letter from your employer… Your temporary passport will cost only 30 euros, but please note. that it is valid only for one year, compared to 10 for a normal passport.
The list of documents that must be collected with an emergency request:
– Cerfa form n°12100*02 for passport application (to be printed after completing online or to be completed on site)
– Any document justifying the urgency of the trip (death certificate, hospitalization certificate, reference from the employer, etc.) original + copy.
– Revenue stamps: €30
– with a valid photo ID
– Address proof
– Old passport, if you have it: original + copy
– If you do not have a new passport, add the declaration of loss or theft of the old passport, as well as your identity document (original + copy). Failing that, you submit a birth certificate less than 3 months old (full copy or extract with origin). You can also submit proof of French nationality (original + copy).
Source: Le Figaro
