Passport Information

Hours

Walk-in: Monday-Friday, from 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 noon and 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except U.S. and Lao holidays. Although we will provide service to American citizens at any time during working hours, many Americans prefer to come in the afternoon, when the section is not so crowded with visa applicants.Telephone Inquiries: 8:00 a.m. -11:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except U.S. and Lao holidays.

Passports

The Consular Section issues new and replacement U.S. passports, amends passports in the event of a name change, and provides additional passport pages as necessary. See Special Requirements for Children. Additional information on Passport Services is available from the Bureau of Consular Affairs.

To renew a valid U.S. Passport, the following are required:

Your most recent U.S. Passport, issued since your 16th birthday and within the last 15 years;
Passport application form DSP-82 (the red form, available at the Consular Section);
Two recent identical photos, 2 x 2 inches, taken on a white/light color background.
(The head size should be about one inch in length.); Your Social Security number, if issued;
Fee of US$65 in cash.

To replace a lost/stolen passport, the following are required:

Proof of U.S. citizenship (e.g. an original or certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate, or a U.S. naturalization certificate, or a U.S. certificate of citizenship, or Consular Report of Birth Abroad);
Proof of identity (e.g. valid photo identification issued by a State or the U.S. government);
Passport application form DSP-11 (the brown form, available at the Consular Section);
Police report and an affidavit regarding the circumstances of the loss/theft (blank affidavit forms are available at the Consular Section); 
Two recent identical photos, 2 x 2 inches, taken on a white/light color background. (The head size should be about one inch in length.);
Your Social Security number, if issued;
Fee of US$97 in cash ($82 for children under 14).

To obtain a first U.S. passport, the following are required:

Proof of U.S. citizenship (e.g. an original or certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate, or a U.S. naturalization certificate, or a U.S. certificate of citizenship, or Consular Report of Birth Abroad);
Proof of identity (e.g. valid photo identification issued by a State or the U.S. government);
Passport application form DSP-11 (the brown form, available at the Consular Section);
Two recent identical photos, 2 x 2 inches, taken on a white/light color background. (The head size should be about one inch in length.);
Your Social Security number, if issued;
Fee of US$97 in cash ($82 for children under 14).

Special requirements for children under the age of 14:

Passport application form DSP-11 (the brown form, available at the Consular Section);
Birth certificate with parents' names;
Children under the age of fourteen should appear in person with both parents. If only one parent executes the application, that parent must establish sole authority to execute the application or the other parent's written consent to the application.
Fee of US$82 in cash ($82 for renewal of a valid passport).

To have additional visa pages inserted in your valid U.S. passport, the following are required:

Passport application form DSP-19 (the green form, available at the Consular Section). Please write "add pages" and your Social Security Number in the area marked "Other Action Requested."
No fee.

Registering Births Abroad of U.S. Citizen Children

The birth of a child abroad to U.S. citizen parent(s) should be reported as soon as possible to the nearest American Consular office for the purpose of establishing an official record of the acquisition of U.S. citizenship at birth of a child born abroad. The official record is known as the Consular Report of Birth Abroad. It is not a birth certificate, but is full proof that the child was a U.S. citizen at birth.

A child born outside of the U.S. to two American citizen parents acquires U.S. citizenship as long as one of the parents has resided in the U.S. prior to the child's birth. A child born abroad after 14 November 1986 to one American citizen parent and one non-American parent acquires citizenship only when the citizen parent was physically present in the U.S. for five years or more prior to the child's birth, at least two of the five years occurring after the parent had passed age l4 A Consular Report of Birth Abroad may be issued for any child who is eligible for it upon application made by both parents of the child or legal guardian at any time before the child's 18th birthday. The American Embassy in Vientiane can only issue a Consular Report of Birth Abroad for American children born in Laos. We will accept applications for American children born in Thailand and will forward them to the American Embassy in Thailand or the American Consulate General in Chiang Mai for action. The following documentary evidence is required to support all applications for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad:

Application form DS-2029/SS-5, available at the Consular Section;
The child's original birth certificate, or a certified copy;
Passport(s) of the U.S. citizen parent(s);
Identification (passport/ID card/ Household Registry) of the non-U.S. citizen parent;
Parents' marriage certificate or a certified copy thereof;
Evidence of termination of any previous marriage(s) (divorce decree or death certificate) of either parent, in original or certified copy; Evidence of the child's identity, such as school records etc., if the child is over five years old at the time of application for the Consular Report of Birth Abroad; In the case of only one U.S. citizen parent, proof of the U.S. citizen parent's physical presence in the United States as required by the law, such as travel documents with entry/departure stamps, U.S. school transcripts showing periods of attendance, U.S. employment references, etc.;
Social Security number(s) of the parent(s), where issued;Fee of US$65 in cash. 

Registration and the Warden System

The Embassy encourages all American citizens residing in Laos or visiting Laos for more than a few days to register with the Consular Section. Registration forms contain emergency contact and next-of-kin information that the Embassy will use to locate U. S. citizens in an emergency, to disseminate information about threats that might affect U. S. citizens in Laos, and to contact family members in case of death, medical emergency, or similar circumstances.

The Privacy Act of 1974 prohibits the U.S. Government from disseminating information about any U.S. citizen to third parties without the U.S. citizen's explicit consent. The consular registration form contain a Privacy Act waiver that allows citizens to designate in advance which persons (family, friends, employer, doctor, lawyer, etc.) they would want the Embassy to communicate with in case they were unable to do so (e.g., in a medical emergency or an unexplained disappearance).

Every U.S. Embassy in the world has a Consular Warden System for U.S. citizens. The Consular Warden System provides a robust mechanism for communication to and from U.S. citizens during a crisis or emergency. In many counties Consular Warden Systems have proved invaluable in responding to crisis as varied as earthquakes, floods, civil insurrection, and military coups. Consular wardens are volunteer members of the American community who agree to assist the Embassy in caring for the American community in case of an emergency. The Consular Warden System in Laos in organized geographically, with a dozen wardens responsible for districts in urban Vientiane, wardens in most of the Lao Provinces with American residents, and additional wardens responsible for organizations with concentrations of American citizens.

American citizens may register in either of two ways:

--Via the Internet through the Department of State’s Registration Home Page at https://travelregistration.state.gov

--In person with forms available at the Embassy (or by picking up the forms and returning them by mail or fax later). U.S. citizens living in Laos should provide a map showing the location of their home and place of work (or school) along with the Long-Term Registration form. Tourists and short-term visitors who do not wish to participate in the Consular Warden System, may complete a Short-Term Registration form. Either form should also have a photocopy of the registrant’s U.S. passport.