Haitian Passport Renewal in the US – A How-to Guide

Would you ever think that renewing your Haitian passport in the United States can be as simple as ABC?

Although updating national documents in a foreign country may seem like a challenge for some people, the truth is that once you prepare yourself accordingly, the process may require a single visit to the Consulate. 

See behind the scenes of the Haitian passport renewal process and, with the help of our post, ensure yourself a smooth sailing through the procedure. 

In this article:

• Requirements for Haitian passport renewal – a step-by-step guide
• Haitian passport renewal – what else should you know?
• Urgent renewal of your Haitian passport

Requirements for Haitian passport renewal – a step-by-step guide

We wish we could say that all you need to do to renew your Haitian passport is visit the adequate office and ask for it. However, the truth is that you’ll need to make some preparations beforehand. 

In summary, the renewal procedure requires 5 (five) steps:

1. Gather the essential documents (more about that below).
2. Take a passport photo (follow through to see how to do it yourself).
3. Find the nearest Consulate or Embassy of Haiti.
4. Schedule an appointment.
5. Fill out and submit the application form along with the documents and photographs.

After that, the officials take the initiative, and all that is left for you is to wait patiently.

Step 1: collect documents required for Haitian passport renewal

Usually, each passport-related process begins with acquiring the proper application form. 

However, because the application form for passport renewal is only accessible at the Consulate or Embassy, we suggest that you first collect all the essential documents and then pay a visit to the officials. That way, you may handle the Haitian passport renewal procedure within one visit. 

The documents you’ll need to collect for Haitian passport renewal:

• Haitian passport application form,
• your current Haitian passport and 1 (one) valid identification document (driver’s license, resident card, etc.)
• if you do not have your old passport: 2 (two) valid IDs,
• original or a copy of your Birth Certificate,
• two passport-sized photographs: maximum 3 months old, in color, taken against a white background, 50 x 50 mm (2 x 2 inches),
• if you are a married woman: marriage certificate,
• if you are a divorcee: divorce certificate,
• if you are a widow: husband’s death certificate,
• if you are a minor: parental authorization, signed by one parent or a legal guardian.

Make sure to collect all the documents that are applicable in your case. In case of a lost or stolen passport, please get in touch with the passport agency directly.

Passport nearing its expiry date? Get ahead of the game and up to speed by reading:

Step 2: take a passport photo

The required size for a Haitian passport photo is 50 mm x 50 mm (2 x 2 inches), which means the standard US passport-sized photograph will also be suitable.

The photograph must have been taken recently, which means in the 3 (three) months preceding the passport renewal application.

Your new passport photo must meet the exact requirements for US passport photos: white background, neutral facial expression, no shadows, high-quality photo paper, and must be submitted in paper form (digital applications are not allowed).

You may visit popular photo centers to take the Haitian passport picture, such as Walmart, Rite Aid, and Walgreens.

But you can also take the photograph yourself. We have prepared an easy-to-follow guide on how to take passport photos at home.

For your Haitian passport renewal procedure, 2 (two) identical copies of your new passport photo are required.

Step 3: find a Haitian Consulate for passport renewal

You can submit your Haitian passport renewal application to the Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in Washington, D.C., or the nearest Consulate of Haiti. 

Consulates of Haiti in the US:

• Consular Section of the Embassy of Haiti in Washington, D.C.
  Jurisdiction: Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia.

• General Consulate of Haiti in Boston
  Jurisdiction: Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.

• General Consulate of Haiti in Chicago
  Jurisdiction: Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin.

• General Consulate of Haiti in New York City
  Jurisdiction: Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.

• General Consulate of Haiti in Miami
  Jurisdiction: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands.

• General Consulate of Haiti in Orlando
  Jurisdiction: Orlando.

• General Consulate of Haiti in Atlanta
  Jurisdiction: Atlanta

For more information, such as contact details, opening hours, website, etc., you can visit the Consular Representation of Haiti in the United States of America website.

Step 4: schedule an appointment at the Consular Office of Haiti

Although walk-ins are not strictly forbidden, it is advised to schedule a visit beforehand if possible. 

Some consulates have a functional website to find all the necessary information regarding passport renewal and scheduling your visit. 

However, not all Consular Offices of Haiti have websites with special appointment forms. If the Consulate in your jurisdiction does not have a dedicated website, we advise calling them directly (the number can be found in the link above). 

If you cannot book an appointment, the Consular Offices of Haiti can also service you without booking a visit. Beware, however, that this option may be time-consuming due to queues.

Step 5: fill out your Haitian passport renewal application form

Passport issuance and passport renewal application forms are only  accessible directly at the consular offices (with one exception, more on that below).

If you are within the jurisdiction of the Consulate General of Haiti in Chicago, you can access the application form by visiting the dedicated website here. This option is available only at the General Consulate of Haiti in Chicago and does not apply to other consular offices. 

You must fill out and sign the application form in person in the presence of a consulate’s agent and submit it at the Consular Office of Haiti in your jurisdiction.

For this reason, we advise you to proceed with filling out the application form once you have gathered all of the remaining documents. This way, you can submit your complete Haitian passport renewal application during only one visit.

If you want to apply for a passport for your underaged child, you must be present at the time of filling out the application form.

Haitian passport renewal – what else should you know?

Apart from the passport renewal procedure, there are some additional details that you may find helpful – and in some cases, even necessary. 

Haitian passport renewal price

Alongside your application form, documents and photographs, you should also proceed with payment for your Haitian passport renewal. 

The standard costs for issuing a new passport or renewing an old one are $145 for adults and $120 for minors. Standard processing means no expedited services and a personal pick-up at the Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in Washington, D.C. 

You can, however, ask for your new passport to be mailed to you for an additional fee varying from $20 to $45 (depending on your consular office’s location) added to the standard cost. 

If you apply for your Haitian passport renewal in another office than the Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in Washington, D.C., mailing costs will be already included in the final price.

How long does it take to get a Haitian passport renewal

The processing time for your Haitian passport renewal may vary depending on which office you submitted your documents at. 

According to the Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in Washington, D.C., the standard processing time for passport renewals is 8 (eight) working days. 

However, different Consular Offices of Haiti have distinct processing times, taking from 20 (twenty) to 60 (sixty) working days. 

The Consulate of Haiti in New York predicts approximately 20 (twenty) working days to process your standard passport renewal request. In contrast, the Consulate of Haiti in Chicago takes longer to operate your application – up to 60 (sixty) days (with mailing included).

If you want to receive your new passport sooner, you may use the service of urgent passport renewal—more on that below.

Urgent renewal of your Haitian passport

The Haitian authorities in the United States have foreseen an option of an urgent passport renewal request.

To get the expedited service, you must inform the consular officer at the time of requesting an application form that you want to opt for the urgent passport renewal option. 

Urgent passport renewal comes at an additional fee but, in return, shortens the time necessary to process your application. The additional costs and the processing time depend on which Consular Office of Haiti you submit your application to.

For example, the General Consulate of Haiti in Chicago provides the urgent renewal service for $205 and takes around 30 (thirty) business days with mailing included.

There is an option of an extremely urgent passport renewal that costs $245 and takes 20 (twenty) business days, with mailing included.

If you wish to receive your passport on the same day, you must pay a visit to the Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in Washington, D.C. where passports are issued.

Haitian passport photo with Passport Photo Online

Apart from the traditional photo centers, such as Walmart, Walgreens, or CVS Pharmacy, you may also acquire your new passport photos using online services.

One of such apps is Passport-Photo.Online – a passport photo converter that has been appreciated by Forbes, National Geographic, Glamour, and Yahoo!

The program has a very intuitive interface with exposed buttons that, in 10 (ten) clicks, lead you through the whole process of taking your own passport pictures. 

Passport-Photo.Online transforms your ordinary photographs into professional passport photos. The app replaces the background in your picture with a plain white one, crops the image correctly, and verifies whether your new passport photograph meets the official standards.

To use the converter, simply access this dedicated 50×50 mm photo tool (suitable for Haitian passport photos), or download the app from Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

The final result is a set of impeccable Haitian passport photos with a 100% guarantee of acceptance by the authorities.

Order your new passport photos from your own house for just $9.95, including printing and shipping.

Haitian passport renewal – FAQ

Haitian passport renewal – closing thoughts

Renewing your Haitian passport may be a time-consuming process, especially if you live on the East Coast, due to the time it takes to mail your documents to the Embassy of Haiti located in Washington D.C. 

Make sure to prepare all your documents before visiting the Consular Office of Haiti in your area to ensure a smooth passport renewal application. 

To save time on taking passport photos, we recommend using Passport-Photo.Online, which allows you to take a perfect Haitian passport photo from your own couch in just 3 (three) seconds.

Sources

• [1] https://haitianconsulatechicago.org/passport/

Adam Grucela

Adam is an SEO & Digital PR writer with a child’s curiosity about the surrounding world. His superpower to dig out juicy facts got him citations in Forbes, Social Media Today, and 90+ other news outlets. Adam enjoys snapping pictures and won the national Huawei Next Image Award.