US embassy services in Portugal: passports, voting and STEP

The US Embassy in Lisbon and the US Consulate in Ponta Delgada, in the Azores, are where Americans living in Portugal go for passports, documents for children born in Portugal, notarial services and help in an emergency. Most routine work runs by mail or by appointment, and both posts publish detailed checklists. This guide walks through the services residents use most, what each one asks for, and the details that most often cause delays.

Which office serves you

The embassy's renewal instructions split Portugal into two areas. If you live in mainland Portugal or Madeira, you deal with Embassy Lisbon. If you live in the Azores, you send mail and book appointments with the Consulate in Ponta Delgada.

The consulate in Ponta Delgada says it offers the full range of services to US citizens. It is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 12:30 and 1:30 to 5:30 pm, except Portuguese and American holidays, and routine services such as passport applications and notarizations are by appointment only. If all dates are booked, the consulate asks you to email [email protected]. For emergencies during business hours, it lists (+351) 296-308-330.

Renewing an adult passport by mail

Embassy Lisbon renews adult passports by mail. According to the embassy's fee page, mail renewal is for people aged 16 or older who already have a 10-year US passport issued no more than 15 years ago. If your last passport was issued when you were under 16, was lost, stolen or damaged, or was issued more than 15 years ago, you apply in person with form DS-11 instead.

The mail renewal package, per the embassy's checklist:

• Form DS-82, completed, printed and signed with a wet signature, not a digital one.
• Your Social Security number on the form. All applications must include it.
• One photo, 5 cm x 5 cm, white background, no glasses.
• Your current or most recent passport, the original.
• A printout of the payment confirmation from Pay.gov.
• Name change documents if your name has changed, as an original plus one photocopy.

If you want the new passport mailed to you, add a pre-addressed CTT green pre-paid padded envelope (size S, 115 x 215) and stamps worth €2.80 per applicant for registered mail. The embassy is blunt about the stamps: even pre-paid envelopes need them, and it will not mail your passport without them. If you leave out the envelope, you pick up the passport at the embassy. The embassy also warns not to mail electronics, including AirTags, which will be destroyed.

### Payment and fees

Renewal fees are paid online through Pay.gov. The embassy's FAQ lists accepted methods as internationally accepted credit or debit cards, PayPal or Amazon Pay, charged in US dollars, with one payment per application. The fee table on the embassy site listed $130 for a DS-82 adult renewal when checked. The embassy notes that rates change without notice, so pay what the Pay.gov form shows. It also states it no longer accepts CTT money orders (vale postal).

### Timing

The embassy says passports take 4 to 6 weeks on average and are printed in Arizona, so staff generally cannot give status updates. It answers status questions only after 10 weeks from mailing, 6 weeks after a shipping email, or if you have emergency travel in less than 5 days. For urgent travel while your passport is in process, the embassy offers an emergency appointment request.

### If you cannot find your SSN

The embassy points people who have forgotten their SSN to the Federal Benefits Unit at [email protected], but says the process takes months, so finding an old card or record is faster. If you never had an SSN, it provides a form to include in the package.

In-person appointments

When you must apply in person, the embassy expects a complete package at the window. Its appointment page asks you to:

• Fill in the application online so the printed form has a barcode in the upper-left corner.
• Include your SSN, or leave field 5 blank only if one was never issued, in which case you sign a statement under penalty of perjury at the interview.
• Bring a photo 2x2 in (5x5 cm), no eyeglasses, taken within 6 months.
• Plan payment: debit cards, including Multibanco, are not accepted, and credit cards must belong to the person named on the card. The embassy suggests bringing cash if needed.

To have the passport mailed, bring a pre-addressed Correio Verde or Correio Azul envelope and €2.80 in stamps per applicant. The embassy warns that people who arrive without required items wait several hours, and late arrivals can be asked to reschedule.

Children born in Portugal

A child born in Portugal to a US citizen parent can be documented with a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA). The embassy's fee table lists the CRBA for a child born in Portugal at $100, paid online during the electronic e-CRBA submission. A first passport for a child under 16 is a separate DS-11 application, listed at $135.

Notarials and certified copies

The embassy's fee table lists $50 per seal or notary signature and $50 for certification of a true copy. These come up when a US bank, court or agency asks for a notarized signature and you are in Portugal. Book them through the same appointment system as passports.

Voting from Portugal

The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) recommends the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) to start absentee voting. It works in all states and, according to FVAP, extends your eligibility to receive a ballot for all federal elections for at least one calendar year. FVAP explains that you need a US voting residence even to vote only for federal offices, because your election office uses that address to decide which ballot you get. FVAP's site has a state-by-state guide for the rules where you vote.

Send a new FPCA each January, and again whenever your email or Portuguese address changes.

Emergencies and STEP

Portugal's emergency number is 112. The embassy's emergency page says that during business hours Americans should call the embassy at 351-21-770-2122. After hours, call the main switchboard at 351-21-727-3300 or 351-21-094-2000 and press 0 for an embassy official.

For thefts, the embassy says to report in person at the nearest police station. In Lisbon, the Tourist Police Station at Praça dos Restauradores, Palácio Foz, is open 24 hours and handles reports in English.

The embassy also invites Americans to enroll in STEP, the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, to receive safety alerts and updates from the embassy.

Keeping a US mailing address

Many residents keep a US address for bank mail, IRS letters and card replacements. A virtual mailbox service scans what arrives and forwards items abroad. iPostal1 is one such service. Check how it handles mail from banks and government agencies before you list it with them.

A short checklist

1. Note whether you are served by Lisbon (mainland and Madeira) or Ponta Delgada (Azores).
2. Check your passport issue date to see if mail renewal applies.
3. Keep CTT envelopes and €2.80 in stamps on hand for returns.
4. File a new FPCA each January.
5. Save the embassy's after-hours numbers in your phone.

Common questions

Can I renew my US passport by mail from Portugal? Yes, if you are 16 or older and your current 10-year passport was issued no more than 15 years ago. Send the DS-82, photo, old passport and Pay.gov receipt to Embassy Lisbon, or to the Ponta Delgada consulate if you live in the Azores.

How long does a passport renewal take from Portugal? Embassy Lisbon says 4 to 6 weeks on average. Passports are printed in Arizona, and the embassy answers status questions only after 10 weeks or in an emergency.

Can I pay embassy fees with a Multibanco card? No. The embassy says debit cards, including Multibanco, are not accepted at appointments, and credit cards must belong to the cardholder. Mail renewals are paid online through Pay.gov.

What number do I call in an emergency in Portugal? Dial 112. For embassy help after hours, call 351-21-727-3300 or 351-21-094-2000 and press 0.