Apply USA Passport: Will I Get My Damaged Passport Back In 2025?

Apply USA Passport: Will I Get My Damaged Passport Back In 2025?

Apply USA Passport: Losing or damaging a passport can be stressful, especially when travel plans are right around the corner. If I replace my damaged passport, will I get the old one back? The short answer in 2025 is no. Once you submit a damaged passport for replacement, you will not get it returned. Here’s everything you need to know about how the process works today and what to expect.

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What Happens When You Replace A Damaged Passport?

If your Apply USA Passport has been mutilated, torn, water-damaged, or otherwise unusable, the US Department of State requires that you submit it in full, even if it’s just in pieces. Along with the damaged document, you must also include a written explanation of how the damage happened.

Here’s the current 2025 step-by-step process:

• Prepare Your Application: You’ll need to fill out Form DS-11, the same form first-time applicants use, since a damaged passport is no longer considered valid for renewal.
• Submit The Damaged Passport: No matter how incomplete or destroyed it is, all fragments must be turned in.
• Visit A Passport Acceptance Facility: Your identity and citizenship will be reviewed by a USA Passport Application Acceptance Agent.
• Application Sealed & Sent: The agent seals your paperwork and damaged passport into an envelope, which is forwarded to the Passport Agency.
• Processing & Delivery: Once approved, you’ll receive a brand-new passport valid for ten years, along with your proof of citizenship documents (like your birth certificate).

Important: Your damaged passport will not be mailed back. It is permanently retained by the US Passport Agency.

Apply USA Passport: Why Doesn’t The Passport Agency Return Damaged Passports?

In 2025, US security standards will remain strict when it comes to passports. Once a USA Passport Application is marked as damaged or compromised, it loses all value as an identity or citizenship document. Returning it could open the door for fraud, counterfeiting, or misuse.

In the past, especially 15–20 years ago, US passports were more vulnerable. Photos and personal information were placed under a sheet of lamination on the inside cover. If that lamination peeled, someone could swap out photos or alter details. Criminals exploited this weakness, and the government learned that keeping damaged passports was the safest option.

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Today’s passports contain biometric chips, enhanced security printing, and embedded watermarks, making them harder to tamper with. Still, once a passport is flagged as mutilated, it’s removed from circulation to prevent it from ever being misused.

USA Passport Application: What If You Still Have Valid Visas In A Damaged Passport?

This is where things can get tricky. Some countries, such as China, India, and Brazil, issue long-term multiple-entry visas that can last up to ten years. It’s common for these visas to outlast the validity of the passport itself.

Here’s what you need to know in 2025:

• Normally, visas are canceled when a USA Passport is renewed or replaced.
• Exceptions apply for Brazil, China, and India. These countries often allow US travelers to continue using their valid visas, even if the passport they’re in has expired or been replaced.
• Traveling with two passports: If you have a still-valid visa in an old, damaged passport, you’ll need to carry both your new passport and the old one with the visa when traveling to those countries.

Always check with the embassy or consulate of the country you’re visiting to confirm their most current rules. Visa policies can change, and relying on outdated information could cause travel delays.

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Apply USA Passport: How Long Does A Damaged Passport Replacement Take In 2025?

Processing times can vary depending on how quickly you need your new passport. In 2025, here are the typical timelines:

• Routine service: 8–11 weeks.
• Expedited service: 5–7 weeks extra fee applies.
• Emergency OR Urgent travel: In life-or-death emergencies or immediate travel needs, you can get a same-day or next-day appointment at a USA Passport Application agency.

Since damaged passports cannot be renewed by mail, applicants should prepare for in-person visits, which may take extra time.

USA Passport Application: How To Prevent Your Passport From Being Damaged In The Future

Replacing a damaged passport costs extra time and money, so prevention is key. In 2025, frequent travelers use several smart methods to keep their passports safe:

• Use a waterproof passport cover when traveling to rainy or humid destinations.
• Keep it in a protective travel wallet instead of stuffing it into a pocket or bag where it can bend.
• Avoid exposure to extreme heat or water, since both can warp pages and damage the biometric chip.
• Store it in a safe place at home, away from pets, children, or potential spills.

A little care can save you from the hassle of last-minute passport replacement.

Apply USA Passport: What To Expect In 2025

If your passport is damaged, replacing it is mandatory; you cannot travel internationally with a mutilated or unreadable document. When you apply for a damaged passport replacement in 2025:

• You’ll get a new passport valid for 10 years.
• You’ll get your citizenship documents back (like a birth certificate).
• You will not get your damaged passport back; it will remain with the US Passport Agency for security reasons.
• If you had valid visas in the old passport, check the rules of the country before traveling. Some nations allow visas to remain usable, but you’ll need to travel with both passports.

Replacing a passport may feel like a hassle, but the updated process in 2025 is faster, more secure, and designed to protect your identity. The best step you can take? Keep your passport safe from water, fire, bending, or tearing, and if something happens, start the replacement process as early as possible.

Applying for a USA Passport Application is now easier than ever. With the Online Passport Application USA service, you can complete the process from the comfort of your home. The American Passport Application Online system ensures quick and secure submissions. Whether it is your first passport or a passport renewal, everything is just a few clicks away.