How To Fix Mistakes On Your US Passport

Everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes, so does the US Passport Agency. Whenever you get a new passport, you should look it over carefully, just to make sure all of the information is correct. If there is a printing error, you’ll need to get it corrected before you travel.

How do you fix a printing error on your US passport? Fortunately, you don’t have to go through the entire application process again. Instead, submit Form DS-5504. You’ll also need to send in your US passport, and evidence to show that the change you’ve requested is valid. For example, you can send in a copy of your birth certificate if you need to have the spelling of your name or your birthday corrected. If it’s been more than 90 days since your US passport was issued, you’ll also need to get new passport photos taken.

Fixing a printing error is free if you request regular processing. However, it could take several weeks for you to get your passport back in the mail. If you have an international trip planned in the near future, a private expediting service like RushmyPassport.com can have your passport sent to you more quickly. Depending on how long you have before you have to travel, an expediting company can get your passport in as little as 24 hours! The price of the service varies depending on the processing time you select, and more affordable options are available that take just a few days more. Considering how much money you’ll lose on your international trip if you don’t have a passport in time, the expediting fee is a bargain!

Are you traveling overseas? Go to RushMYPassport.com to make sure your passport is ready when you are!

25 Responses

May, 7th 2019Linda
Do I have to send an original version of my birth certificate for a name correction on my original passport that I just received? Or can I just send a color copy of it?
- May, 15th 2019David P
  You should always send original documents (they will be returned with the passport).
January, 13th 2018doudeline louverture
hi, my dad help me to usa but he didnt know my real date of birth he know he has a daughter when i was 14 but my mom passed away when i was 4 years old so he just ask people around about the day I was born theY gave him wrong one, so now my date of birth is wrong on my passport how can i change thaT?
- January, 28th 2018Alison Kroulek
  Do you have a birth certificate? If so, you should be able to have it amended to match the birth certificate.
June, 9th 2017Mayra Mendez
Hi, I recently submitted an application for my passport however when talking to my mom about it she told me I should've have fixed my bith certificate first since her name and dob is wrong?!? What am I suppose to do now? How do I fix this? And how much will it cost me? By the way it says my passport is still in process.
- June, 13th 2017Alison Kroulek
  Well, it's YOUR name and birthdate that's most important, but you can call the National Passport Information Center to see if they need anything else to process your application: 1-877-487-2778.
January, 10th 2017Joseph Eber
When my daughter landed in Ireland the customs agent found she had 2 copies of page 5/6 "Important Information" (both sides) and was missing page 7/8 "Important information" side 3 and the first Visa stamp page. She later determined the opposite pages on the leaf (Visa stamp pages in the 21-24) were also missing/duplicated. Her important details, identity information are still correct. Should she contact anyone for a corrected Passport? She will be in Ireland for 4 months on a study abroad visa.
- January, 25th 2017Alison Kroulek
  How strange! Have her contact the nearest US Embassy and see what they recommend.
May, 12th 2016Grace
hi, we just realized that my husband's new passport had wrong birth place. it is still valid and more than years since we first got. Thanks!
- May, 13th 2016Alison Kroulek
  Hi Grace, you can get that corrected for free with a copy of his birth certificate and a new picture.
February, 25th 2013ColeenR
I have 2 adopted Ukrainian sons, age 17, and we realized the U.S. passports that were issued a couple years ago had errors that stated they were female. We discovered the errors a few months ago when they got their drivers permit, and since their passports said they were female, the DMV had to write female on their permits in spite of their obvious appearance otherwise. The translated birth certificates and court decree don't specifically state gender, so we don't know what other valid documents we can send with the DS-5504 to prove they are males. They have expired Ukrainian passports and green cards that state their gender, but we're not sure if those would even be relevant since they're expired. Can you help us?
- March, 1st 2013Alison Kroulek
  Hi Coleen, Call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778. They should be able to help. :)
April, 16th 2012Rosalind H. Guo
I am a female. My passport was renewed on 12 Dec. 2004. I used it for overseas trips three times and never noticed that the Sex was indicated as "M", instead of "F". Now I am going to have an otheroverseas trip in June but just noticed this error. How do I fix this problem? What proof should I submit? My original (old) passport filled "F" in the Sex blank. Can I make a copy of it as the proof?
- April, 17th 2012Alison Kroulek
  Hi Rosalind, Oh no, how aggravating! No worries, you can get it corrected free of charge. Use Form DS-5504 (available here) and send it in with a certified copy of your birth certificate. Printing errors get priority processing automatically, but I would still get your application in ASAP to ensure it's processed in time.
April, 4th 2012patty
i have recently planned a trip to Mexico with my husband, and have used my passport 3 x since i received it, once to Sweden and twice to mexico. My husband noticed the other day that my passport has me down as a male and i am Female. our trip is May 5, 2012 is there a way i can get this fixed in time for our Trip... Kind of ironic that no one noticed this in my past travels.. any help is appreciated.
- April, 9th 2012Alison Kroulek
  Hi Patty, Sure, you would just want to take care of it immediately and use expedited processing. You won't be charged for anything other than expedited processing, since it's a printing error, and you'll use form DS-5504. See details on this page: http://travel.state.gov/passport/correcting/correcting_2654.html Of course, if you'd like faster processing and more of a margin of error, we can also expedite your application for you. Good luck and have a safe trip!
March, 7th 2012maria Hernandez
the air line company were i was traveling forgot to stamp my passport twice and on the second time i was ditained they did not say nothing but forgot agin to sign it. what do i need to do. Do i need to replace my passport? thank you
- March, 8th 2012Alison Kroulek
  Hi Maria, As long as your passport isn't damaged or about to expire there shouldn't be any need to replace it due to a forgotten visa stamp, but call the National Passport Information Center and explain the situation to them if you still have concerns. Their number is: 1-877-487-2778. Hope this helps!
March, 18th 2011NancyG
I have a problem - my husband erroneously signed MY passport at the airline desk (the clerk prompted him to sign it, and he did without looking at whether he was signing the right passport), and then I signed it. So my passport signature page shows both his signature and mine. I have a note from the airline desk clerk telling what happened. Do I need to replace my passport? Is this going to cause me problems in future travel? If I do need to replace it, how do I got about it - the correction form? Essentially, I would need them to reissue it exactly the same, and I'd just do my signature correctly this time. Thoughts?
November, 9th 2010jessika
I have to fix my passport, and I have to renew my state permit or just get a new state id, I dont have my birth certificate & my passport has the wrong birthday,its only digit off but what can I do? Can I send in my expired id or do I need to fiox that first which is a bigggg pain in the butt
- November, 18th 2010Alison Kroulek
  Hi Jessika, I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that you can get your birthday corrected in your passport free of charge, as long as you don't need it to be expedited. See instructions here: http://travel.state.gov/passport/correcting/correcting_2654.html The bad news is that you'll need a birth certificate, but you can order a new certified copy here: http://www.vitalchek.com/
August, 7th 2009Debra Jackson
Use FastPass whenever you can, espesially if you will have children with you. We went in November and this saved us from standing in lines for those hugely popular rides. You use the room key card. Insert it into the FastPass machine and it will give it rght back along with a ticket that has your ride time stated on it. When it is time, you just get into the FastPass line instead of the regular one and they take you right in. The was a few minutes wait when we got to the entrance to some of the rides, but it was mainly because the previous riders had not been unloaded yet. The people that didn't use FastPass were standing in line for over an hour at the more popular rides.
June, 11th 2009srinivas
hi i have applied for passport but it is in the process, my surname in passport website entered wrongly...is there any option to fix it?
- June, 12th 2009Alison Kroulek
  Well, it depends on how long you have before you travel. If you have enough time, you can wait until you get your new passport and then have it corrected free using Form DS-5504. If you don't have enough time to do that, call the National Passport Center at 1-877-487-2778 and see what they suggest. If you applied through a private passport expediting company instead of submitting your application directly to the US government, contact your case manager.
May, 6th 2009andre
would it matter if on my passport was my last name spaced like as in my mc cormick when i spell my name mccormick cuase thats how it is on my state id ssc and birth certificate

How To Fix Mistakes On Your US Passport

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