10 Tips For When You Run Out of Space On Your Passport Abroad

There are seldom headaches bigger than realizing you're low on passport space while traveling abroad. Whether you're a backpacker on a long adventure, a remote worker who's traveling slow, or a university student on a gap year, running out of passport space can certainly hinder your plans. It is not as bad of a situation as it sounds, and if handled properly, it can lead you to more adventures than you intended. Here's a full list of tips on what to do when you run out of passport space abroad.

10 Find Your Home Country’s Embassy (And Make An Appointment ASAP)

By far, the most crucial tip of this list is to find your home country's embassy ASAP. As for US citizens, the US Embassy website states that it will take an average of 3-4 weeks, at minimum, to receive a new passport if requested abroad. Be prepared to wait for a new passport for that duration, meaning you're going to want to be in a country that you feel you can actually spend that duration of time in. Choose wisely! Keep in mind that US embassies do not exist in every country. Check the state department to see where the nearest embassy is. Currently, there are no US embassies in Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, Maldives, Bhutan, or Iran. If you're in any of these nations when you realize you're low on passport space but you still have a page or two left, it's wise to head elsewhere before dealing with this debacle. Appointments for embassies around the globe can be made online.

9 Go Somewhere That Doesn’t Stamp

Looking to buy a little extra time before dealing with your potential crisis? Certain countries and territories do not stamp passports. Still having stringent entry protocols, stamps are not one of them. Though many avid travelers collect stamps and might be bummed about this prospect, for those who are running out of space on their passports, this is a great hack. Head to somewhere like South Korea, Hong Kong, or Israel, where a paper slip is given to you instead of a new passport stamp. Sure, it's not as funny to enter a new country without hearing the distinct sound of the ink hitting your passport from an immigration officer, but it will certainly buy you extra time if you're unsure how else to handle the situation.

8 Get An Emergency Passport

If you're in an urgent situation and need to move on from a destination within 24-48 hours, an emergency passport is your best bet. Though an emergency passport will have limited pages, it is certainly enough to get you back to your home country, where you can get a real new passport. Despite emergency passports allegedly still working when entering new countries, it is risky to travel on this passport. This tip is particularly helpful not only if you're running low on pages but if your passport gets lost or stolen abroad. It is only recommended to do this if you're in a rush to get somewhere, particularly back home. The emergency passport comes with five stampable pages and costs $165.

7 Fly Back Home

Certainly not the most fun on this list, but a possibility nonetheless. If you're down to your last page or two in a passport, you can always fly home. Maybe you're not ready to stop your epic backpacking trip yet, or you're not done exploring the globe while working remotely, but flying home is a surefire way to guarantee that you'll get a fresh new passport. It might take a few weeks, but if you have a flexible schedule, you can always head back out on the road after receiving your new passport right in your own country.

6 Enjoy The Ride And Travel Slow

Did you only just start to realize you're low on passport space, but you also happen to be somewhere that's kind of awesome? Well, take advantage of the situation, and travel slow. You don't need a new passport just yet if you plan to stay in the same country for a while. This tip particularly applies to those with a flexible schedule, whether they're on a gap year or backpacking around the globe. Rent an apartment in your favorite spot for a month while you wait for your new passport. Renting a spot for a month will likely be cheaper than hotel or hostel-hopping. Get out of the big cities and go check out some small towns. If you're in a country with a unique offering that's difficult to get to, why not try seeing it? Deal with your passport woes later, and get to know a country like the back of your hand by enjoying its offerings at a leisurely pace.

As a US citizen, when you do finally renew, you'll have the option to get the standard 35-page passport or a 52-pager for no additional cost. The obvious choice here is to go with the larger passport, so you're less likely to be stuck in this same predicament again. Different nations have different rules, but if your country offers larger passports, it'll certainly save you the headache of this potentially happening again.

4 Bring A New Photo

Whenever you renew your passport, you are required to bring a new photo. Some embassies will offer photo services right there, but to be sure, it's wise to get the photo ahead of your appointment time. Many shops, convenience stores, and even grocery stores will offer passport photos around the globe. Double-check the size that is required before your appointment to ensure you're within the correct guidelines. Passport photos are often affordable around the globe, and finding a person or place to snap a picture of you should be a fairly easy feat, even if you're in a remote area.

3 Be Prepared To Pay

Passport renewals do not come for free. A new US passport costs $110. The fees go higher if you require the passport in an expedited amount of time. Most embassies will take a credit card, though having cash on hand certainly doesn't hurt. When you do show up to your appointment, make sure to have payment ready. Money talks and the only way to seal the deal in getting a new passport is by paying up!

2 Expect To Turn Your Old Passport In (Leaving You Passport-less)

This is the most surprising one. Whether at home or abroad, when you apply for a new passport, you have to turn your old passport in. Be prepared to mentally deal with being passportless abroad. It can certainly leave an unknown feeling and maybe even rile up some anxiety about knowing you currently do not possess a passport. Don't worry about permanently losing your passport or all of your well-earned collected stamps, however. As soon as you arrive to pick up your new passport, your old one will be handed back to you. It will just have a few holes stamped in the back, and the number will no longer be valid, as you also get a new passport ID number with each new passport you get.

1 Be Patient

If there's one lesson to be had here, it's to be patient. Getting a new passport abroad can be stressful, anxiety-inducing, expensive, and uncertain. Just try to remember that people go through this all the time, and trust that your embassy has your best interests in mind and will take care of it. Though the situation might be new and unfamiliar to you, it's a commonality. People lose their passports, get their passports stolen, and accidentally run out of space when traveling long-term. Enjoy the ride of being passport-less in another nation, travel slow, maybe even rent an apartment, and before you know it, your new shiny passport will be back in hand, granting you access to the world once again.