Add Pages – How can I add pages to a passport?

Question:  I travel abroad quite frequently and though my passport still has 3 years of life left before it expires, I only have 3 visa pages that are blank. How can I resolve this so there is not any issues when I travel abroad in the near future? Can I add pages to a passport?

Answer:  The amount of blank pages when you travel will depend on the country that you are traveling to. Some countries may require one page to be blank while others may ask for more. Usually 2 to 4 blank visa pages will be enough. Also, something to consider is that some airlines will not let you board the plane. Especially if you did not meet the requirement.

Since you have 3 blank pages, we recommend that you apply for additional visa pages to be on the safe side. In order to receive more visa pages, you will have to mail in a filled out Form DS-4085. You will need to send your current passport with the completed form to the address that is on the form.

Regular passport processing usually takes about 4-6 weeks to obtain a passport. You can use an expedited passport service  which will process your passport within 2-3 weeks. Expedited passport service will have an additional fee attached to it. The quickest way to obtain a passport would be to visit your closest regional passport agency, or employ a professional expediter to submit your application for you. You should be able to receive your passport in two weeks or less.

In the future, when you will be renewing your passport, we recommend that you request additional visa pages to prevent you from going through the process mentioned above. Your written request will need to have your signature and should be submitted with your passport renewal application.