Should I renew my passport or get a new one?

by Philip
(Norfolk, Va.)

Question: My last passport I think was approximately 10 years ago. I am in the military and am due to deploy soon to the Middle East. Was told by command to have one in case I needed to get sent back state side. Is there another service for people in the military?

Answer: First of all, you should have two passports. One passport is a no-fee passport issued to military personnel that can only be used in discharge of your official duties. The second is a regular-fee tourist passport that you can use for personal travel. Your military passport cannot be used for this purpose.

While you are not required to obtain a tourist passport, it is highly recommended. We receive letters from military personnel frequently seeking assistance to obtain tourist passports while deployed in order to travel on leave. Getting tourist passports in such situations can be quite difficult if not impossible, depending on the location.

According to the State Department, military personnel should contact their Installation Travel Office concerning passport issues.

For instructions on obtaining a regular-fee tourist passport, click the link below.

Apply for a New Passport