What emergency contacts are acceptable on the passport application form?

Question: When filling out Question 18 (Emergency Contacts) does the contact (who is not traveling with us) need to reside in the US? We do not have other close family members living in the United States however we do have friends.

Is it acceptable to put down a friend? Alternatively we can put down grandparents who live in an overseas country. Is it acceptable to put down an emergency contact from an overseas country? Many thanks for your help.

Answer: You need to include contact information for the person or persons who would need to be informed of an emergency situation and who could, most likely, make important decisions and take action. The person or persons whom you list would only be contacted in case of an emergency such as death, imprisonment, kidnapping, etc. Ask yourself, "Who would be the best person to receive this information?" This is the person you need to list.

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