Passports

Biometric passports

The EU member states have agreed that passports will now include the holder’s fingerprints. This means that when you apply for a new passport, you must let your fingerprints be taken. Starting 21 September 2009, all new Dutch passports and ID cards must include the holder's fingerprints. Since 26 August 2006, Dutch passports have included an electronic chip containing the personal details of the holder and a digitised passport photograph. Now, the chip will also contain a digitised image of the holder’s fingerprints. The aim is to make EU passports less susceptible to falsification and fraud. The chip makes it possible to compare this information electronically with the holder’s features and the printed information in the passport. This will make it more difficult to falsify passports or use someone else’s passport.

Dutch residents abroad

If you reside abroad and your passport expires, you can apply for a new passport at a Dutch Mission (a Dutch embassy or consulate). To include biometric information in passports, Dutch embassies, consulates-general, and some honorary consulates have received new equipment. At this time, not all honorary consulates could be equipped. As a result, not all honorary consulates will be able to process passport applications.
After processing your passport can be returned to you by mail or you can pick it up in person at the office you applied at. The choice to have your passport and other original documents send back is made under your sole responsibility. The Embassy or Consulates do not accept any liability for damage or loss of documents.

For mailing within the USA you will need to submit a self-addressed label or envelope, recommended with tracking services:

When submitting a UPS or FedEx shipping label: make sure your complete payment information is filled out (credit card) and that you list your own address as the receiver AND the sender.
When submitting a US Postal Service Priority Mail Flat-Rate envelope: go to: http://www.usps.com. To calculate the shipping costs, use zipcode 20008, but make sure to list your own address as the receiver AND the sender on the envelope or label.

Note:
- Labels or emvelopes listing the embassy's address as the sender, will not be accepted
- Labels or envelopes marked COD (cash on delivery) will not be accepted
- Your shipping label or envelope needs to be submitted at the time of application and cannot be submitted to the regional support office at a later time.