Spanish Passport Renewal in the U.S. — 2026 Guide

Before any Spanish consular procedure in the United States comes a step that catches newcomers out: you must be entered in the consular register of residents. Until that registration is done, the consulate will not open a passport file, and the two cannot be handled in the same appointment.

Quick facts

Appointments are booked only through the ministry’s consular portal, and each procedure needs its own appointment. Two errands means two slots, which matters because waiting times differ enormously between consulates.

Fees breakdown

Fees are set in euros and collected in dollars at the rate the consulate applies, and the table was revised at the start of 2026. Check the amount and the accepted payment method before the appointment.

How to renew

1. Confirm you are entered in the consular register for the office covering your state, and update your address if you have moved.
2. Book the passport appointment through the ministry’s portal. One person, one appointment, one procedure.
3. Go through the consulate’s checklist and bring originals and a photocopy of each document.
4. Attend in person for fingerprints and the photograph check.
5. Pay the fee in the form the consulate accepts.
6. Collect the passport, which many consulates issue during the appointment itself.

Required documents

• Previous Spanish passport or national identity card.
• Literal Spanish birth certificate, which is essential for anyone born outside Spain and for dual nationals.
• Proof of address within the consular district.
• Photographs to the Spanish specification.
• Photocopies of everything, since the consulate keeps them.
• For minors: both parents present to sign consent before the passport officer.

Where to renew

Consulates general cover assigned states and the embassy covers its own district. Applications go to the office where you are registered as a resident.

Additional notes

Children’s passports

Both parents sign the consent in front of the passport officer, and the document is handed only to a parent or to whoever holds parental authority with a court order proving it.

Lost or stolen passports

Report it to the police and take the report to the consulate as soon as possible, within office hours, rather than waiting for an appointment.

The birth certificate is the bottleneck

Files stall far more often on a missing or outdated literal birth certificate than on the passport application itself. Request it before booking.

Documents in English

Consulates work in Spanish. Official documents in English may need a sworn translation, depending on the procedure.