U.S. Embassy in Lesotho

Passport Renewal by Mail Accepting Online Payments

Please note that the online fee option is limited to U.S. citizens residing in South Africa and Lesotho. Online fee payment is currently available for passport book renewals only. If you wish to renew or apply for a passport card, you must make an appointment to apply in person at the Embassy or Consulate nearest you.

Applicants who wish to apply for their passport renewal in person may still do so. This requires an appointment and paying the fees to our cashier at the Consular Section. Click here to schedule an in-person appointment.

Eligibility Requirements for U.S. Citizen Adult Passport Renewals

To use the online payment system, you must answer YES to all of the following:

1. I can submit my most recent U.S. passport book by mail with my renewal application;
2. I was at least 16 years old when my most recent passport book was issued;
3. I was issued my most recent U.S. passport book less than 15 years ago;
4. My most recent U.S. passport book has a validity of 10 years from issuance to expiration;
5. My most recent U.S. passport book was issued in my current name (or I can document my name change by submitting a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order with my passport application;) and
6. I currently reside in and/or have a valid mailing address in South Africa and Lesotho.

If you do not meet these criteria, please see “Apply for a Passport” for instructions on making an appointment to submit a passport application in person at the Embassy or Consulate nearest you.

Instructions for DS-82 Processing by Mail and Online Fee Payment – for U.S. citizens residing in South Africa and Lesotho:

Step 1: SIGN and complete the DS-82 Passport Renewal Form. Type or print clearly in blank ink.  Be sure to SIGN and Date the form after you print it. See example (PNG 706KB)

*NOTE: You must provide a Social Security number, if you been issued one. If you do not have a Social Security number, please click here.

Step 2: Obtain one WHITE background color passport photo 2” x 2” (5 x 5 cm) taken within the past 6 months; no eyeglasses. See more information on photo requirements.

Step 3: Include one photocopy (color or black and white) of the data page of your previous U.S. passport.

Step 4: Include the passport you are renewing in the package you mail to the Embassy.  You must include the old passport, which will be returned to you with the new passport. Any visas in the old passport will remain valid.

Step 5: Name change documents (if applicable) (original + 1 photocopy)

If you would like to change the name on your new passport due to marriage, divorce, or court order, please include proof of your name change. Documents must be original with English translation if applicable (ex. Marriage certificate, Divorce Decree, Court Order)

Step 6: Pay the $130 passport application fee via the U.S. government’s secure payment site. After successfully paying the fee, you must print out the electronic payment confirmation you receive via email and include it in the package you send to the embassy/consulate.

Step 7: Obtain a pre-paid, self-addressed envelope from DHL using the complete address to which you want your new passport sent within South Africa or Lesotho.

NOTE: We strongly encourage you to use DHL to courier your documents to us, and you MUST use DHL for your return pre-paid courier service envelope that you include with your application.)

IMPORTANT: Include a return address on BOTH the mailing and self-addressed envelope! (All envelopes without a return address will be rejected).

Step 8: Courier all the items listed above to the U.S. Consulate General in Johannesburg in South Africa at the below address. You are strongly encouraged to send your DS-82 passport renewal package via courier. See example (JPG 31KB)

U.S. Consulate General Johannesburg
Attn: Consular – American Citizen Services
1 Sandton Drive, Sandhurst, 2196
Johannesburg, South Africa

Step 9: Your new passport will be delivered using your pre-paid, self-addressed envelope. Passport processing takes approximately four weeks.