Renewing my 🇺🇸 USA passport while living in Hurghada, Egypt 🇪🇬

If you’re abroad and stressing about the process… don’t. It’s doable, just a little confusing at times 😂

📍 Location: Hurghada, Egypt

⏱️ Timeline:

• Jan 18 – Mailed documents

• Jan 19 – Delivered to U.S. Embassy (Cairo)

• Feb 3 – Processing update

• Feb 4 – Marked as mailed

• March 1 – Email: passport ready (via SLS Embassy Services)

• March 5 – Passport delivered to me 🎉

📝 Step 1: Forms

I downloaded my renewal forms from the official .gov website (link here)

IMPORTANT: You must fill it out ONLINE first, then print it. No handwritten document will be received via mail.

📸 Step 2: Passport Photos

I went to the Hurghada passport office — there’s a photo area right outside.

Got 4 small photos, used 2 for my application.

💳 Step 3: Payment

Paid $130 online for my passport renewal

(Selected the larger book option ✔️ no extra cost)

📦 Step 4: Mailing (VERY IMPORTANT)

I mailed everything via DHL — I personally do NOT recommend local mail. 558.14 EGP

I wanted tracking + delivery confirmation to the U.S. Embassy in Cairo.

💸 Costs Breakdown:

• ~558.14 EGP – DHL shipping

• ~$130 USD – Passport renewal

• ~300 EGP – Passport photos

• ~550 EGP – Delivery from Cairo to Hurghada

⏱️ Timeline:

• Jan 18 – Mailed documents

• Jan 19 – Delivered to U.S. Embassy (Cairo)

• Feb 3 – Processing update

• Feb 4 – Marked as mailed

• March 1 – Email: passport ready (via SLS Embassy Services)

• March 5 – Passport delivered to me 🎉

📍 Real Talk (Important Part)

I got confused when my passport was sent to a third-party service (SLS Embassy Services) unbeknownst to me🤯. The US Embassy site stated it was mailed and I assumed it would be mailed to the address that I provided and where I was living in Hurghada – I was very wrong and this created a bit of stress for me. I reached out to the embassy via phone and email communication and I was instructed to wait for a phone call.

I wasn’t sure if I needed to travel to Cairo to pick it up 😩. I was under the impression it would be mailed directly TO ME👀🤯.

After emailing + WhatsApp communication to a third-party service (SLS Embassy Services), they confirmed they could ship it to Hurghada 🙌🏾

🚚 Final Delivery

• Delivered directly to me (both old + new passport)

• Paid 550 EGP to the driver (confirmed price beforehand because… scams are real 😂)

📲 Communication Tip:

They mostly contacted me via WhatsApp + email

(I used my friend’s Egyptian number to help communicate)

✨ Few more deets:

It took about 6–7 weeks total

The process works, but you have to stay on top of communication especially once you see it says mailed because in my experience it wasn’t mailed to me from the Embassy. The Embassy mailed or sent it to a third party and then I had to coordinate pick up.

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🔗 Links I used:

[.gov passport renewal link]

[DHL tracking link]

[Embassy tracking link]

[SLS Embassy Services]

📸 New Passport in Hand: