New Second Passports Are Now Valid for Four Years

Getting a second passport can be a bit of a challenge, and the reason for requesting one must fall under one of two categories. The first is primarily for political reasons — some countries will deny you entry if you have a stamp from another country in your passport. For example, there are reports that numerous Middle Eastern countries have denied travelers entry if they have an Israeli stamp in their passport. Additionally, a second passport could be obtained if a passport is needed immediately but is unavailable due to delays processing a foreign visa application.

In the past, a second passport was only valid for only two years, but as Allied Passport & Visa pointed out to us, the State Department recently changed its rules, and a second passport is now valid for four years. The State Department made the change without any warning, so if you've been debating on getting a second passport, now's a better time than ever to do so. To get a second passport, you'll need to complete Form DS-82, and the other requirements are the same as those for renewing a passport, but you also must send in a letter detailing why you need a second passport.

If you're planning on getting a second passport with the new four-year validity, TPG recommends using a third-party service like Allied Passport & Visa, especially because all of the steps can be complicated. When TPG needs to renew his passport, or if he needs a visa, he goes to Allied Passport & Visa for quick and efficient service. Mention The Points Guy on your order form to get a $5 discount just for TPG readers.