You don’t have to fill in the emergency contact on a passport application. The field is optional on both the DS-11 and the DS-82, and your passport will be issued whether you complete it or leave it blank.1U.S. Department of State. Application for a U.S. Passport DS-11 But it’s one of the few parts of the form that costs you nothing and can matter enormously if something goes wrong overseas, so most travelers should fill it in.
Where the Field Is and What It Asks
On the DS-11, used for new passports, the emergency contact section is Item 20. On the DS-82, used for renewals, it’s Item 19. Both ask for someone who is not traveling with you.
The DS-11 collects the contact’s name, street address, city, state, zip code, phone number, relationship to you, and date of birth.1U.S. Department of State. Application for a U.S. Passport DS-11 The DS-82 asks for the same core information but splits the phone number into home, cell, and work fields.2U.S. Department of Commerce. DS-82 U.S. Passport Renewal Application Neither form asks for an email address for the contact.
The Emergency Contact Page Inside the Booklet
Separate from the application, the passport booklet itself has a dedicated space on pages four and five where you handwrite emergency contact details. This is what a hospital, police officer, or bystander sees if they open your passport while you can’t speak for yourself.
Use a pen, and write legibly. If your contact changes after a divorce, a death, or just a new phone number, cross out the old details and write in the new ones. You don’t need a new passport to update this page. It’s one of the few parts of the document you’re expected to maintain yourself.
What Happens When the Field Is Blank
Consular officers rely on that contact information in situations where time is the scarce resource.
- If you’re hospitalized abroad and can’t speak for yourself, consular officers use the contact to notify your family and help coordinate care. Without a name on file, they have to find relatives through other channels.
- When a U.S. citizen dies overseas, federal guidance directs consular officers to notify next of kin as soon as possible. A listed contact shortens that process.3Foreign Affairs Manual. 7 FAM 220 – Notification and Reporting of Deaths of U.S. Citizens Abroad
- During natural disasters or civil unrest, embassies work through emergency contacts to account for U.S. citizens and pass their status to families at home.4U.S. Department of State. Crisis Response and Evacuations
- If your passport is lost or stolen, officials sometimes need to confirm your identity or help arrange emergency funds through someone who knows you.
None of these situations are common. All of them move faster with a phone number already on file.
Who to List
Pick someone reliably reachable by phone, who knows your travel plans, and who can make decisions under pressure. A spouse, parent, sibling, or close friend all work. The person’s ability to answer the phone and act matters more than the specific relationship. Don’t list anyone traveling with you, since the purpose is to have a contact back home.
If you have medical conditions or take specific medications, tell your contact before you leave. Consular officers can pass information between your contact and overseas medical providers, but only if the contact actually knows your history.
What Your Contact Will Actually Be Told
Listing someone doesn’t give them open access to your records. The Privacy Act of 1974 limits what officials can disclose about you, and generally records from a Privacy Act system cannot be shared without your written consent.5Foreign Affairs Manual. 7 FAM 060 – The Privacy Act and American Citizens Services
Two exceptions do the practical work. A routine use exception lets consular officers share information with family when you can’t provide written consent and are involved in an emergency, provided the release benefits you. A broader health-or-safety exception allows disclosure to anyone reasonably expected to help you when compelling circumstances affect your health or safety.5Foreign Affairs Manual. 7 FAM 060 – The Privacy Act and American Citizens Services Your contact will get enough to understand the situation and help coordinate a response, but not a full file of medical or legal detail.
Add STEP for Real-Time Coverage
The contact on your application is static. It sits in a database and doesn’t change unless you submit a new application. The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is the moving piece. It’s a free State Department service that lets you register each trip so the nearest embassy or consulate knows where you are and can reach you or your contact during a crisis.6U.S. Department of State. STEP – Smart Traveler Enrollment Program
Enrolled travelers also receive destination-specific alerts about security threats, health risks, natural disasters, and transportation disruptions. Enrollment is free through the State Department’s travel portal.7U.S. Department of State. Smart Traveler Enrollment Program
Filling in the field on the application, writing the same details on pages four and five of the booklet, and enrolling in STEP before each trip together cover the realistic scenarios where someone would need to reach your people on your behalf.