Important Notes

ZIMBABWE

Passport and Visa update as of 13 Feb 2026

1. Special Issuance Passport - Official Passport Required,
2. Visa required and must be obtained prior to arrival.
1. all visa requests must be routed through the Zimbabwean embassy in Washington DC. 
   

DoD Acceptance Facilities should remain open and provide services during the Shutdown

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

In the event of a government shutdown, U.S. Passport Services are expected to continue operations. Passport and visa services are fee-funded and are not dependent on annual congressional appropriations. 

While passport agencies and centers will remain open, the public should be aware of the following potential impacts:

• Possible Delays: Reduced staffing levels may lead to longer-than-usual processing times for passport applications.  

• Facility Access: Passport agencies located in federal buildings that are closed due to the shutdown may be inaccessible to the public.  

We strongly encourage DoD personnel with upcoming international travel plans to:

• Apply Early: Submit your passport applications well in advance of your departure date to avoid any potential delays.

• Check Agency Status: Before visiting a passport agency, please check its operational status online or by phone.

• Monitor Updates: For the latest information, please refer to the U.S. Department of State's official website. 

In continued joint effort Passport Service Division and U.S. Department of State are committed to processing passport applications as efficiently as possible during this period. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

CHANGES TO EGYPT – BELOW ARE HIGHTLIGHTS FROM Passport Matters Egypt Page-Please read the Egypt page carefully, again these are just highlights.

·         DO NOT CONTACT THE EGYPTIAN EMBASSY DIRECTLY REGARDING APPLICATION STATUS (ONLY Exception is to make the necessary appointment for the in-person interview)

·         ALL APPLICATIONS MUST GO THROUGH A DOD PASSPORT AGENT.

·         INTERVIEWS ARE IN PERSON AND CURRENTLY ARE ONLY BEING HELD AT THE EGYPTIAN EMBASSY DC.   After completion of the in-person interview, applicants must coordinate with PSD and provide the physical ticket (receipt) from the Embassy.  (This ticket is a vital item and must be provided to the PSD team).  Applicants are advise to not exit the DC area without consulting with Passport Services Division visa section.  

·         OCONUS APPLICANTS SHOULD COORDINATE VISA SERVICES THROUGH THEIR DOD AGENT APPLYING WITH THE EMBASSY OR CONSULATE IN THEIR COUNTRY OF ASSIGNMENT AND NOTIFY PASSPORT SERVICES DIVISION WHEN ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED. 

o    OCONUS APPLICANTS ARE NOT TO APPLY OR TRAVEL TO THE EGYPTIAN EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON DC, please work with your DoD agent, ensure the documents are correct and submission to the correct Embassy is coordinated.  

·         GROUP INTERVIEWS FOR UNITS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED, EACH MEMBER IS INDEPENDENT

·         GROUP INTERVIEWS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS TRAVELING TO EGYPT WILL BE AUTHORIZED

·         TRAVELERS 18 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER MUST HAVE AN INTERVIEW

·         ADDITIONAL NOTE:  At this time MFO (OFFICIAL TRAVEL) MUST be interviewed.***

DD-Form 1610, Guidance for use in application of special issuance passport (Effective After November 4, 2024):

• DTS (Defense Travel System) no longer prints the DD Form 1610, DD Form 1351-2, and OF 1164.
• Acceptable Replacements for DoD Passport Program:
• DTS Authorization Sheet (printed as a PDF via the "Print Authorization" function)
• DTS Routing List

Specific Guidance for the DoD Passport Program:

• Acceptable Documents: The DoD Passport Program will now accept the following two documents in lieu of the DD Form 1610 for travelers using DTS:
1. Travel Authorization (DTS "Print Authorization" PDF): This document must contain the "Authorization number" at the top and displays key trip data like departure/destination points, accounting classification, and other trip details.
2. Routing List: This document shows the authorization number and the approval status of the travel authorization .

• Unacceptable Documents (Generally): DD Form 1610s generated after November 4, 2024, will not be accepted from appropriated funds personnel for passport and visa processing due to their being manually created outside of DTS,
• Acceptable Exceptions: DD Form 1610 generated after November 4, 2024, may be accepted only from below agencies:

• Guantanamo Bay Cuba: DoD Travelers still need to provide DD-1610 that has been manually completed and printed from WHS site to show arrival, departures and leave to show to Cuban authorities.
• Non-Appropriated Fund (NAF) Personnel: NAF employees use the "Concur" system (not DTS). They are authorized to provide a manually created DD Form 1610 with a digital or CAC signature from their travel authority and displays the travel details because Concur does not have a display sheet. The DD form must include travel funding lines and travel requirements. They must also provide proof of NAF employment (Notification of Personnel Action), and their salary is not allocated by congress.
• American Red Cross personnel: must provide a manual DD-1610 with digital or CAC signature from their travel authority. The Form is maintained at WHS.MIL and is used to display the travel details.
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) personnel must provide a manual DD-1610s with digital or CAC signature from their travel authority. The Form is maintained at WHS.MIL and is used to display the travel details.

Actionable Steps for DoD Travelers (Using DTS):

1. After November 4, 2024 (and if not an exempt agency): You MUST use the Travel Authorization (PDF print from DTS) AND the Routing List. Ensure your Travel Authorization fully identifies approval(verify on the Routing List) before submitting.
2. If you are prompted to complete the DD-1610, access it from [esd.whs.mil]. (Under exceptional case and coordinated through PSD
3. If you are working for an exempt agency: You can manually generate from [esd.whs.mil]. This exception does not include all DoD appropriated funds employees.

If there are any additional questions please have travelers contact PSD Customer Service Team for assistance. 

FYSA: Italy Mission Visa Process

Italy Visa processing is to continue without modification to the process.  (24 Jan 2024)

Please continue to follow the information posted on Passport Matters and if there are any questions contact the Customer Service Team at Passport Services Division.   

Processing of all special issuance passports in support of a mission visa for entry to Italy is unchanged and currently operating under normal conditions.  

Subject: Access to the Foreign Clearance Guide

APACS and FCG NIPR net Outage - Wednesday, 09 October 2024, 0900-1300 ET. 

DISA will be performing a scheduled maintenance outage on the APACS and FCG

NIPR net websites.  The websites will not be accessible during this time.

DoD Agents with questions regarding requirements should contact Customer Service, PSD Fort Belvoir for assistance

• Customer Service , usarmy.pentagon.hqda-oaa-det.mbx.det-ppv-customer-service@army.mil
• (703)-545-0004 / 0005

Good Day DoD Passport Program Team;

X Gender Marker Special Issuance Passport Rollout delay

As many may be aware the Department of State is continuing to prepare for the rollout of special issuance passports with X gender markers (X-SIPs). This change affects many of the Department’s partners across the federal government. To adequately address the concerns of the interagency and ensure the smooth implementation of the process, the Department of State has delayed the October rollout date announced June 28, 2024. The rollout is still anticipated to occur in CY-2024, and a new date will be shared as soon as it is set.

DoD Acceptance Agents are advised they are not to accept applications listing “X” as the gender marker selection when intake is for Special Issuance Passports (SIP) until the appropriate guidance from OMB, OPM and DoD on implementation has been provided.  DoD Passport Services Division Fort Belvoir Va. will provide additional information to DoD Acceptance Agents as it is available.

Current DS11 form version, OMB Control No. 1405-0004 Expiration Date: 04-30-2025

Current DS82 form version, OMB Control No. 1405-0020 Expiration Date: 04-30-2025.

DoD Acceptance Agents CONUS AND OCONUS are reminded and advised that the presentation of a tourist passport application in support of DoD official travel (Taiwan etc. ) must meet the same qualifications for intake as other Special Issuance Passports.  Until further notice tourist passport applications presented under official movement associated to bona fide orders may not be accepted by DoD Agents when presented with the “X” Gender marker selected. 

DoD Acceptance Agents OCONUS are advised that the presentation of tourist passport applications for intake may not be turned away.  DoD Agents are to accept the tourist passport application and forward IAW current guidance to DOS with either one of the 3 markers bearing in mind that the X-gender identifier does not have to match the applicants Id presented, previous passport or  evidence of citizenship provided.  Refer to the DS-11 and DS-82 instructions for guidance or contact PSD, Fort Belvoir Va. for appropriate guidance.

DS forms Note 3:

Gender: The gender markers used are “M” (male), “F” (female) and “X” (unspecified or another gender identity). The gender marker that you check on this form will appear in your passport regardless of the gender marker(s) on your previous passport and/or your supporting evidence of citizenship and identity. If changing your gender marker from what was printed on your previous passport, select “Yes” in this field on Application Page 1. If no gender marker is selected, we may print the gender as listed on your supporting evidence or contact you for more information. Please Note: We cannot guarantee that other countries you visit or travel through will recognize the gender marker on your passport. Visit travel.state.gov/gender for more information.

The receipt of a tourist passport with a gender marker not identical to that presented on the members Special Issuance passport will have no impact on the types of passports.

If the DoD community has questions on the presented information please contact Customer Service, DoD Passport Service Division Fort Belvoir Va.,

• Customer Service , usarmy.pentagon.hqda-oaa-det.mbx.det-ppv-customer-service@army.mil
• (703)-545-0004 / 0005

9/23/2024 Update: The Israeli Embassy will be closed on the dates below due to Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. Be advised that this may impact the ability to deliver or retrieve visas on or around these dates. Additionally, on October 2nd, 11th, 16th, and 23rd, there will be reduced embassy operational hours. 

• September 27th, 2024
• October 3rd, 2024
• October 4th, 2024
• October 17th, 2024
• October 18th, 2024
• October 24th, 2024
• October 25th, 2024