Proper Use of Passports

The following information was provided by the Department of State (DOS) Passport Services office regarding the Department of State's policy on the use of "Official and Diplomatic" passports and is supplemented by USDA Regulations.

Required Use Policy

A USDA employee SHALL NOT use their personal passport to travel overseas to conduct official U.S. Government business. In compliance with DOS and USDA Departmental regulation, Departmental Manual-2300-005, International Travel Procedures USDA employees traveling to a foreign country conducting official business for his/her Agency SHALL travel using either an "Official or Diplomatic" passport. In recent discussions with the DOS's Passport Services office we were advised that based on the type and use of passports as governed by Code of Federal Regulations - Title 22: Foreign Relations the law requires the use of an "Official or Diplomatic" passport for travel to foreign countries to conduct official U.S. Government business. There are no exceptions other than those stated below.

Excemptions to the Required Use Policy

U.S. Government employees traveling to Taiwan in any official capacity must use a personal passport. If the employee requests that the Government provide the "Personal" passport at the Government's expense, then the employee must return the passport to the Government (Travel Management Branch) within 5 days after returning from the trip.

Prohibited Use

U.S. Government employees traveling abroad on personal travel shall not use an "Official or Diplomatic" passport in any capacity.

U.S. Government employees detailed to a private or international organization shall not use an "Official or Diplomatic" passport. The fact that the Government employee's salary is still being paid by the employee's agency does not constitute a reason to use an "Official or Diplomatic" passport.

Provisional Use

Employees must use their special issuance passport to enter and depart the country of assignment, and for return to the United States from the country of assignment. The special issuance passport may also be presented at any required stops in transit. TDY travel (including travel for training) that originates from an overseas assignment should be conducted using a special issuance passport, with visas as required.

Use of a special issuance passport is authorized, but not required, for R&R or medevac travel. However, destination country requirements may make it advisable to present a regular passport – e.g. a country that requires a visa for travel on a special issuance passport but does not for a regular passport. In such instances the special issuance passport would be used to exit and re-enter the country of assignment, and the regular passport would be used to enter and exit the R&R or medevac destination.

A regular passport must be used for all personal travel (except when entering or exiting the country of assignment abroad).