Urgent travel: how to get a U.S. passport fast

Can you get an agency appointment?

under review — see the official source⁶

To ask about an appointment, call the National Passport Information Center: under review — see the official source⁴

You still need the form and documents for your situation: Form DS-82 if you qualify to renew by mail, or Form DS-11 and its documents if not. When you book, ask what proof of your trip to bring.

Not within the window yet? Don't wait for it: apply now with expedited service (see below).

Life-or-death emergencies

under review — see the official source⁷

Call the National Passport Information Center to ask for an emergency appointment. On weekends, federal holidays or outside business hours on weekdays, call the after-hours number instead: under review — see the official source⁵

When you call, ask what proof of the emergency and of your trip you need to bring. The official source lists what is accepted.

Expedited or routine service

If your trip is further away than the appointment window, you can apply by mail or at an acceptance facility. Compare the timelines:

• Routine processing: under review — see the official source³.
• Expedited processing: under review — see the official source¹.
• Mailing can add up to under review — see the official source⁸ each way.
• Your citizenship evidence or old passport comes back up to under review — see the official source⁹ after the new passport.

under review — see the official source¹⁰

Renewing by mail with expedited service? Write "EXPEDITE" on the outside of the envelope and send it to this address:

under review — see the official source¹¹

Applying in person with Form DS-11? Ask for expedited service at the acceptance facility and include the expedite fee in your payment.

Step by step

Checklist

Before you call or go

Print checklist

• Your travel date, and whether you need a foreign visa
• The right form, filled in: Form DS-82, or Form DS-11 left unsigned
• One passport photo that meets the official rules
• Your current passport, or your citizenship evidence and photo ID for Form DS-11
• Any proof of your trip or of the emergency you were asked to bring
• Payment for the government fees
• "EXPEDITE" on the envelope, if you mail an expedited renewal

Do and don't

Do

• Check your passport's expiration date as soon as you plan a trip.
• Pay for faster return delivery of your book if you mail an expedited application and time is tight.
• Keep the National Passport Information Center number with you.

Don't

• Don't renew online if your trip is close: online renewals cannot be expedited.
• Don't wait for the appointment window if you can still apply with expedited service.
• Don't pay a website that says it will renew online for you. under review — see the official source¹²

Fees

These are government fees, separate from any Passmere fee.

For other fees, including child passports and the passport card, see Passport fees.

under review — see the official source¹⁶ under review — see the official source¹⁷

After you apply

Check your status on the official site, under review — see the official source¹⁸. The first "In Process" status can take under review — see the official source¹⁹ from the day you mail your application. More in Track your passport application.

Frequently asked questions