How Many Days Will it Take to Get a US Passport?
In order to travel internationally, you must have a passport. This document is required by most countries and allows you to enter their territories without needing a visa.
Obtaining a US passport can take up to four to six weeks,
depending on your location and which type of service you choose.
Routine Service
Getting a US passport is one of the most important things
you can do for yourself and your family. It provides the assurance that you are
a United States citizen and can travel abroad freely without having to go
through visa procedures.
Generally, it takes 12 to 16 weeks to get a passport through
the Routine Service. However, during peak travel times the processing time may
increase.
The Routine Service is typically available at post offices
and other public facilities that submit applications to the State Department.
This service has been available for over 40 years and provides convenience to
travelers and a valuable revenue stream to the Postal Service.
The Routine Service is a relatively easy process that
doesn’t require any additional fees. It’s a good option for those who can wait
the 12- to 16-week processing time.
Expedited Service
For those who need their passports fast, the Expedited
Service is a great option. It costs about half as much as the regular processing
fee and takes only 5-7 weeks to get the passport you need.
This expedited service is available for business travel,
official international trips and other special circumstances. You can apply for
this service by calling one of the 26 passport agencies throughout the US and
scheduling an appointment.
You also qualify for this service if you need to travel
abroad because of a life-threatening situation, such as the death of someone in
your family or a medical emergency. In these cases, you will need to provide
several documents, including a death certificate or a letter from a hospital
that's signed by a doctor.
Routine passport processing can take up to 8 weeks or more,
so it's a good idea to apply at least two months before your trip. However, if
you need your passport in less than that timeframe, it's possible to get a
passport quickly with the help of a liaison service.
Renewal Service
There are several ways to get your passport renewed, but the
quickest is to make an appointment at your local post office. The typical
timeline is for this to take about six weeks, but you can pay an extra $60 fee
to expedite the process to three to five weeks.
You can also go to one of the government’s 29 passport
agencies or centers and apply for a renewal in person. You can also do it
online using Form DS-82.
If you’re renewing for a reason like a life or death
emergency, or for urgent international travel plans within 14 calendar days
that don’t involve COVID restrictions, you can have your renewal processed
immediately at a passport agency or center.
The State Department’s website says that the pent-up demand
for passports is helping to reduce processing times, but it’s still important
to allow time to renew your passport before traveling. That’s because many
international destinations require your passport to be valid for at least six
months past the date of your return flight home.
Fees
A US passport is one of the world’s most desirable travel,
investor, and relocation documents. It’s also a great way to protect yourself
from identity theft and fraudulent activities, and it offers peace of mind when
traveling abroad.
The cost of a new or replacement US passport depends on the
type of document you’re applying for and the type of service you choose. You’ll
pay a government fee for a new passport book, the application and execution
fees (together $135) for minor and adult passports, and an acceptance agent fee
in person at a passport agency or acceptance facility.
The US Department of State’s website has a Passport Fee
Calculator, which gives you a rough estimate of how much you can expect to pay
for the passport you want. You can also check the status of your application
online, or find a nearby passport agency.