How Long Does It Take to Get a Passport? 2026 Wait Times

How long does it take to get a passport right now?

The State Department's published times, updated on 30 September 2026, are 4 to 6 weeks for routine service and 2 to 3 weeks for expedited service. The clock starts when the passport office has your application and stops when your passport ships.

Our advice: treat the top of each range as the real number. A trip 6 weeks out on routine service is a gamble.

Does the passport processing time include mailing?

No. The State Department says mailing times are not part of the processing time. Your application can take up to 2 weeks to reach the passport office, and the finished passport can take another 2 weeks to reach you. So 4 to 6 weeks of routine service can become 8 to 10 weeks from envelope to mailbox.

You can shrink both ends. Send the application overnight with tracking, and pay $26.87 for 1 to 3 day return delivery (the State Department's fee as of 30 September 2026). Return delivery goes to US addresses only and isn't available for passport cards.

Which passport option fits your trip date?

Count the weeks from today to your departure, then pick the row that matches. We'd build in a week of slack, because a holiday week or a missing document eats time fast.

Say you're flying Delta from Atlanta (ATL) to London on 15 January 2027 and you apply on 4 November 2026. Routine service could take until 13 January to reach you, just 2 days before the flight. We'd pay the $60 to expedite and add fast return delivery, which brings the worst case into mid December.

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How do you get a passport in 2 weeks or less?

If you're flying internationally within 14 calendar days, or within 28 days and you need a visa for that country, you can book an in-person appointment at a passport agency or center. Expedited mail service can't reliably beat 2 weeks, so the appointment is your option.

1. Make the appointment. If you haven't applied yet, book online through the State Department's urgent travel page. If you already mailed an application, call 1-877-487-2778.
2. Bring proof of travel. A ticket or itinerary showing international travel within 14 days, or 28 days if you need a foreign visa.
3. Bring the full application. Form DS-11 or DS-82, proof of citizenship, a photo ID with a photocopy, one passport photo and the fees.
4. Ask when to collect it. Travelers on FlyerTalk have reported same-day pickup a few hours after a morning appointment. That's their experience, not a promise, so ask at your appointment.

For a death, hospice care or a life-threatening illness or injury of an immediate family member abroad, with travel inside 14 days, ask for a life-or-death emergency appointment instead.

How long does it take to renew a passport?

Renewing takes the same 4 to 6 weeks routine or 2 to 3 weeks expedited as a new passport. What changes is how you apply: most adults can skip the acceptance facility.

• Renew online if you're 25 or older, your passport expires within 1 year or expired under 5 years ago, you aren't changing your name or sex, and you're in a US state or territory. Online renewals can't be expedited, and aren't for anyone traveling within 6 weeks.
• Renew by mail if your last passport was issued within 15 years, when you were 16 or older, is undamaged and is in your current name. To expedite, write EXPEDITE on the envelope and include the $60 fee.
• Apply in person if you don't meet those rules, if your passport was lost or stolen, or for any child under 16, who can't renew by mail.

Our advice: renew 9 months before your passport expires. Some countries want it valid at least 6 months beyond your trip, so a passport with 5 months left can already stop you at check-in.

How much does a passport cost in 2026?

A first adult passport book costs $165 in total, and renewing one costs $130. The acceptance fee goes to the post office or library that takes your application, separately from the State Department fee.

The passport card is cheaper, but it isn't valid for international flights. It only covers land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean.

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How do you check your passport status?

Check it at passportstatus.state.gov. The State Department also emails updates to the address on your application. Don't panic if it shows nothing at first: the envelope may still be in the mail.

One FlyerTalk traveler who renewed in 2024 found the emails arrived late and out of order, and the status website was more reliable. That's one person's experience, but checking the site yourself costs nothing.

What slows a passport application down?

• The wrong fee. The State Department warns that incorrect fees can delay processing. Make the check payable to U.S. Department of State, and sign it.
• Booking around a passport you don't have yet. Airlines check your passport at check-in. We'd book nonrefundable international flights only once the passport is in hand or the trip is more than 10 weeks away.
• Forgetting the six month rule. Some countries refuse entry if your passport expires within 6 months of your trip, so a valid passport can still be too short. Check the destination's entry rules on the State Department website.

Related: What changes when you book a flight through an OTA

Common questions

How long does it take to get a passport for the first time?

A first passport takes the same time as a renewal: 4 to 6 weeks routine or 2 to 3 weeks expedited, according to the State Department in November 2026. First-time applicants must apply in person at an acceptance facility such as a post office, which adds the $35 acceptance fee. Add up to 2 weeks each way for mailing, so allow about 10 weeks for routine.

Can I get a passport in one week?

Only with an urgent appointment at a passport agency or center, and only if you're traveling internationally within 14 calendar days, or 28 days when you need a foreign visa. Expedited mail service takes 2 to 3 weeks plus mailing, so it won't get a passport to you in one week.

Is expedited passport service worth $60?

Expedited service is worth it when your trip is less than 10 weeks away, because it cuts processing from 4 to 6 weeks down to 2 to 3 weeks. If the State Department doesn't process an expedited application in the stated time, the $60 can be refunded. With months to spare, routine service is fine.

Can I expedite an online passport renewal?

No. The State Department says online renewals can't be expedited, and online renewal isn't meant for anyone traveling within 6 weeks of applying. If your trip is sooner, renew by mail with EXPEDITE written on the envelope and the $60 fee, or book an urgent appointment if you're flying within 14 days.

When does a passport application count as received?

Processing time starts once the passport office has your application, not when you mail it or visit the acceptance facility. Mailing can take up to 2 weeks before processing begins. An overnight trackable service shortens that wait and shows the day it arrived, which helps if you later need to call about a trip.

Does a child's passport take longer to get?

No. A child's passport has the same 4 to 6 week routine and 2 to 3 week expedited times as an adult's. The difference is the paperwork: children under 16 apply in person every time on Form DS-11 and can't renew by mail. The fee for a child's passport book is $100 plus the $35 acceptance fee.

How far ahead of a trip should I apply for a passport?

Apply at least 10 weeks before an international trip if you're using routine service, because 4 to 6 weeks of processing plus up to 2 weeks of mailing each way adds up to about 10 weeks. Inside 10 weeks, pay to expedite. Some countries also want 6 months of validity left after your return.

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