How Long Does It Take to Get a Passport?
Short answer
U.S. passport processing takes several weeks with routine service and roughly half that time with expedited service, not counting mailing time. The State Department updates its published processing times regularly, so check the official processing-times page before you apply — and add up to two extra weeks for your application and new passport to travel through the mail.
The two clocks: processing time and mailing time
When the State Department quotes a processing time, the clock starts the day your application arrives at a processing center — not the day you apply at an acceptance facility or drop your renewal in the mail. Mailing time is separate and applies in both directions: your application getting there, and your new passport coming back.
That means your true timeline is: mail to the agency, plus the published processing time, plus mail back to you. Planning around the published number alone is the most common reason travelers cut it too close.
Routine vs. expedited service
Routine service is the default and costs nothing extra beyond the application and execution fees. Expedited service costs an additional $60 per application and meaningfully shortens the wait. You can request expedited service when you first apply or upgrade a pending application by contacting the National Passport Information Center.
For the fastest return, pair expedited service with 1–2 day delivery for the return of your completed passport book. Both options are listed with current prices on the State Department's fee page — and our fees guide breaks down every line item.
Traveling within 14 days? Use a regional passport agency
If you have urgent international travel within 14 calendar days (or within 28 days if you also need a foreign visa), you can make an appointment at a regional passport agency. Agencies issue passports on a much shorter timeline, but appointments are limited and you must show proof of imminent travel.
Our regional agency directory lists every agency with its phone number and appointment instructions, so you can find the one serving your area.
How to avoid adding weeks to your own application
The single biggest cause of delay is an application the agency has to suspend and write back to you about: a photo that fails requirements, an unsigned form, missing citizenship evidence, or a check made out incorrectly. A suspended application restarts much of the clock.
Before you submit, run through a document checklist for your exact situation and double-check your photo against the official requirements — or make a compliant photo at home with our free tool.
PassportOffices is an independent resource, not a government website. Rules, fees, and processing times change — always confirm details at travel.state.gov before you travel.