Traveling Within 14 Days? How to Get a Regional Passport Agency Appointment
Short answer
If you have urgent international travel within 14 calendar days — or within 28 days if you also need a foreign visa — you can apply in person at one of the State Department's regional passport agencies. Appointments are required, are booked through the National Passport Information Center, and you must bring proof of imminent travel along with a complete application.
Who qualifies for an agency appointment
Regional passport agencies exist for one situation: urgent travel. You qualify if your international departure is within 14 calendar days, or within 28 days when you also need to obtain a foreign visa. Routine renewals with months to spare should go through the normal mail or acceptance-facility process instead.
Life-or-death emergencies — a parent, spouse, child, sibling, or grandparent who has died, is dying, or has a life-threatening illness or injury abroad — follow a separate emergency process and also qualify for an appointment.
How to book
Appointments are made through the National Passport Information Center or the State Department's online appointment system. There is no fee for the appointment itself — never pay a third party for a slot. Appointment availability is limited, so book the moment you know your travel date is inside the window.
You will choose the agency, date, and time. Agencies are located in major cities across the country; our regional agency directory lists every location with its phone number and appointment instructions.
What to bring
Bring proof of imminent international travel: a flight itinerary or ticket showing your name and departure date, or a letter on company letterhead for business travel. Without it, the agency can turn you away even with a valid appointment.
You also need everything a normal application requires: the completed form (DS-11 unsigned, or DS-82), original citizenship evidence, photo ID and photocopies, a compliant passport photo, and payment. An incomplete application wastes the appointment.
If you cannot get an appointment
When no appointment is available in time, a registered passport courier can hand-carry your application to an agency on your behalf. Couriers charge a service fee on top of government fees and still cannot bend eligibility rules — but they solve the logistics of being in the right city.
Our courier directory compares registered services, and the expedited passport guide walks through every faster option ranked by speed.
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.