Expedited Passports at an Acceptance Facility vs. by Mail vs. by Courier
Short answer
Expedited service costs an additional $60 per application and shortens processing no matter where you apply: at an acceptance facility for a DS-11, or by mail for a DS-82 renewal. A registered courier adds a service fee on top but can move your application to an agency by hand — worth it when your timeline is measured in days, not weeks.
Expediting a first-time application (DS-11)
First-time applicants, children, and anyone replacing a lost, stolen, or damaged passport must apply in person on Form DS-11. You can request expedited service at the counter: just tell the acceptance agent and include the additional $60 expedite fee in your payment to the Department of State.
You can also add 1–2 day delivery for the return of your completed passport book. Check the State Department's fee page for the current amounts — our fees guide explains every line item.
Expediting a mail renewal (DS-82)
Renewing by mail? Write "EXPEDITE" on the outside of the envelope, include the expedite fee with your payment, and consider 1–2 day delivery both ways. Mailing time is not counted in the published processing time, so the envelope speed matters.
If you already mailed a routine application and your trip moved closer, you can upgrade to expedited service by contacting the National Passport Information Center with your application details.
When a courier is worth the money
Couriers (also called expediters) are registered with the State Department to submit applications at regional agencies by hand. They charge a service fee — often a few hundred dollars for the fastest turnarounds — in addition to all government fees. They cannot waive eligibility rules, photos, or documentation.
A courier makes sense when you need a passport in days and cannot attend a regional agency yourself, or when no agency appointment is available in your area. For anything more than a few weeks out, standard expedited service is usually enough.
What never speeds things up
Paying for expedited service does not fix an incomplete application. A bad photo, an unsigned form, or a missing document suspends your application and restarts much of the clock — the most expensive delay of all.
Before you pay to go faster, run the document checklist and verify your photo against the official requirements with our free photo 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.