How long until I get my passport?
Current official processing times (as of October 2026): routine service takes 4–6 weeks, expedited service (add $60) takes 2–3 weeks, and urgent travel within 14 days requires an appointment at a passport agency. Mailing time is on top of processing — add up to 2 weeks for delivery, or pay for 1–3 day return shipping. Source: travel.state.gov current processing times; the estimator below turns these into your arrival window.
Service Processing Typical door-to-door Routine 4–6 weeks 6–8 weeks with mailing Expedited (+$60) 2–3 weeks 3–5 weeks with mailing Urgent (travel < 14 days) Agency appointment Days — proof of travel required
| Service | Processing | Typical door-to-door |
|---|---|---|
| Routine | 4–6 weeks | 6–8 weeks with mailing |
| Expedited (+$60) | 2–3 weeks | 3–5 weeks with mailing |
| Urgent (travel < 14 days) | Agency appointment | Days — proof of travel required |
Pick your service tier and application date to see an estimated arrival window — and whether it'll land before your trip.
Shortens the high end of the range by shipping your passport back faster. Not available with Agency/courier.
We'll check whether the estimated window lands before you leave.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a routine passport actually take right now?
As of the State Department's current published guidance, routine passport applications take about 4-6 weeks to process, plus one to two weeks of mailing time on each end — so budget 6 to 10 weeks total from the day you submit your application to the day it lands in your mailbox. Adding the delivery upgrade for faster return shipping trims that to roughly 5 to 8 weeks.
Is expedited processing worth the extra $60?
Expedited service cuts the processing window to 2-3 weeks, which brings your total timeline down to about 4 to 7 weeks (3 to 5 with the delivery upgrade) instead of 6 to 10. If your trip is more than two months out, routine is usually fine and saves the $60; if it's inside that window, expedited buys real margin.
What does the 'agency/courier' option require?
Agency/courier service is the fastest official option — about 3 business days once a regional passport agency has your application — but it's gated: you can only book an appointment if you're traveling internationally within 14 days (or need a foreign visa within 4 weeks), and you must bring proof of that travel, like a flight itinerary, to your appointment.
Why does applying in spring take longer?
Passport demand spikes every year from January through June as people renew ahead of summer travel, and the State Department's own processing times tend to run toward the slower end of the published range during that stretch. Applying in the fall or winter, outside that peak window, generally moves faster.
Where do these processing time estimates come from?
These ranges are based on the U.S. Department of State's publicly posted routine, expedited, and agency/courier processing times at travel.state.gov, which the department updates periodically. Because the department can revise them without much notice, treat this tool's estimate as a planning range, not a guarantee — check travel.state.gov directly before booking non-refundable travel.
Renewing: faster than a first passport
Renewals by mail (Form DS-82, and most adults can now renew online) skip the in-person appointment entirely and move at the same published speeds: 4–6 weeks routine, 2–3 weeks expedited. If you're renewing expedited because of a booked trip, the $60 fee plus 1–3 day return delivery is the fastest mail path; a lost passport close to travel shifts you to the urgent-appointment lane. First-time applicants, children under 16, and anyone with a passport issued before age 16 must apply in person with Form DS-11 — the timeline estimator above already accounts for the difference.
Planning a passport application
