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• International Parental Child Abduction in Progress . To report a child abduction in progress, call 1-888-407-4747 from the U.S. and Canada or + 1 202-501-4444 from outside the United States.
• Lost or Stolen Passport . Report your physical U.S. passport lost or stolen immediately to protect yourself from identity theft.
• U.S. Passport or Visa Fraud . If you are aware of, or have been a victim of, fraud associated with a U.S. passport or U.S. visa application, please contact [email protected].

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U.S. passports

Find out how to apply for or renew a passport and what to do if your passport is lost or stolen.

Apply for a new adult passport

You need a passport to travel to most countries outside the U.S. Learn how to apply in person.

Renew an adult passport

Find out if you can renew your passport or have to get a new one. Learn how to renew your passport by mail or in person in an emergency.

Get a passport for a minor under 18

Find out how to get a child's passport, depending on their age.

Lost or stolen passports

If your passport is lost or stolen you must report it to the State Department right away. How you replace it depends on if you are inside or outside the U.S.

Need A New U.S. Passport Fast? Here’s How You Can Speed Up the Process

From emergency travel to suddenly realizing your passport has expired right before a big international trip, there are numerous situations that might require a quick passport turnaround..

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Sometimes we need a new passport sooner than we realized.

Photo by Shutterstock

Whether last-minute travel plans have suddenly sprung up or a big international trip is here before you had time to double-check the expiration date on your passport, it’s not uncommon for travelers to have to expedite their U.S. passport applications.

Several other situations might require a new or renewed passport in a hurry as well. For example, some countries don’t permit entry if your passport has less than six months of validity. Some international destinations, like South Africa, require that you have at least two consecutive blank pages in your passport book. It’s important to check the U.S. State Department’s website for each country’s visa and passport requirements or contact your airline or travel agency before you hit the road to make sure that your travel documents will be accepted upon arrival.

The process (for both renewing and getting a new passport quickly ) is fairly similar to the regular application process , which can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Due to a big surge in demand for new and renewed U.S. passports—the U.S. State Department processed nearly 22 million passports in 2022, more than at any point since tallying began in 1974— standard passport processing times inched back up in early 2023.

Here’s what you need to know to get a passport in your hands as quickly as possible.

How long does it take to get an expedited passport?

During the pandemic, even expedited services experienced a massive slowdown. Thankfully, both regular and rushed passport processing times started to come down toward the end of 2021. But in early 2023, regular passport processing times crept back up due to a massive influx in applications—the standard processing period is 8 to 11 weeks, according to a March 2023 update from the State Department, up from the 6 to 9 weeks for a routine passport application in January 2023.

If you apply for an expedited passport directly though the U.S. State Department, processing times are about 5 to 7 weeks, according to a March 7 update —but that doesn’t include mail delivery times, which according to the State Department can add “several weeks” to the total processing time.

“Processing times begin the day we receive your application at a passport agency or center, not the day you mail your application or apply. Mailing times may add several weeks on to the door-to-door time it takes to receive your passport,” the State Department reports.

Nevertheless, the 5- to 7-week time frame is down from the 12 to 18 weeks the agency had estimated for expedited passport service during the pandemic. For a faster turnaround, an expeditor like RushMyPassport.com offers services that are as speedy as one or two weeks, but it’ll cost: The fastest one-week service is about $800. At press time, RushMyPassport.com offered expedited passport services ranging from 1 to 10 weeks from the time documents are received by the agency.

If you need it within 7 weeks, you can still do it yourself

If you have a life-or-death emergency or urgent international travel coming up within 14 days, you can make an in-person appointment at one of the 26 passport agencies throughout the United States. You must have an appointment to visit an agency, and the only way to make an appointment is by calling 1-877-487-2778.

You can also apply via mail. The window for expediting is 5 to 7 weeks, but as mentioned above that doesn’t include mail delivery times, which can vary widely across the country.

How to apply for an expedited passport

Don’t wait until you’re at the airport to find out your passport isn’t travel ready.

Photo by Africa Studio/Shutterstock

To apply for a rushed passport, begin at the State Department’s website , where a handy checklist will keep you from making a mistake that could slow down the process. The $60 expediting fee (plus overnight shipping) is not refundable, so make sure you have dotted all your i’s and crossed all your t’s when applying. This fee is in addition to the standard $130 application fee—so $190 total for the expedited passport service (not including shipping). First-time applicants are charged an additional $35 execution fee.

If you want the expedited service, you need to send your application using Priority Mail Express with the U.S. Postal Service. The State Department recommends that applicants send their application via trackable mail so that applicants can know exactly when it arrives and enters the system. Travelers can also opt for one- to two-day return delivery of their passport for an extra $19.53, to help speed things along somewhat.

If you score an appointment to apply in person, you must use form DS-11. To apply by mail, you’ll need to use the form DS-82 (you can download these forms here ). Submitted forms must be single-sided and printed clearly. Complete the application online before printing it out or by hand in black or blue ink; remember to write “expedited” on the envelope and include two recent photos that meet the passport photo specifications. If applying by mail, you must include a check; if applying in person, find out what methods of payment are allowed at your specific acceptance facility.

You can renew your passport by mail and can begin the process online as long as you are in possession of your expired or expiring passport; your passport was issued when you were age 16 or older; it was issued within the past 15 years; and it was issued to your current name or you have documentation to support a name change. Children under 16, all first-time applicants, and applicants who have lost their passport or had it stolen must apply in person.

You can make a free appointment ahead of time but spaces are limited—passport agencies and acceptance facilities are not accepting walk-in services and require advance appointments. Acceptance facilities include post offices, clerks of court, libraries, and local government offices. If you want to apply at a post office, you need to make an appointment at USPS.com . Other acceptance facilities may be requiring advance appointments as well.

Passport agency appointments must be scheduled over the phone by calling 1-877-487-2778 or 1-888-874-7793 TDD/TTY between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. The online appointment system was disabled after an underground market developed; third parties using bots would secure urgent appointments and then sell them to travelers in a bind. Many of these were not even legitimate appointments.

How an expeditor can (and can’t) help

Expediting agencies are companies that assist with rushed passport applications. They charge an additional fee (on top of the standard passport application fee and expedited passport service fee) but can often help navigate the ins and outs of the expediting process. Services like RushMyPassport.com double-check your application before it gets submitted and catch any errors or snags that might slow it down. The fastest turnaround time RushMyPassport.com offers is one week for $799 or a two-week option for $599. Even these can be limited in availability since expeditors also rely on a subset of appointments being available.

David Alwadish, CEO and founder of ItsEasy Passport & Visa , notes that the expediting slots get snatched up quickly. ItsEasy Passport & Visa currently charges $45 for its four-week passport processing service and $895 for one-day service. “One- to three-day passport service requires urgent travel. Please contact us for details,” the agency advises. Do-it-yourselfers can also use his company’s ItsEasy Passport App to submit applications for standard passport processing.

If you need it within 24 to 72 hours, try going to an agency in person

If it’s a life-or-death emergency , such as an illness, injury, or a death in your immediate family, getting an emergency appointment at an agency in person is the only option. Instead of wasting a day with overnight shipping, you can save valuable time by going in-person—even if you have to fly to a passport agency in the departure city of your international flight. In these circumstances, it can take anywhere between 24 and 72 hours depending on where you apply and if you can provide accepted documentation, such as a death certificate or signed documentation from medical personnel.

One final tip . . .

The best thing you can do to avoid paying extra for expediting your passport is to set a calendar reminder for nine months before the expiration date of your current valid passport, for those who have one. At that point, you can look ahead at your travels and figure out the best 18-week period to apply—one where, ideally, you know you won’t be heading abroad. If you travel frequently enough that such a period is hard to identify, you may want to look into the option of applying for a second passport .

This article was originally published in 2019. It was updated on March 7, 2023, to include current information.

clock This article was published more than  2 years ago

How to navigate the massive passport delays, for every trip scenario

No, you can’t throw money at the problem this time

For those just realizing they need to get or renew a passport for upcoming summer travel, you may need to rethink your trip.

“It’s not impossible, but it’s not realistic,” says Peter Vlitas, senior vice president of airline relations at travel services company Internova Travel Group .

Here’s the issue: Instead of the standard wait time of 6 to 8 weeks to get a passport, the time is now closer to 12 to 18 weeks, the State Department has said , thanks to a backlog of 1.5 million to 2 million passport requests caused by pandemic delays. Worse yet, on Wednesday evening, the State Department shut down its online appointment system after scammers were found exploiting emergency assistance bookings.

Unfortunately, travelers can’t beg at the doors of a passport office or try to throw money at the problem. The pandemic has changed the way the system works, eliminating the loopholes that once allowed for passport Hail Marys.

So who can get a passport and when? We broke down the process by scenario to help travelers navigate the document limbo.

If you have a life-or-death emergency

People who may be able to get a passport according to the pre-covid schedule are those with a life-or-death emergency. Travelers can call the appropriate passport office phone number (which changes depending on the time of day or day of the week) to make an appointment. Travelers will then need to provide proof of the emergency — such as a death certificate or letter from a hospital — as well as proof of international travel plans, along with their passport application.

Once approved, applicants can get a passport within 72 hours, or 3 business days. (That being said, the State Department still says it cannot guarantee that you’ll get your passport in time for travel.)

If you have a particularly compelling case that doesn’t fall under the standard life-or-death requirements, travel adviser Desiree Overhage says to call your U.S. representative’s office and explain your situation.

“There are success stories, where the office was able to assist in securing a rush appointment,” she says.

If you’re traveling in the next 72 hours

The only way someone can get a passport in a hurry is if they are traveling internationally in the next 72 hours and can get one of what the State Department calls “ extremely limited number of appointments .” But don’t get your hopes up. With millions of travelers stuck in the passport backlog, “extremely limited” is no exaggeration.

Vlitas says a recent customer discovered his son’s passport was expired a few days before a family trip to Greece and Italy. He called the passport office appointment line from midnight to 8 a.m. to no avail.

“Unfortunately, he was not successful so we had to then help him rearrange a new trip because it just wasn’t going to happen,” Vlitas says. “There are a lot of incidences like that.”

Passport delayed? 5 places you can go without one.

If you can wait three months

If your trip is in the next 12-18 weeks, your situation may be a little better than those hoping to depart sooner.

Travelers can pay an additional $60 and apply for an expedited mail-in service, but they will still have to wait up to three months (six weeks for processing and six weeks for mailing, the State Department says).

Skip the third-party expedited services … for now

In the past, travelers may have turned to expensive but handy services to get passports sooner. That is not an option at this time.

“They have not opened up the expedited services for outside agencies to go and process passports,” Vlitas says.

Travelers may come across companies promising to defy the odds and get passports to customers sooner than the State Department estimates. But be warned. According to the Better Business Bureau , passport expediting scams are on the rise, costing travelers money as well as exposing them to identity theft.

“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” Laura Ratliff, editorial director of TripSavvy , says, warning travelers that any third-party service charging to expedite your passport application in a few days or weeks is probably illegitimate.

You may still want to use a legitimate third-party service like a travel adviser to handle your passport problems, even though they can’t make the process go faster.

American tourists are back in Europe, but so are covid restrictions

See if you can use your expiring passport anyway

Normally, your passport needs to be valid for at least six months after the start of your trip (although requirements vary by country) to travel internationally.

But because of the bureaucratic chaos during the pandemic, many countries made agreements with the United States to extend the passport validity rule for an additional six months after expiration.

Note that your passport still needs to be valid for the duration of your trip , but unlike in pre-pandemic times, if it’s expiring within six months, you will still be able to travel.

Tales from the ‘car rental apocalypse’: How travelers are coping

Wait for the process to speed up

In a State Department news briefing earlier this month, spokesperson Ned Price said the government is “surging staff, and that includes both adjudicators and contractors, back into the office” and will “continue to look for ways that we might seek and be able to accelerate passport processing.”

But members of Congress are calling for more action. On July 22, 200 members of Congress signed a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the National Passport Information Center addressing the issue, Politico reported .

“ There’s a lot of heat now, so the U.S. government might add more staff to try to process because now it’s become front-page news,” Vlitas says.

Postpone your trip 12 to 18 weeks

While it’s not what you want to hear, you might not be able to get a passport to salvage your summer trip.

For now, Jen Moyse, senior director of product for travel management company TripIt , says if a passport is expired or the deadline is looming, travelers should play it safe and book their international trips at least six months in advance to allow enough time to secure a usable passport.

More travel tips

Vacation planning: Start with a strategy to maximize days off by taking PTO around holidays. Experts recommend taking multiple short trips for peak happiness . Want to take an ambitious trip? Here are 12 destinations to try this year — without crowds.

Cheap flights: Follow our best advice for scoring low airfare , including setting flight price alerts and subscribing to deal newsletters. If you’re set on an expensive getaway, here’s a plan to save up without straining your credit limit.

Airport chaos: We’ve got advice for every scenario , from canceled flights to lost luggage . Stuck at the rental car counter? These tips can speed up the process. And following these 52 rules of flying should make the experience better for everyone.

Expert advice: Our By The Way Concierge solves readers’ dilemmas , including whether it’s okay to ditch a partner at security, or what happens if you get caught flying with weed . Submit your question here . Or you could look to the gurus: Lonely Planet and Rick Steves .

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Passport Appointments Available

We now accept appointments for passports. More details here . 

Passport Services

Click here to book your appointment

About our passport services

Our customer service centers accept only DS-11 applications for first-time applicants, minor renewals and certain qualifying adult renewals (DS-11 form only). The standard adult renewal (DS-82 form) is mail-in only.

Please expect to wait 15-20 minutes past your appointment time to meet with a representative. 

You can also apply for a U.S. passport card , which is valid for land and sea crossings between the United States and Canada, Mexico and the Carribean. The card is not valid for travel by air.

Passport hours vary by location. See the individual customer service center location pages for details. The Downtown Customer Service Center and the Mobile Customer Service Center do not accept passport applications.

What to submit with your completed application

Make sure you have the following items when visiting a customer service center to apply for a passport:

• State-certified birth certificate, a previous U.S. passport or an original certificate of naturalization. These will be returned to you, in a separate envelope, around the same time you receive your new passport. Children under 16 must always submit an original birth certificate, even when renewing and submitting a previous passport. Hospital certificates, photocopies and keepsake certificates are not accepted.
• One current, color passport photo . Passport photos are 2 inches by 2 inches, with a white background.
• A primary photo ID . (See list of qualifying identification documents on the travel.state.gov website.)
• We will collect two separate payments with each application. One payment will be to the U.S. Department of State. The other payment is an acceptance fee for the City of Seattle.

Other important information

• Customers who have a life-or-death emergency or urgent travel within three business days, should get more information at travel.state.gov .
• If you apply for the passport book and passport card at the same time, you pay one acceptance fee only.
• For passports, we cannot accept credit or debit cards as a form of payment . You must be able to pay with check or money order.
• All applicants, even minors, must appear in person.
• For children under the age of 16, both parents must be present or have a notarized consent form from the absent parent, as well as a front and back copy of the parent's driver's license.
• If you need your passport within 14 days, call the U.S. Passports agency for an appointment: Phone: 1 (877) 487-2778 Hours: Monday-Friday, 6 a.m.-midnight eastern time
• Additional information and forms are available on the U.S. Department of State's website at travel.state.gov .

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Thousands of Post Offices ™ accept first-time passport applications for the U.S. Department of State. Most of those locations can also take your passport photo.

• Renewing Passports : If you answer 'Yes' to all 5 eligibility questions in the " Renew a Passport by Mail " section, mail your renewal form directly to the State Department. If you don't meet all the renewal requirements, you'll need to go to a Post Office in person and do a new, first-time passport application.
• First-Time Passports (and Passport Photos) : Schedule your in-person appointment online.

Schedule an Appointment

Alert: --> online scheduler to make an appointment for passport services to ensure the safety of our employees and customers. The State Department has extremely limited passport services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Expect significant delays of several months before receiving your new U.S. passport. Learn More

Alert: Please use our online scheduler , a Post Office lobby self-service kiosk, or visit a Post Office retail counter to make an appointment for first-time passport and photo services. Alternatively, find a location near you with passport walk-in acceptance hours.

First-Time Passports

First-time applicants and people who aren’t allowed to get a new passport by mail.

Apply at a Post Office

Expedited Delivery

Renewing Passports

Most people renewing a passport should mail their application directly to the State Department.

Renew by Mail

Passports for Minors

Passports for children under 16 have special requirements. Make sure you are prepared.

Apply for a First-Time Passport

If you've never had a U.S. passport, are 16 or under, or aren't allowed to renew an existing passport by mail, you need to apply for a new passport in person at the Post Office.

Step 1: Gather Documents Early

Generally, you should apply for your new passport as soon as you know you’ll be traveling internationally—at least several months in advance. Passport processing times may vary, so be sure to check the latest State Department service estimates . First-time applicants, minors, and applicants who need a new passport but may not renew by mail may submit their passport application at the Post Office. The U.S. State Department website explains what you'll need to bring with you.

• Application forms (unsigned)
• Proof of identity document and a photocopy of the front and back
• Proof of U.S. Citizenship document and a photocopy of the front and back
• Passport fees

Apply for a Passport in Person

Step 2: Prepare Your Application Package

Visit the U.S. Department of State website to learn how to apply for a passport and what documents you need.

• Complete your Form DS-11 Application for U.S. Passport on the State Department website.
• Print your completed application. DO NOT SIGN YOUR APPLICATION. A Postal employee must witness your signature.
• Have a passport photo taken.
• Photocopy your proof of identity and U.S. Citizenship documents.
• Post Offices accept credit cards, checks, and money orders for Post Office acceptance fees.
• State Department fees are mailed with your application. You can pay with a personal, certified, cashier's, traveler's check, or money order, payable to "U.S. Department of State."

Get Started on Your Application

Step 3: Schedule an Appointment

Post Offices that offer passport services have set hours, and you'll need to schedule an appointment using the online Retail Customer Appointment Scheduler or a Post Office lobby self-service kiosk.

Scheduling Online

• Go to Schedule an Appointment .
• Choose the passport service you need, along with the number of adults and minors who need appointments.
• You can search for appointment by location or date first. If you search by location first, you'll then be asked to choose a date and time; if you search by date first, you'll then need to choose a location and time.
• After you choose your appointment location and time, provide your contact information, and agree to the Terms and Conditions.
• Click Review Appointment , then confirm your appointment.

If you need to modify or cancel your appointment, click the Manage Appointments tab and enter your confirmation number and email address or phone number.

Using a Self-Service Kiosk

• Go to a Post Office location with lobby self-service kiosks. Find USPS Locations
• At the self-service kiosk, touch the screen to begin, then select "Other Services," then "Passport Scheduler."
• Choose the passport service you need, then enter the number of adults and minors who need appointments.
• Search for Post Office locations by ZIP Code™ or City/State and choose a location.
• Select an available appointment date and time, then agree to the Terms and Conditions.
• Enter your contact information and decide if you'd like to receive SMS text notifications.
• Review and confirm your information, then select “Schedule Appointment” to finalize.
• Take your printed receipt listing your confirmation number and appointment details.

Step 4: Pay Passport Acceptance & Processing Fees

First-time passport applications have two types of basic fees, the application acceptance fee and the application processing fee. Passport photos and fees for faster processing are extra. Learn how to calculate fees and what you can use to pay for them.

Application Acceptance Fees – Postal Service

Pay acceptance fees in person at the Post Office. You may pay by check or money order, payable to "Postmaster," debit card, or credit card.

• $35.00 - Post Office acceptance fee
• $15.00 - Post Office photo fee (if needed)

Application Processing Fees – Department of State

State Department payment is sent with your application package. State Department fees are paid separately from USPS fees.

• State Department Fees State Department passport fees vary. Calculate passport fees online .
• Personal, certified, cashier's, or traveler's check, payable to "U.S. Department of State."
• Money order payable to "U.S. Department of State." You can buy a money order at the Post Office with cash, a debit card, or a traveler's check. You cannot pay with a credit card.

Application Status Updates

• Use the Online Passport Status System to check your application status if you applied by mail or in person. You may not be able to get a status update for 2 weeks after you apply or renew. During these weeks, your application and supporting documents are on their way to the Department of State. See more information about current processing times on the Department of State page " U.S. Passports ."

Renew a Passport by Mail

If you are eligible to renew your passport, please complete Passport Renewal Application Form DS-82 (see completion instructions on the form), and mail your completed renewal application directly to the State Department for processing. To verify if your passport is eligible for renewal by mail, please visit State Department Renew By Mail .

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility to Renew by Mail

A minor's passport may not be renewed by mail; to renew a minor's passport, you need to submit a new, first-time passport application in person . An adult passport may be renewed by mail if it meets certain requirements.

You can renew your adult passport by mail if you answer "Yes" to all 5 of the following statements:

Your passport:

• Is in your possession to submit with your application.
• Is undamaged other than normal "wear and tear."
• Was issued when you were age 16 or older.
• Was issued within the last 15 years.
• Was issued in your current name or you can document your name change. (Name changes are explained on Change a Passport .)

If your passport does not meet all these requirements, do not mail your renewal application. You must prepare the same application package as a first-time passport applicant.

State Department Renew by Mail

Apply early for renewals as many countries require that passports be valid for at least 6 months after you enter their country. Learn how to properly prepare your application package and include all the necessary documents so your passport is processed on time.

• Complete your Passport Renewal Application Form DS-82 on the State Department website.
• Print and sign your DS-82 form.
• Have a passport photo taken. You can schedule a passport photo-only appointment at a Post Office ™ location.
• Calculate your passport renewal fees .
• Collect your most recent passport, completed and signed application, renewal fees, and name change documents, if needed.
• Use an envelope large enough to fit the application without folding it.
• TIP : Pay for Priority Mail Express ® or Priority Mail ® service and get free envelopes that are large enough to hold your application. Order easily online: Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Envelope or Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope .
• Address the envelope to the location for your state. See page 2 of your DS-82 form.

How to Renew a Passport - Details

Step 3: Mail Your Renewal Application

Department of State recommends using a USPS delivery tracking service to mail your renewal application.

Choose one of the following services:

• USPS Priority Mail ® Service with Delivery Confirmation
• USPS Priority Mail ® Service with Signature Confirmation
• USPS Priority Mail Express ® Service (for overnight delivery requests)

Compare Delivery Tracking Services

Step 4: Follow Your Application Progress

If you use a USPS delivery tracking service, go to USPS Tracking ® to see when your package is delivered.

• With a USPS tracking service, you can see when your application arrived using the tracking number on your receipt.

USPS Tracking Status

U.S. Passport Application Status

Expedited Passport Delivery

Get a new passport faster in emergencies & special cases.

If you need your passport faster for emergency travel or another special case, you can send your passport application via Priority Mail Express ® service and pay the State Department fee for faster delivery.

Life-or-Death Emergency

If you need to travel within 72 hours (3 business days) for an immediate family member who is dead, dying, or has a life-threatening illness or injury:

• Visit the Life-or-Death Emergencies page on travel.state.gov to learn if you are eligible.
• The State Department processes these requests by appointment only.
• Your appointment date must be within 72 hours (3 business days) of travel.

Urgent Travel in Less than 10 Weeks

If you are traveling in less than 10 weeks, you must call the State Department Passport Agency to schedule an appointment:

• You can call 1-877-487-2778 (1-888-874-7793 TDD/TTY) to schedule an appointment.
• Your appointment date must be within 72 hours (3 business days) of travel, and you must provide proof of travel.

Note : An extremely limited number of appointments are available for customers who are traveling internationally in the next 72 hours (3 business days), and other restrictions apply .

Get My Passport Fast

Renew Your Passport Fast

If you pay an additional $60 for expedited service and mail it with Priority Mail Express , you can get your renewed passport within 10 weeks.

• Check your eligibility under Renew Your Passport by Mail, Step 1: Check Your Eligibility to Renew by Mail .
• Prepare your application as listed under Renew a Passport by Mail, Step 2: Prepare Your Application Package .
• Add these special fees, both payable to the U.S. Department of State, to your regular processing fees.
• $60.00—Expedited application processing at the State Department
• $18.32—1- to 2-day delivery service for faster return shipping to you from the State Department
• Clearly mark "EXPEDITE" on the outside of the envelope.
• Ship your application to the State Department by Priority Mail Express. Cost varies by location.
• Both parents/guardians must authorize the issuance of a child's passport. The best way to give consent is for both parents/guardians to go with the child when applying.
• Children need evidence of citizenship.
• Parents/guardians need proof of parental relationship.
• NOTE: Children's passports are only valid for 5 years. They are not "renewable": When a child's passport expires, you must apply for a new passport for them. When making a passport appointment for a child, please choose "New Passport Only" or "New Passport with Photo Services."

Apply for a Minor's Passport

• Department of State Passport Website English | Español
• Ask Questions at the National Passport Information Center
• Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
• Plan Your Trip with the Traveler's Checklist
• Get Help in an Emergency Overseas

Lost or Stolen Passports

If your passport has been lost or stolen, you should report it immediately to the U.S. Department of State.

Report Your Lost/Stolen Passport

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Houston Passport Agency Expedited Service

Home » Passports » How to Obtain a U.S. Passport

The Houston Passport Agency expedites passports for U.S. citizens within 8 days to as quickly as the same day for applicants with urgent travel needs. Individuals who are not in a rush can apply for a new passport at application acceptance facilities in the Houston area .

Regional agencies only serve those who need to travel, or submit their passports for foreign entry visas, within 14-28 days. The first step is to schedule an appointment through the automated service which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you are unable to travel to Houston to present your application, you can authorize a third party to submit the application . This can be a friend, family member, travel agent or registered courier service .

If your departure date is more than 14 days away, or you do not need to submit your passport for foreign visas within 28 days, you can submit the application form and supporting documents at the nearest application acceptance facility .

Houston Passport Agency

George Thomas "Mickey" Leland Federal Building

1919 Smith Street,4th Floor

Houston , TX 77002

Available Appointment Times

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday

7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

NOTE: The facility is closed for all federal holidays.

Automated Appointment Phone Number

1-877-487-2778

(Available 24 hours/7 days)

Processing Times

Passports are issued according to travel plans. Same-day passports are issued in emergency situations.

NOTE: This agency can issue both the U.S. passport book and U.S. passport card on-site.

How to Get to the Houston Passport Agency

From Hobby Airport, turn right onto Airport Blvd., travel on Airport Blvd. to I-45. Go under the freeway and enter the freeway going north. Take the St. Joseph Parkway exit off the freeway, follow St. Joseph Parkway to Louisiana Street. The building will be directly across the street.

Taxi: From George Bush IAH and William P. Hobby Airports - taxis available. Travel time from George Bush Airport is approximately one hour, and, from Hobby Airport is approximately 30 minutes.

What to Do When You Arrive for Your Appointment at the Houston Passport Agency

• You will need your Social Security Number or your confirmation number.
• Please arrive no more than 15 minutes prior to your appointment. Earlier arrivals will not be admitted.
• Late arrivals, 15 minutes after the scheduled appointment, will have to reschedule their appointments.
• Upon entry to the building, you will go through security, including metal detectors.
• They are located on the 4th floor.
• Go to check-in/information. Your appointment will be verified.
• You will be given a numbered ticket with the approximate, current waiting time at the bottom. (We do our best to keep the waiting time as short as possible.)
• Please take a seat.
• When your number is called and/or appears on the television monitor, go to the number of the window indicated.
• For information on what you need to bring to your appointment, see our information on How to Apply in Person for a Passport .

Top 5 Questions About Expedited Passport Couriers

1. How can you get a passport when you're in a hurry? 2. What exactly does a passport expediter do? 3. Are passport expediting services legitimate? 4. How can I identify a reliable passport expeditor? 5. Is expedited passport service worth it?

You can also visit our library of articles about passport expediting .

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