If you are traveling out of the country for whatever reasons, getting the travel documents ready is perhaps the first thing you’ll want to do. But how long does it take to get a passport, you ask?
The processing time of a passport varies depending on the type of the application. For example, under routine situations, you will need to wait 8 – 11 weeks to receive your passport. If you have an urgent case that requires traveling internationally within 3 business days, you may qualify for an emergency passport.
There’s more to learn on this subject. Stay with us to walk you through the specifics, including the fees involved in each type of passport service.
Routine Service
If your trip to a foreign country is several months away, you will want to opt for the routine passport service. With this option, the passports are processed anywhere between 8 and 11 weeks.
Please note that this period does not begin the day you mail your application or submit it in person at a passport acceptance facility. In other words, the counting starts the day an application arrives at the passport processing center or agency.
If you are applying for a passport for the first time, the fees vary, except for the execution fee which is constant at $35. The money you will pay for your application to be processed depends on whether you need a Passport Book, Passport Card, or Passport Book & Card.
Passport Book – $130
Passport Card – $30
Passport Book & Card – $160
The application fee remains the same when renewing your passport, but you will not pay the execution or acceptance fee. You can use the official passport fee calculator to be sure.
Another thing worth mentioning is that the passport application fees are non-refundable. It does not matter if your passport is not issued.
Expedited Service
The expedited service is ideal for anyone planning to go abroad within 5 to 7 weeks. While processing your passport with this option is faster than using the routine service, it comes at an added cost. Besides the usual application and execution fee, you must pay a $60 expedite fee, whether you are applying at an acceptance facility or by mail.
As mentioned earlier, processing times begin once your application gets received at a passport agency. If you want to speed up the delivery of your application to the passport processing center, consider purchasing USPS’ Priority Mail Express. The service fees vary depending on where you live.
Once your passport is ready, it can be delivered to you within 1-2 business days. However, there’s a delivery fee set at $18.32. It is optional, though. Nevertheless, if you need faster return delivery, include the money with your passport fee when you turn in your application.
Keep in mind, though, that the 1-2 day return delivery service does not apply to passport card applications.
What happens if you do not receive the expedited service? In this case, the U.S. Department of State may refund your $60 expedited fee. As for other passport fees, you will not get a refund.
Urgent Travel (Non-emergency)
If you are in a rush to travel in the next 5 business days for reasons other than an emergency (we’ll discuss this shortly), you may qualify for this service.
You need to call a passport agency to determine if you qualify for urgent international travel before booking an appointment. You must complete your passport application and provide proof that you are traveling outside the country in the next 5 days.
Unfortunately, some passport centers offer limited appointments. Therefore, there’s no guarantee that you’ll get an appointment and have your travel document ready on time. Also, you cannot book an appointment during the weekends or federal holidays unless you’re dealing with a qualified emergency.
If you are traveling within 2 weeks, you may also set up an appointment. Nevertheless, you can only attend that appointment 5 business days before your day of travel. Suppose you require a foreign visa processed within 4 weeks. An appointment can occur within 10 days of the traveling date.
For urgent travel service, call 1-877- 487-2778 on a weekday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET. You will pay the regular passport fee with a $60 expedite fee for faster processing time.
Emergency Service
According to the U.S. Department of State, you can qualify for an emergency passport if you need to travel within 3 days because of a life-or-death situation. Perhaps your immediate family member in a foreign country has passed on. Or they are on the verge of death due to terminal illness or life-threatening injury.
While an appointment can be scheduled 2 weeks before the date of travel, it can only occur within 3 days of your travel.
You can qualify for an emergency passport if the family member is a child, sibling, spouse, guardian, parent, or grandparent. You cannot make an appointment if the emergency has to do with your cousin, aunt, uncle, etc. The same applies to anyone thinking of using this service to go abroad for treatment or medication.
Like urgent travel service, emergency service costs an extra $60, and walk-ins are not allowed. You must call a passport agency to make an appointment. It is free. The staff will tell you the information you will provide when you go for your appointment.
Depending on your situation, you may be required to submit:
A death certificate
Funeral director’s statement of death
Letter from the hospital
An itinerary or airline ticket
If the documents to support your emergency passport application are not in English, they must be professionally translated. Notarizing them is not mandatory.
For emergency passport service, call 1-877- 487-2778 or 1-888-874-7793 on a weekday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (ET).
After 8:00 p.m. (ET), you should strictly call 202-647-4000. The line is also open during weekends and federal holidays.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Passport – Wrapping Up
The processing time will depend on the type of passport service you use. Normally, people wait 8 – 11 weeks to get their passports. If you want faster processing times, you will have to pay $60 as expedite fee. You could have your travel documents within 3 days, 5 days, or 5 – 7 weeks depending on your unique situation.