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Updated 4/18/23: As another data point, one of our family's recent passport renewals took just 4 weeks with expedited service to approval. We sent in the passport on 3/17/23 and used the U.S. Passport Application Status online system to see that it's been approved; we should receive it within a few days.
How Long is the Wait When Renewing a U.S. Passport? Is it worth paying for expedited processing? With heavy travel demand post-pandemic, many people find themselves renewing a passport in order to travel abroad, so in some parts of the country, it's been challenging to get an appointment. While we've written about renewing a U.S. passport online, this isn't an option for children, who need to apply in person with their parents.
Regular vs. Expedited Passport Processing Times
The State Department advises paying the $60 fee for expedited passport processing if your international travel date is in the next 2 months. Processing times for expedited passport service are now 5-7 weeks, up from the previous 4-6 weeks. That fee does not include optional express delivery (cost varies depending where you are in the country) or express 1-2 day return delivery, which costs an additional $18.32.
When not paying for expedited service, routine processing times are now 8-11 weeks, up from the previous 7-10 weeks.
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With Current Online System Issues, Consider Mail-In Expedited Service
Many travelers jumped at the chance to submit their passport renewal online, without having to gather documentation and a passport photo to mail in or make an appointment at a local post office or other passport acceptance facility, but apparently the State Department's online passport renewal system lacked sufficient testing and quality assurance, namely the ability to quickly located the status of an application in the system. According to this recent WSJ article, a spokesperson for Senator Grassley (R, Iowa) “Obtaining the status of passport renewal applications that were submitted through the State Department’s online portal has been complicated by the agency’s inability to easily locate and review those applications.”
This seems to be corroborated by anecdotal experience from FlyerTalk comments, such as DE Lee's: “…attempts to check on MyTravelGov between 10/21 and 11/30 were rewarded with ‘In Process' on the website and nothing else – no way to see if anything going on nor any e-mail when requesting application status on travel.state.gov.”
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Recent Expedited Processing Time Examples
- 1/9/23: Submitted online, expedited service and express shipping
- As of 2/20/23 (6 weeks later) still waiting
- 9/6/22: Sent renewal form and passport via USPS Priority mail
- 9/21/22: Received new passport
- 9/19/22: Sent renewal form and passport via USPS Express mail
- 10/4/22: Received new passport
3.5 Weeks with Expedited Processing and Express Delivery
- 9/27/22: Sent application via USPS Priority Mail
- 10/21/22: Received new passport
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Routine Processing Time Examples
8 weeks for adult online renewal, regular renewal
- 12/9/22: Renewed passport online
- 2/1/23: New passport shipped
- 2/4/23: Passport arrived
>6 weeks for child renewal:
- 9/8/22: Child's renewal application sent (regular mail)
- 10/19/22: Approved
- 10/22/22: Received new passport
<2 weeks for adult online renewal, paid for fast delivery
- 10/7/22: Renewed passport online
- 10/19/22: Received new passport
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Previously we recommended renewing online, when turnaround times were much faster. But with the current delays and problems tracking down delayed renewals that were submitted online, you may be better off submitting via mail, with expedited processing, although still aim to allow 8 weeks. Or consider same day expedited service, although you'll need to call the National Passport Information Center at 877-487-2778 right before 8 am, 14 days before your flight departure. Your goal after calling the number and pressing 1 for English is press 1 (for traveling within 14 days) exactly at 8 am ET (note that the line is closed on weekends and holidays).
Don't forget to update your Global Entry account with your new passport number.
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