How to Check Your Passport Status—and What to Do If It’s Taking Too Long

Time is of the essence. Your international flights and hotel reservations are set, but your new passport is still missing? We understand your frustration. The silver lining is that after almost two years of delays, U.S. passport renewals are now back on schedule. Currently, the longest wait time for a passport is six to eight weeks for regular processing and two to three weeks for expedited service.

Yet, when you’re envisioning afternoon tea and comedy at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe or trekking to a sacred lagoon in Peru, it’s tough to stay patient. Here’s how to alleviate some of the anxiety while waiting by checking your passport status and knowing what to do if it takes too long.

Track Your Passport Status Online

To monitor your passport online, you'll need to wait up to 14 days for the State Department’s system to refresh your application status (during this time, it will display “not available”). However, don’t expect a comprehensive update, as the messages you’ll see include: in process, approved, or mailed. Constantly checking won’t expedite the process, but fortunately, you can sign up for an automatic alert system on the same website to receive updates when your status changes.

Check Your Status by Phone

You can call the National Passport Information Center at (877-487-2778) to talk to a representative (or get an automated response after hours), but this might not be the best use of your time. You’ll receive the same vague updates of “in process”—or, if you're lucky, “mailed”—and the call center staff can’t alter that information.

Check the Status by Using a Third Party to Apply

If you hire an expediting service like Rush My Passport or CIBTvisas, they can offer more detailed insights into the status of your passport application. These agencies employ couriers to personally deliver the paperwork, which adds some transparency to the process. Expeditors can return your passport within a few business days (timing varies by agency), but expect to pay at least $600 for this expedited service.

What Does “In Process” Mean for Passport Renewal?

Seeing “in process” on your application status means your application is currently under review at a passport office.

How long will my passport status stay as “in process”?

The duration your status remains “in process” depends on whether you opted for regular or expedited processing. Remember, passport processing times—six to eight weeks for regular and two to three weeks for expedited—do not account for mailing times.

What to Do If Your Passport Is Delayed

If you’ve submitted your application but haven’t received your passport and your travel date is approaching, you may be able to seek assistance.

If your travel is in the next 14 days, contact the National Passport Information Center at (877-487-2778) during business hours (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.). The call center will inform the processing agency of your upcoming travel dates and request an expedited review.

If your travel is in the next five days, call the same number to notify them—they may offer you an in-person appointment to finalize your passport application (though this isn't guaranteed, and you might need to travel to another city for the appointment).

If you can provide proof of a last-minute life-or-death family emergency that requires travel within three business days (such as a recent death or a serious illness that could lead to the death of an immediate family member), call the same number to request a “life-or-death emergency service” appointment (distinct from the “urgent travel service” appointment). If you qualify and can demonstrate the urgency, you might secure an appointment. For calls outside normal business hours or on federal holidays, reach out to 202-647-4000. This number is reserved for emergencies and should not be used during business hours. Your Congressperson can also assist if you have a critical emergency.

This article was first published in 2023 and last updated on June 17, 2024, with the latest information.