In 2024, U.S. Passport Processing Will Be Quicker Than in Recent Years

The pandemic significantly impacted passport processing times. After a long hiatus during which our international travel documents sat idle, borders reopened, allowing U.S. travelers to explore the world again. However, the State Department faced challenges keeping up with the increased demand for new and renewed passports.

Since then, passport wait times have fluctuated but never quite matched the efficiency seen before the pandemic—until now. On December 18, just before the holidays, the State Department announced that wait times for renewing or obtaining a new U.S. passport have finally returned to what they were before the pandemic.

Standard passport applications will now be processed in six to eight weeks, while expedited applications will take two to three weeks, as stated by the State Department.

“With this update, we have honored our promise to revert to the benchmarks set in March 2020,” the State Department noted in a release regarding the updated processing times.

Reaching this goalpost has been challenging due to the surge in U.S. citizens applying for passports, a trend that extends beyond the rebound in travel post-pandemic. The State Department reports that over 160 million valid U.S. passports are currently active—almost double the figure from 2007, when there were just over 82 million. Today, 48 percent of U.S. citizens possess a valid passport, compared to only 5 percent in 1990.

“This past year, the Department saw an unprecedented surge in passport demand. From October 2022 to September 2023, the Department of State issued more than 24 million passport books and cards, marking the highest total in our nation’s history,” the agency announced.

Even with passport processing times hitting their lowest point in nearly four years, the State Department urges U.S. travelers planning international trips to apply for or renew their passports well in advance.

Currently, renewing a U.S. passport requires an in-person visit or submission by mail. Although an online renewal option was temporarily available in 2022, the pilot program was suspended in February 2023. Passport applications and the latest processing information can be found at travel.state.gov/passport. The fee for a new adult passport is $130 plus a $35 acceptance fee ($165 total); adult renewals cost $130; and new passports for children aged 16 and under are $100 plus a $35 acceptance fee ($135 total). To expedite processing, an additional fee of $60 applies.

The State Department clarifies that processing times commence the moment the application is received at a passport agency or center, not when it is mailed or submitted. Mailing times “can add several weeks to the overall time it takes to receive your passport,” according to the federal agency.

Passport applicants have the option to pay a delivery fee of $19.53 for expedited shipping, ensuring they receive their issued passport within one to two days from a processing center.

For U.S. residents facing urgent international travel within 14 days or experiencing a life-or-death emergency requiring travel within 3 business days, the State Department provides an appointment-only service at 26 regional passport agencies. Applicants must call 1-877-487-2778 to schedule an appointment, as walk-ins are not permitted.