The Process of Obtaining a New Passport Is Taking Longer Than Ever. What’s Behind It?

What accounts for the delays in passport processing? The primary reasons are bureaucratic hurdles and a backlog from the pandemic. However, applicants also play a part. Here’s what you need to understand about the duration of the passport application process and how you can help expedite it.

What is the current timeframe for receiving a U.S. passport?

As per the U.S. State Department, passport processing times currently range from 10 to 13 weeks (excluding the time required for mailing documents), indicating that wait times have further increased since early March when the expected processing duration was 8 to 11 weeks.

Even expedited passport services are experiencing delays. The timeline for expedited processing is now 7 to 9 weeks, an increase from the previous 3 to 5 weeks as of January. (This refers to the expedited service provided directly by the State Department, not third-party “courier” services; more on that below.)

That waiting period is still shorter than during the peak of the pandemic when passport offices were entirely closed and later swamped by an enormous backlog upon reopening. However, the recent surge has been extraordinary. Almost 22 million passports were processed in 2022, marking a record high, and they are expected to surpass that figure in fiscal year 2023, according to a State Department spokesperson.

What’s causing the current delays in passport processing?

According to a spokesperson from the State Department, the process of passport adjudication has traditionally relied on paper submissions, requiring applicants to mail in physical applications. In simple terms, there’s just a significant amount of paperwork to navigate through.

The department has been experimenting with an online passport renewal pilot program for select time periods, but that pilot is currently on hold until later in 2023. It proved to be extremely popular—the website reports 500,000 renewals during the brief period it was available, but processing times remain the same as if applicants had submitted their documents by mail.

Meanwhile, the State Department has stated that it has increased staffing and that hundreds more employees are in the hiring pipeline, though they caution that the onboarding process can take a considerable amount of time.

“We are keeping an eye on the record-high demand for passports, and we anticipate that this demand will keep rising through the spring and stay elevated throughout the summer,” reports the State Department.

How to expedite your passport application process

To ensure a smooth experience, make sure your application is both complete and accurate, whether you’re applying for your first passport (which requires an in-person visit to a passport acceptance facility) or renewing it (which can be done by mail and may again be available later in 2023 through the currently paused online pilot program).

You’ll need to fill out various forms and gather specific identification in either case, and all the details can be found on the State Department’s passport information pages.

The State Department states that poor passport photos are the leading cause of application delays. For instance, the background must be white or off-white, and applicants should face the camera without glasses (even if they wear them regularly). You can take your own photo (numerous apps and websites like PassportPhotos.com, Passport-photo.online, or PhotoAid can assist) or visit a physical store that offers this service (such as CVS, Walgreens, FedEx/Kinkos, or UPS stores). Remember, you’ll need a hard copy of the two-inch-by-two-inch photo to send in—if taking it on your phone, be sure to print it out. The mentioned photo apps can send you printed copies or digital images for home printing on matte or glossy photo quality paper, and stores with print services, like Walmart, CVS, and FedEx/Kinkos, can print your digitally taken photos for you.

The State Department's website is surprisingly user-friendly and informative: It provides comprehensive guidelines on the do’s and don’ts of passport photos and includes a photo tool to resize an existing photo to the appropriate dimensions.

Services to expedite your passport application and get it faster

The State Department offers an expedited passport service for a nonrefundable fee of $60 (in addition to the application fee and an extra charge for first-time applicants). Currently, this expedited service takes about 7 to 9 weeks, compared to 10 to 13 weeks for the standard service.

Numerous third-party companies—known as courier or expeditor services—are available that are not government-affiliated but assist travelers with the passport application and renewal processes. These companies charge their own fees (on top of the State Department’s application and expedited fees) and offer a range of services. For example, ItsEasy Passport & Visa will review your application for potential errors, take and print passport photos, provide one-on-one assistance with forms, or even offer a concierge service to complete the forms for you and submit the application at the passport facility. However, even courier services have limitations, as the State Department allocates only a portion of its appointments to them.

If you require a passport urgently, such as for a life-and-death emergency within 3 business days or for urgent travel within 14 calendar days, you need to contact Passport Services at 1-877-487-2778 to schedule an appointment, although availability is limited and not guaranteed.

How to monitor the status of your passport application

Nobody enjoys waiting, but it helps to know your position in the process. The State Department’s passport progress tracker can assist with that. Updates may take up to two weeks after submission, but once your application is in the system, you can enter your name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number to check the status of your application.

Even with the correct photos, forms, and applications, the best way to alleviate the stress of waiting is to start the process as early as possible—before you even consider booking international flights or accommodations. Check the expiration date on your passport right now; if it's less than six months away or already expired, make sure to add it to your to-do list today.