Passmere is a private company, not a government agency. This guide is free information, not legal advice. Each fact links to the official source and shows the date we checked it.
How-to
U.S. passport processing times: routine, expedited and mail
How long a U.S. passport takes with routine or expedited service, how much time mail adds, when your documents come back and what to do if you travel soon.
How long each part takes
Your wait has three parts: mail to the State Department, processing, and mail back to you. Processing times do not include mail.
- Routine processing: 4–6 weeks1.
- Expedited processing: 2–3 weeks2.
- Mail each way: up to 2 weeks4.
- First "In Process" status online: it can take 2 weeks6 from the day you mail your application.
- Your old passport and supporting documents: up to 4 weeks5 after the new passport, in a separate envelope.
To estimate your date, add the mail time going, the processing time for your service, and the mail time coming back. Mail time counts even if you apply in person, because your new passport comes back to you by mail.
Busy and quiet seasons
Demand is highest between late winter and summer; October to December is usually less busy.7If you can choose, apply in the quieter months and well before you book a trip.
When your trip is close
If you travel internationally soon, you can book an appointment at a passport agency or center once you are within 14 calendar days of your trip, or 28 days if you also need a foreign visa.8For how to get that appointment, and for life-or-death emergencies, read Urgent travel: getting a passport fast.
Step by step
- Write down your travel date, and the date you need your passport for any foreign visa.
- Add the mail time each way to the processing time for routine service.
- If routine service fits with time to spare, choose routine.
- If it does not fit, choose expedited service: write "EXPEDITE" on the envelope if you mail it, or ask for it at the acceptance facility.
- For a passport book, you can also pay for faster return delivery.
- If your trip is within the urgent window above, book an appointment at a passport agency instead.
- After you apply, follow your status online and watch your email.
Checklist
Plan your timing
- Travel date written down
- Mail time counted both ways
- Routine or expedited service chosen
- "EXPEDITE" written on the envelope, if I chose expedited and I mail it
- Faster return delivery chosen or not (book only)
- A reminder to check my status
- A plan B if my trip falls in the urgent window
Do and don't
Do
- Apply as early as you can, especially before the busy season.
- Count mail time in both directions, not only processing.
- Leave extra time if you also need a visa from another country.
Don't
- Don't count on your passport arriving on a precise date; the times are estimates.
- Don't pay anyone who promises to make the government process your passport faster. Only the State Department processes applications.
- Don't wait for your old documents to come back before you plan; they arrive later and separately.
Fees
These are government fees. They are paid to the U.S. Department of State, not to Passmere. For the full list, read Passport fees.
| What | Paid to | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Expedited service (optional) | U.S. Department of State | $603 |
| 1–3 day return delivery (optional, book only) | U.S. Department of State | $26.879 |
Frequently asked questions
Does processing start the day I mail my application?
No. Processing times do not include mail. Mail can take up to 2 weeks4 to reach the State Department.
Is expedited service guaranteed?
No. It is faster on average, but it is not a promise. The application fee and the acceptance fee are not refunded, even if no passport is issued. Only the $60 expedite fee can be refunded when expedited service was not delivered on time.10
When do I get my birth certificate or old passport back?
Separately from the new passport, by mail, up to 4 weeks5 after it.
When is the best time of year to apply?
What if my trip is very soon?
If you travel internationally soon, you can book an appointment at a passport agency or center once you are within 14 calendar days of your trip, or 28 days if you also need a foreign visa.8 Read Urgent travel: getting a passport fast.
Can Passmere make my passport arrive faster?
No. Passmere prepares your paperwork; the U.S. Department of State processes your application and sets the times. Passmere does not promise any timing.
Sources and verification
- Routine processing time — U.S. Department of State: Get Your Processing Time. Checked on October 3, 2026
- Expedited processing time — U.S. Department of State: Get Your Processing Time. Checked on October 3, 2026
- Expedited service fee — U.S. Department of State: Passport Fees. Checked on October 3, 2026
- Mailing time each way — U.S. Department of State: Get Your Processing Time. Checked on October 3, 2026
- Return of your supporting documents — U.S. Department of State: Renew Your Passport by Mail. Checked on October 3, 2026
- Time until the first "In Process" status — U.S. Department of State: Renew Your Passport by Mail. Checked on October 3, 2026
- Busiest and quietest times of the year — U.S. Department of State: Get Your Processing Time. Checked on October 3, 2026
- Urgent travel: passport agency appointment — U.S. Department of State: Get Your Passport Fast. Checked on October 3, 2026
- 1–3 day return delivery fee — U.S. Department of State: Passport Fees. Checked on October 3, 2026
- Refunds of passport fees — U.S. Department of State: Passport Fees. Checked on October 3, 2026