Right now, the routine processing time for passports is 6 to 8 weeks. However, this does not include the two-week window for your application to reach the passport agency and the two weeks for them to handle processing and mailing your passport. Altogether, the entire process might take approximately 10 to 12 weeks from submission to arrival.
If that timing does not align with your travel plans, follow these tips to expedite your passport application. In an era of spontaneous travel and last-minute adventures, the need to obtain a passport quickly has become increasingly common and more straightforward than you might think.
How to get a passport quickly
Depending on the selected speed of service, an expedited passport can be turned around between one and twelve days through a paid service with a company like Expedited Travel.
“An expedited service gives customers two benefits,” says Charlie Cobb, CEO of Expedited Travel LLC. “One is the application can be very challenging. We remove all of the risks of having a suspended passport application because of incorrect information. Our application wizard allows you to ensure that your passport application is completed correctly.”
The other benefit involves reducing mail time. Expedited services like Expedited Travel can minimize the mailing timelines to get passports turned around within 3 to 4 weeks.
Government options for an expedited passport are also available, but the applicant must handle all the paperwork and ensure its accuracy. This could require a trip to one of the 26 regional passport agencies open to the public.
Who should be getting a passport right now
If you’re considering international travel in the near future, travel experts recommend starting the passport process as soon as possible. The same goes if you have a passport with less than a year before it expires, as many countries require at least six months of validity on a passport.
The bottom line
Anyone considering international travel this year should consider applying for or renewing their passport at their earliest convenience based on backlogs. Depending on travel dates, expedited service may be required through the Department of State or a private company.
“I feel like a service like ours is badly needed,” says Cobb. “We significantly reduce the headaches and reduce delays because we submit error-free passport applications.”