How to get an expedited passport

You can expedite a passport by paying an extra $60 fee with your application. And paying for faster shipping can reduce your wait time even more.

Understanding the different options available for expediting a passport and their processing times may help you find the best option for your travel needs.

What you’ll learn:

• You might need to expedite your passport if you’re closer than about 3 weeks away from traveling abroad.

• Expedited passport processing generally takes 2 to 3 weeks, but there are also options for faster processing in urgent or life-threatening circumstances.

• It’s possible to accelerate the process even after you’ve submitted your application.

There are three different options for expediting a passport depending on how urgently you need it. Generally, you can get an expedited passport processed in 2 to 3 weeks. But the urgent and life-or-death options may help you get an expedited passport in less time if you qualify. 

Keep in mind that the processing estimate doesn’t include mail delivery times, which can take an additional two weeks on either side. But you can also choose to pay for faster shipping.

Here’s a quick look at each of the three expedited passport service options:

The regular expedited service takes 2-3 weeks and mostly follows the same process as a routine passport application or renewal. That means you find the forms you need online. Then, if it’s a new passport application, you present them and any other required documents at an acceptance facility. If it’s a renewal, you send them by mail. 

The difference between a routine application and an expedited one is that you add $60 to the required fees and either ask to expedite in person or mark “Expedite” on the mailing envelope. 

Remember that the Department of State can only expedite the processing time. For a shorter delivery time, it recommends you pay an extra $23.36 for 1- to 3-day delivery once your passport is ready. And if you’re mailing in forms, it recommends using the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Priority Mail Express service.

The State Department defines urgent travel as traveling in less than 2-3 weeks. If you’re in this situation and haven’t started a passport application or renewal yet, you can make an appointment at a passport agency. And if your application’s already in process, you can call 877-487-2778. 

One thing to consider: You can make expedited travel appointments at any acceptance facility, including a local post office, library or other government office. But urgent travel appointments only happen at passport agencies, which are fewer in number and tend to be in cities. So you may have to travel for your appointment.

If an immediate family member dies, is in hospice care or has a life-threatening injury or illness and you need to travel within 14 days, you can submit a life-or-death emergency request. A parent or guardian, child, spouse, sibling or grandparent qualifies as immediate family.

To get the process started, the State Department advises first trying to make an appointment online. If you can’t find an appointment or if you’ve already applied for a passport, you can call 877-487-2778. In addition to the regular paperwork, you’ll also need to present documentation of the emergency—like a doctor’s letter—and proof of your imminent travel plans.

Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about expediting your passport:

There are several ways to expedite a passport. How you choose to do it will depend on your situation, including when you’re scheduled to travel. 

While you’re working on your travel to-do list, you might want to look into getting a Capital One travel credit card. You could earn unlimited rewards that you can redeem to help cover the costs of flights, hotels, rental cars and more. You can even see if you’re guaranteed to be approved before accepting a card offer—without hurting your credit scores.