travel while waiting for passport renewal

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Find out how to apply for or renew a passport and what to do if your passport is lost or stolen.

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You need a passport to travel to most countries outside the U.S. Learn how to apply in person.

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Find out if you can renew your passport or have to get a new one. Learn how to renew your passport by mail or in person in an emergency.

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Here's How Long It Takes to Renew a Passport

Why you should check your passport's expiration date right now.

Elizabeth Rhodes is a special projects editor at Travel + Leisure , covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products. Originally from South Carolina, Elizabeth moved to New York City from London, where she started her career as a travel blogger and writer.

Before booking that ticket, there's one thing you need to do right now: Double-check the expiration date on your passport. Since U.S. passports are valid for up to 10 years, it's understandably easy to forget when exactly it needs to be renewed (especially if you don't use it all that often). This seemingly small detail could result in a travel disaster.

How long does it take to renew a passport?

Passport processing times vary depending on demand. During the spring and summer months, you can expect to wait 10 to 13 weeks for routine processing and seven to nine weeks if you go the expedited route for an extra fee. According to the  State Department website , the period between October to December is typically less busy, resulting in faster turnaround. Bear in mind, however, that the processing times do not include the shipping time. If you want to receive your passport faster after processing, you can pay extra for a one- to two-day delivery service.

If your passport's time is almost up, don't wait — start the renewal process now. You can’t travel while your renewal application is being processed, and it's wise to ensure your travel documents are valid for at least six months past the dates of any planned international trips.

Can your passport be renewed?

Before you begin the renewal process, make sure your most recent passport meets the following criteria:

• It has never been reported as lost or stolen.
• It was issued within the last 15 years.
• It was issued when you were age 16 or older.
• It’s not damaged (beyond light wear and tear).
• It was issued in your current name, or you can provide documentation of your name change.
• It can be submitted with your application.

Passports that have been lost or stolen cannot be renewed, and neither can those issued to children under 16. If your passport is not eligible for a renewal, you'll have to apply for a new passport in person. Processing times for new passports are about the same as for renewals.

How do you renew your passport by mail?

If you’re an adult renewing a 10-year passport and meet all the requirements, you can do so by mail.

To renew by mail, you’ll have to fill out a DS-82 form and mail it along with your most recent passport, name change documentation (if applicable), a recent photo, and any fees in the form of a personal check or money order to a passport processing center with USPS. For faster shipping, you can purchase Priority Mail Express.

Once you’ve submitted it, you can track your application status online . For approximate processing times, see above.

How do you renew your passport in person?

If you don’t meet all of the requirements to renew by mail, you can apply in person at an acceptance facility (usually a local post office, public library, or government office). You’ll need to bring a filled-out DS-11 form , evidence and a photocopy of U.S. citizenship (like a previous passport or your birth certificate), an ID and a photocopy of that ID, and a valid photo (some acceptance facilities provide photo services for an additional fee).  

For an urgent situation (like a  life-or-death emergency ) that requires an immediate renewal for international travel within 72 hours, you can make an in-person appointment at a passport agency or center. There’s also an option for urgent international travel plans within 14 calendar days that don’t involve a life-or-death emergency and foreign visas within 28 calendar days. For this, you’ll have to call to make an appointment at a passport agency and provide proof of your upcoming travel. 

There are passport agencies and centers in most major U.S. cities. You can use the State Department’s list of locations to find the one nearest you. Be aware that you will have to call ahead — they do not take walk-ins and you cannot make an appointment online. 

If you’re a U.S. citizen living abroad, head over to your nearest embassy or consulate and check what their process is to renew your passport. Each embassy has different procedures but you will most likely have to apply in person.    

How much does it cost to renew a passport?

There are different fees associated with applying for a passport book or card. (Note that both the book and card serve as proof of your American citizenship, however, the passport card  cannot be used for international air travel, only re-entry into the U.S. by land or sea.) 

If you’re an adult (age 16 or above), you will have to pay $130 for a passport book and $30 for a card whether you're applying for the first time or renewing. Expedited service costs an extra $60. For kids, passport books cost $35, plus a $100 application fee, while cards cost $35 each, plus a $15 application fee.

If you want to speed up the shipping time, one to two-day delivery will cost you $19.53. Whether you’re paying by mail or in person, it’s best to submit a check   (personal, certified, cashier's, or traveler's) or money order   payable to the "U.S. Department of State.” Checks and money orders are widely accepted, though some places may have options to pay by card or cash.  

When should you renew your passport?

Sooner is always better when it comes to travel plans, particularly if you’re going overseas. While it’s best to think about renewing a year out from the expiration date, at the very least you need to begin about four months before you plan to travel.

Remember that passport processing begins when a passport agency receives your application, not the day you apply. It may take two weeks from the day you mail your application until it’s “In Process.” So plan for a 15-week interval until you receive your new passport. 

While the U.S. allows travelers to use a passport until the exact date listed on the front page, that's not the case for many other countries. For example, if you want to check out the natural beauty of New Zealand, your passport needs to be valid for another three months past your trip. Want to spend a week on the beach in Thailand? Six months. Even though some countries have more lenient requirements, it's better to play it safe. You can search for the specific requirements of different countries on the  State Department's website .

Also, keep in mind that most countries require you to have a specific number of blank visa pages to enter the country. If you’re running out of blank pages, you will have to apply for a new passport — it's no longer possible to add pages to a passport book. Most passport books include 17 blank pages for visa stamps (there is an option for a larger book with 43 blank pages). The standard requirement is one or two blank pages but you can check for your destination on this handy chart to make sure.

U.S. passport processing times return to pre-pandemic levels

Processing times for U.S. passport applications have returned to pre-pandemic levels, the State Department announced Monday .

Routine passport applications are currently processed within six to eight weeks, while expedited service, which costs an additional $60, takes two to three weeks, the department said.

"With this update, we have fulfilled our commitment to return to benchmarks from March 2020," the department said in a statement. "This reflects the work of dedicated employees working for the American people."

Lingering pandemic-related factors and a surge in overseas travel had disrupted processing times earlier this year, scuppering plans for thousands. As recently as July , routine processing times had slowed to between 10 and 13 weeks, and seven to nine weeks for expedited processing. The department said that, during some weeks this summer, it saw nearly 400,000 applications submitted.

A department spokesperson said staffing levels had increased by 12% since December 2022, with hundreds of additional staffers in the hiring pipeline. Department staffers have also worked tens of thousands of hours of overtime. From January 2023 through October 2023, the department authorized 30,000 to 40,000 overtime hours each month. It also tapped volunteers from across the department working on surge teams, including retirees and new hires adjudicating passports before reporting to other assignments.

Nearly half of all Americans, around 48%, now possess a current U.S. passport, compared with just 5% in 1990. There are now over 160 million valid U.S. passports in circulation, nearly double the amount from 2007.

While Transportation Security Administration screenings at U.S. airports continue to set records some days , there are signs that the post-pandemic "revenge travel" trend is slowing down , as flyers trim budgets amid a slowing economy.

Rob Wile is a breaking business news reporter for NBC News Digital.

What if I need to travel overseas while my passport is being renewed?

by Gary (Atlanta, GA)

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Can I still book flights using the old passport number or should I wait for the new passport?

Certainly you have to fill in the APIS section of your booking (Advance Passenger Information Service) at some stage before you try to check in, and that includes your passport number, but it's not a prerequisite to buying the ticket.

Use your old passport number (if necessary) and then just update the details when your new one arrives.

My wife did this only in December for a business trip she is on now.

It's any visas that you may require which will need the new passport details.

Some online agents do ask for passport details upfront. Just supply your old details and then change it with the airline before you fly.

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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What to Do If Your Passport Is Stuck in Renewal Purgatory When You're About to Travel

By Madison Flager

I left for a recent trip to Guatemala on a Thursday evening—and picked up my just-renewed passport from the post office roughly 36 hours earlier. To say the preceding few weeks were stressful would be an understatement. Dozens of phone calls and emails later, I have plenty of tips for what to do if you too find yourself in passport purgatory leading up to international travel. 

I'm not alone in this current passport saga—thousands of travelers have submitted applications for U.S. passport renewal, only to face long delays. Late last month, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that the State Department is seeing “unprecedented demand” for passports as travel rebounds in a big way. While the State Department is taking measures to ease the strain (like holding passport fairs for first-time applicants), a major backlog of applications has choked operations.

With this in mind, I applied to renew my passport in early February, taking advantage of a since-paused pilot program that allowed me to submit an application online , without having to take new photos (I simply uploaded an existing one that met the criteria) or mailing in my existing passport. It was an easy process, and after submitting, I received an automated response saying my application had been received and that the current processing time was six to nine weeks for routine applications. At the time, I didn't have any international travel planned until May, so I wasn't worried.

In hindsight, I should have paid the $60 to upgrade my application to “expedited” the minute I booked a spontaneous trip for mid-April, but I decided to wait it out and see what happened, since my travel fell after the expected delivery window. As the trip loomed closer and my passport renewal status remained stubbornly at the “in process” stage, I paid a $20 fee for overnight shipping, then later upgraded to expedited status.

Two weeks ahead of travel (14 days, including the day of travel, I learned), I called the help line so they could flag my upcoming travel, as instructed on the website. To get through, I had to dial seven times—the first six times, I either got a busy tone or a message that the phone number was out of order. Lesson one: Be persistent. 

If you too applied online, know that the first person you reach will have to transfer you to another department, but that wait time was much shorter each time I called (a few minutes compared to a few hours). Sometimes you'll hear an option to have someone call you back when it's your turn in line, other times you'll just have to sit and wait, getting your fill of classical music as you do so.

Five business days before travel, if your passport has not moved to the “approved/printed” status, as mine hadn't, you can call to begin the search for an in-person appointment. This is again where patience and persistence are key—the wait times are long, and appointments are few and far between. The first person I spoke to told me there were no appointments in the tri-state area. I called back the next day, and widened my scope of willingness to travel, only to be told the only available slots before my trip were in Honolulu, El Paso, and San Juan , Puerto Rico, all out of the distance and cost I was willing to pay to make it on this trip. But then, by some stroke of luck, I was on the phone the following day—with a kind, patient employee—when an appointment popped up in Washington, D.C. I said yes immediately, planning to take a train the following week, a few days before my trip.

Luckily, I was able to cancel that appointment: In the midst of all those hours on hold, I emailed the office of my congressman ( find yours here if you're unsure who it is); someone responded within the next hour or two, asked for a few documents, and reached out to the State Department on my behalf. The next business day, she emailed me back saying my application had been completed and shipped. I admit, I felt guilty wasting their time for a personal travel request, but they are here to help with such matters, and ended up saving me a nine-hour roundtrip bus to D.C., for which I am very grateful.

As of publishing, the expected wait time for routine applications is 10 to 13 weeks, or 7 to 9 if you pay to have it expedited (this excludes mailing time). If you're not already part of the record-breaking demand but have travel plans coming up, my biggest piece of advice is to apply as early as possible. If you have the means and said travel plans are within the next few months, file the application as “expedited” to give yourself some added peace of mind. And if you do wind up two weeks out with no passport in hand, be prepared to spend some time on the phone, and to ask your local representative for help if need be.

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How to check the status of your passport for applications and renewals

“Where’s my passport?” It’s a question many people ask as they endure the long passport application process. The bad news: Passport applications and renewals take weeks, if not months. The good news: Tracking your passport status is easy. Here’s how to check the status of your passport in just a few simple steps.

In this post

How do I check on my passport status?

What do i do if my status is not available, first passport or renewal: is the processing time different, how long will my passport status be “in process”, how to proceed in case of emergency, where can you travel while waiting for your new passport.

It’s exceptionally easy to perform a passport status check, which is the same for new applications and renewals. All you have to do is go online or call the National Passport Information Center. There are five possible statuses: in process, approved, passport mailed, supporting documents mailed or not available. Here, you can also subscribe to email updates about your passport status.

3 steps to check online where your passport is

• Visit passportstatus.state.gov .
• Enter your last name, date of birth and last four digits of your social security number.
• See your passport’s current status.

Check your passport status by phone

You can also call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 (1-888-874-7793 TDD/TTY). The opening hours are as follows: 

• Mondays through Fridays 8:00 am to 10:00 pm. Eastern Time
• Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Eastern Time.
• Closed on federal holidays.

Expert Tip : You can check your passport status online 24/7, and the process is often faster.

Your passport status may be listed as “not available” for three reasons:

• Your passport is still in transit to the passport agency. This may take up to two weeks, plus additional time for processing payment.
• The system is experiencing technical issues. Try checking your status again in a few hours.
• You’ve mistyped your name when you searched for your passport status. If your name has a hyphen, try typing your name with and without it on the passport status tracker website. Also, be sure to add any suffixes to your last name.

No. New applications for passports and passport renewals take the same amount of time to process. The steps for tracking your passport status in either case are the same.

The short answer: about a month to three months. But it depends on which type of processing you’ve selected.

The usual processing times

• Routine: 7 to 10 weeks
• Expedited: 3 to 5 weeks

Expert Tip : Processing times do not include shipping time, which can add up to 4 weeks to the timeline from application submission to receipt. You can, however, pay for expedited shipping.

What does “in process” mean for a passport?

“In process” means that your passport application or renewal has been received by the processing center and is undergoing review. This is typically the longest part of the process, as indicated by the processing times above.

If you must travel abroad after submitting your passport application or renewal, you must call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 (1-888-874-7793 TDD/TTY). If you are traveling in more than 14 days, you can upgrade routine service to expedited service for a fee. If you are traveling in less than 14 days, you may be able to make an in-person appointment to receive your passport immediately, but availability for these appointments is limited.

While you’re waiting for your passport to process, you can travel anywhere within the U.S ., including Alaska and Hawaii. You can also travel to U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico , the U.S. Virgin Islands , Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Bottom line

Checking your passport status is easy to do online. Just keep in mind that the “in process” status might take several weeks or months. If you need to expedite your passport application or renewal after you’ve submitted it, call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 (1-888-874-7793 TDD/TTY).

How KAYAK knows what to put in this guide

I’m a travel writer, so having a valid passport is essential for my job. As such, I’m well-versed in the logistics of applying for and renewing passports. For this guide, I deeply researched the most up-to-date information, on the different government websites related to the topic, about checking your passport status.

The foregoing article was last updated on the 14th of November 2023. It does not contain legal advice and is for informational purposes only. KAYAK does not guarantee, and accepts no legal liability arising from or connected to, the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of any of the information contained in this article and/or any of the content linked to within it. Always check the official government website of your departure and arrival destinations prior to travel for up-to-date information. Sources: https://passportstatus.state.gov/ https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/status.html https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/contact-us/passports.html

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When and how to renew your passport, according to the State Department

Editor's Note

Even if you're an avid traveler, you might not be entirely aware of when your U.S. passport expires and how to renew it .

Rest assured: The process is relatively straightforward, and most applicants can easily do it online.

Here's everything you need to know about renewing your U.S. passport.

When should you renew your passport?

When timing your passport renewal, there are many dates to consider. I would argue the most important date to remember is six months before your passport expires. This is because many countries require travelers to have a minimum of six months of passport validity left at the time of entry.

As long as you submit your passport for renewal at least six months in advance, it should also cover your expiration and travel dates.

Additionally, remember that U.S. passports are valid for 10 years for most adults and five years for passports issued before the age of 16.

When you identify all of the dates for your specific circumstances, you should check current passport processing times , which change frequently.

Current processing times

If you do not have travel booked within the next two months, the agency advises you to renew your passport via routine service to receive it within six to eight weeks. For travel within the next two months, your best option is expedited service. For either option, you should tack on another two weeks for processing to begin and another two weeks for the passports to be returned.

Urgent travel

If you have international travel planned in the next 14 days, you have a few options to renew your passport. Your first option falls under the urgent travel category, which is for non-emergency travel within two or three weeks. In this case, you should attempt to make an appointment at a passport agency or center, either online or in person.

For life-or-death emergencies necessitating international travel within three days, you must provide documentation of a qualifying emergency circumstance to make an appointment. Do this online if you've not yet applied for a passport or via phone if you have applied.

Note that you can schedule these appointments up to two weeks prior to travel, but your appointment must fall within three business days of travel. Also, note that appointments for urgent travel are limited and cannot be guaranteed.

How should you renew your passport?

Most people are eligible to renew their passport via mail; this requires completing a Form DS-82 and providing a photo, your most recent passport and a check for the fees. Passport photos must meet the specified guidelines listed here .

All passport applications sent by mail must be transmitted via the U.S. Postal Service — no exceptions. If you use another carrier, your renewal package will be returned to you without being processed. If you're mailing your passport renewal application from Canada, you must use Canada Post.

If you meet one of four circumstances — including if you applied for a child under age 16, lost your passport or received your most recent passport 15-plus years ago — then you must renew your passport in person at a passport acceptance facility . Some facilities allow walk-ins, while others require appointments, so double-check your desired location's requirements.

How much does it cost?

Renewing your passport costs $130 for a passport book, $30 for a limited-use passport card and $160 for both the book and a passport card. If you plan to expedite your service, factor in an additional $60. You can also pay $18.32 for faster mailing.

Use the U.S. Department of State's online calculator to estimate fees for your specific renewal.

Bottom line

Remember that your passport number will change when you renew it, so you'll need to update your passport information for any Trusted Traveler Program membership online.

Passport processing times change throughout the year, but renewing your passport at least six months before travel should account for any processing delays.

Related reading:

• If you need a passport quickly, this service may be for you
• Best credit cards for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck
• Why you should renew your child's 5-year passport after 4 years
• Here are 15 places you need a visa to travel with an American passport
• Guide to getting your child's passport
• Easy ways to check your passport application status

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Can I book flights while waiting for a new passport?

Our passports don’t expire until October 2023, but if we plan to travel this spring we need to renew them now so they’ll still be valid 6 months after our trip dates, per law. What happens if I find a great airfare but haven’t received my new passport yet? I know in the past we’ve always been asked (required?) to provide passport numbers or upload passwords when purchasing tickets. Can I purchase tickets and add the passport information later, or will I not be able to purchase until I receive the new passport (which could take a while!)? Does this vary by airline or country of departure? Thanks!

You can add the passport info later. You will be able to purchase a ticket without putting in a passport number.

No requirement to have a passport to book a flight. You do not need it until check-in, though most airlines request you put the information into your profile early, just to alert to any issues.

You already received the right answer, I just wanted to applaud you for being proactive and thinking through these deadlines in advance. It is heartbreaking when we read of the people denied boarding at the airport because they hadn't checked expiration dates.

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.

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Good News for Weary Travelers: Online Passport Renewal Is Coming Your Way

The shift will eliminate the need for piles of paperwork and hours waiting in lines. But it will still take some time to actually get your hands on your passport.

By Debra Kamin

Following the success of a limited pilot program for online passport renewal this summer, the U.S. State Department says it plans to fully launch an online passport renewal option for the general public in early 2023.

The shift, which for many will eliminate the need for piles of paperwork and hours spent waiting in line at passport offices, is meant to offer relief after the pandemic created two years of extensive delays and backlogs for passport seekers.

The online renewal option was created following a December 2021 executive order from President Joe Biden, who demanded the federal government “design and deliver services in a manner that people of all abilities can navigate.”

An initial pilot program was launched in February for federal government employees and contractors. After that closed, a second program opened Aug. 2 for 25,000 members of the public; it closed to applicants on Aug. 12. State Department officials say they plan to initiate a third pilot program for a limited number of applicants later in September, and while they don’t yet have a specific date for launching the system for all Americans, they say they intend to do so by early 2023.

The majority of U.S. passports can currently be renewed by mail, but the process requires applicants to print and manually fill out multiple documents, and then send them in along with printed photographs (which must meet sizing and resolution standards ) and a check or money order to cover fees.

For some people — applicants under the age of 16, for example, or those applying for a first-time passport — neither the mail nor online is an option. The same goes for those renewing a document that was lost or stolen, or updating an expired passport that was issued more than 15 years ago. In those cases, applicants must appear in person at a passport acceptance facility like a U.S. Post Office.

For time-crunched applicants who need their documents in six weeks or less, the options are even more limited. Last-minute passports can only be obtained after an appointment at one of the State Department’s 26 official passport centers and passport agencies , where passports can be renewed in person and obtained the same day for a $60 expediting fee.

How bad are current wait times?

Since 2020, shuttered passport offices and personnel cuts at the State Department have bogged down the system, with wait times for passport renewals stretching as long as 18 weeks. A slashed number of in-person appointments makes options for emergency or last-minute travel documents elusive . Some travelers have flown across the country in order to have their passports renewed in person ; Americans abroad have reported paying shady brokers in order to get an in-person slot at a consulate to update their passports or register the birth of a child.

Wait times for those needing updated documents have improved since early in the pandemic, but continue to lag: Routine passport service, which once took as little as six weeks, is currently estimated to take between seven and 10 weeks. Expedited service, which costs an additional $60, and, before the pandemic, would have taken up to three weeks, is now estimated to take between four and six weeks.

Will I get my passport quicker by using the online option?

Currently, processing times for online renewal remain the same as those sent via snail mail. But while there’s no guarantee that online renewal will shorten wait times, it will cut down on paperwork and streamline the process, both for applicants and State Department officials, who continue to work their way through a backlog of nearly two million passport applicants that started piling up in early 2020.

On its website, the State Department urges applicants not to renew online if they are traveling internationally in six weeks or less, as their current passport will become invalid as soon as they submit their renewal application.

How does the online process work?

To join the pilot program for online passport renewal, applicants must create an account at MyTravelGov , a process that requires a valid email address. Once logged in, the page will eventually contain a link to the online passport renewal system, which will require entering your passport number and uploading a digital photo. Currently, with the pilot program closed, there is no such link, and a link that read “how to renew your passport” takes you to a form with information for renewing by mail.

And the technology of the system itself, some travel advisers say, leaves room for improvement.

“The system is designed to take the nightmare part of passport renewal out of it and have people be able to do it from the comfort of their homes. It will be the future. But as it’s designed right now, it’s a little bit clunky,” said Anthony Berklich, a travel adviser and founder of the travel platform Inspired Citizen .

There are multiple steps, and applicants must create a password, then enter a separate passcode sent via email, which can be confusing. And after going through all the steps, some applicants, Mr. Berklich added, received error messages telling them they were ineligible for online renewal despite meeting all the requirements.

How do I know if I can renew online?

To qualify for online renewal, you must currently have a passport that is or was valid for 10 years, and it’s OK if your passport has expired. But you can’t renew documents online that are too new or too old, so if you have more than one year left on your passport (meaning it was issued after 2013), you can’t renew online. Same goes for expired passports that were issued more than 15 years ago, in 2007 or earlier.

You must also be at least 25 years old, and must not be changing your name or gender on the document. And you must be able to upload a digital photo and pay fees using a credit or debit card or ACH payment, and live in the United States. Lost or damaged passports also cannot be renewed online.

How much does it cost to renew online?

Passport renewal fees are the same whether you renew online or via traditional methods: $130 for an adult and $135 for a minor. An additional $60 fee for expedited service also remains the same.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places for a Changed World for 2022.

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

Money Talks News

3 Ways to Renew Your Passport in a Hurry — and Everything Else to Know

Posted: February 6, 2024 | Last updated: February 6, 2024

Excited to have a vacation on the horizon, I bought airline tickets for a trip out of the country recently. To my shock, the airline alerted me that my passport would expire before my trip. Suddenly, I needed to move fast to get the passport renewed.

There’s been a big demand for passports in recent years, with the growth of overseas travel. “In 1990, only 5 percent of Americans had a passport. Today, that number is 48 percent,” the State Department says . For a time the agency fell behind its goal of processing applications within six to eight weeks for routine applications, although it says that it has caught up now.

Besides the routine approach for renewing a passport, there are three other, faster ways to renew: expedited, urgent and emergency. Each has rules, fees and processing times.

Read on to learn about your options to renew a passport, including official routes (click the timelines for details) and how to speed up a renewal application that’s already in the system. We also look briefly at private companies — couriers and expediters not affiliated with the government — that claim to process passport renewals quickly.

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Routine passport renewal timeline

• Time left before travel: Eight weeks or more
• Fees : Passport book, $130; passport card (not good for international air travel), $30. Postage not included. Optional one- to two-day delivery service, $19.53, is available for passport books only.

Submit a routine renewal application if you’re not in a rush. Routine processing time is six to eight weeks, not including mailing.

According to a hotline agent I spoke with, you can either renew by mail or make an appointment with a passport agency near you. (For now, a trial online system has been paused .) Download and complete Form DS-82 , or use the online Form Filler Tool and print the completed form at home.

As you’d expect, government forms and rules can be fussy. This link explains how to apply, including how to take a good photo. Children under age 16 aren’t eligible to renew using Form DS-82. Instead, use Form DS-11 and apply in person. You can get help — no charge — filling out forms, answering questions and assembling your application at one of many official passport acceptance facilities (including post offices, libraries and some local government offices).

1. Expedited passport renewal

• Time left before travel: Less than eight weeks

Fees: $60 expediting fee on top of application fee

Submit your expedited renewal application by mail or in person at a passport acceptance facility . Processing time (not including mailing) is two to three weeks.

Here’s how I made my expedited renewal application:

• On advice from the National Passport Information Center hotline (1-877-487-2778), I took my completed application, regulation passport photos , old passport and a check for the application and processing fees to a U.S. Post Office. The passport hotline is open weekdays 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• I put everything in a USPS’ Priority Mail Express envelope, since I was in a hurry to receive my renewed passport. I called the passport hotline, and they advised using the one- to two-day delivery service for an additional fee.
• My new passport arrived in two weeks, quicker than I’d dared hope. My old passport was returned separately.

Using USPS Priority Mail Express was a great tip from the hotline. Otherwise, an application can spend up to two weeks in the mail to the passport agency; and your new passport could spend another two weeks in the return mail.

2. Urgent passport renewal

• Time left before travel: Two to three weeks

For urgent travel (if you’re traveling within 14 days or if you need a foreign visa within four weeks), you can skip the mail and make an appointment (no charge) online to visit a passport agency or center . It’s OK to make your appointment as many as 14 days in advance, but the appointment itself must fall within five calendar days of your departure. No specific processing time is given for urgent applications.

Related: Half of All Retirees Say They Fear This

One hitch: “Appointments are limited and we cannot guarantee one will be available,” the State Department says . Walk-ins are not accepted.

3. Emergency passport renewal

Time left before travel: Three business days (72 hours)

This category of renewals is reserved for a life-or-death emergency that requires international travel. You’ll need an appointment. It’s OK to book the appointment as far as two weeks in advance but the appointment itself must be within three business days of your international travel.

Before making the appointment you’ll need to document the emergency. Here’s how to apply for an emergency passport renewal . Bring proof of travel to your appointment.

The emergency provision is for a documented “life-or-death” emergency involving an immediate family member (not aunt, uncle, cousin, or other relative) outside of the United States who:

• Is dying (in hospice care)
• Has a life-threatening injury or illness

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Upgrading a passport application already in the system

If you’ve already submitted a passport renewal application but need to travel sooner than you’d thought, you can apply to upgrade your application.

The State Department explains how to proceed if you’ve already got an application in the system and have urgent travel. Call the passport hotline for instructions.

Are couriers and expediters worth it?

Some people, hoping to move quickly and willing to spend more money, use private courier and expediter companies . Such companies are not affiliated with the government, despite what some may say or imply.

A service may promise fast service for an additional fee. But with an outside service, “you will not receive your passport faster than applying at one of our passport agencies ,” the State Department says.

Some services may offer to wait in line for you, mail your documents or make an appointment on your behalf. But the State Department doesn’t charge for appointments and says, “If you are asked to pay for an appointment, you should consider the request to be fraudulent.”

The State Department doesn’t back promises from private companies or guarantee documents’ safety in the hands of couriers and expediters.

Also, scammers sometimes pose as passport expediters and courier companies. Experian, the credit agency, tells how to protect yourself from passport scams . The State Department also maintains a list of registered couriers .

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Make an Appointment at a Passport Agency

Life-or-Death Emergencies

Courier and Expeditor Companies

You may qualify for an appointment if you need to travel to a foreign country in the next two weeks because your immediate family member outside of the United States:

• Has died, or
• Is dying (hospice care), or
• Has a life-threatening illness or injury

Who is an immediate family member?

• Parent or legal guardian
• Grandparent

We do not consider aunts, uncles, cousins, or other relatives to be immediate family members.

If you are traveling to another country for medical services, you will not qualify for life-or-death emergency service. 

How do I make an appointment?

Schedule your appointment up to two weeks before your international travel. 

Follow these steps:

• Death certificate
• Statement from a mortuary
• Letter from the hospital. The letter must be on hospital letterhead, signed by a doctor, and explain your relative’s medical condition.
• If the document is not in English, get it translated by a professional translator.  
• Get proof that you are traveling to a foreign country in the next two weeks such as an itinerary or airline ticket.
• Complete a passport application , get a passport photo , and valid government-issued photo ID .
• First, try to make an appointment online  if you have not applied for a passport. 
• Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET: Call  1-877-487-2778 . If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call  1-888-874-7793  for TDD/TTY teletype services.
• Saturdays, Sundays, federal holidays, and after 8:00 p.m. ET on Mondays through Fridays: Call  202-647-4000 . Do not call this number between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. ET on Mondays through Fridays, or if you need  Urgent Travel Service . 

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