JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas –
The Department of State is committed to providing the best possible service for passport customers. They encourage all Americans to check their passport expiration date before making any definitive plans for international travel and to take action to renew their passport well in advance of international travel this year, and even into 2024.
Current Processing Times: Processing times for passport applications have changed several times in the last few months. As of March 24, processing of routine applications is taking 10-13 weeks, and expedited applications are taking 7-9 weeks. Processing times begin when the application is received at a passport agency or center and does not include mailing times. Processing times fluctuate throughout the year depending on demand, and it is anticipated that processing times will continue to rise, especially as the summer travel season approaches.
The Department of State is addressing the increased workload through a number of efforts. They are aggressively recruiting and hiring across their passport agencies and centers. Their passport team members nationwide contribute tens of thousands of hours of overtime each month to issue the millions of passports sought by traveling Americans. They have also opened a satellite office to help process the large number of applications they are receiving.
Who to contact: There may be extended wait times when calling the National Passport Information Center, so travelers are encouraged to check the status of their passport application online and sign up for updates via email.
Apply Early: The Department of State is committed to transparency. They will continue to provide regular updates about passport processing times and to encourage Americans to apply for their passport well in advance of any planned international travel to avoid last-minute issues.
(Note: This information may not apply to official government passport applications.)