How to Speed Up Your Passport When You Need It Fast
What speeds up a passport and what doesn't
The U.S. State Department offers two paid options that actually shorten processing time: expedited service and emergency service. Expedited service cuts the standard wait from 6 to 8 weeks down to 2 to 3 weeks. Emergency service, available only in person at a passport agency or acceptance facility, can issue a passport the same day or within 24 hours if you have travel within 72 hours.
The catch: you cannot speed up a passport by calling, emailing, or asking nicely. The State Department does not move applications forward based on urgency unless you use one of these two paid tracks. Paying extra gets you into a faster queue, not faster processing of the same queue.
If your travel is more than 72 hours away, expedited service is your only paid option. If your travel is within 72 hours, you must go in person to a passport agency or a limited number of acceptance facilities that handle emergency passports.
Key Takeaways
- Expedited service costs an additional $60 and reduces processing time to 2 to 3 weeks; it works only if you have at least that much time before travel.
- Emergency service requires an in-person appointment at a passport agency and costs an additional $35 on top of expedited fees, but can issue a passport same-day or next-day if travel is within 72 hours.
- You must have a valid reason for emergency service — travel plans, a death in the family, or a court order — and you must bring proof of that reason and your travel itinerary.
- Not all passport acceptance facilities offer emergency service; only passport agencies and a small number of designated facilities do, and you need an appointment.
- Expedited and emergency services do not waive any document requirements; you still need the same forms, photos, and proof of citizenship as a standard application.
How expedited service works and when to use it
Expedited service adds $60 to the standard passport fee. You can request it when you submit a new passport, renew by mail, or replace a lost or stolen passport. The processing window is 2 to 3 weeks, though the State Department notes this is not a may provide — it is a target, and delays can happen.
Expedited service works only if you submit your application in person at a passport acceptance facility or by mail. You cannot request expedited service online. If you are mailing your application, send it to the address on the form and include the $60 expedited fee along with your regular fee.
Use expedited service if your travel is 3 to 8 weeks away. If you have less than 3 weeks, expedited will not be fast enough. If you have more than 8 weeks, standard service (6 to 8 weeks) will likely get you a passport in time, and you save the $60.
Emergency service: same-day and next-day passports
Emergency service is the only way to get a passport in 24 hours or less. It requires an in-person appointment at a passport agency — not a post office or library acceptance facility. The State Department operates 26 passport agencies across the country, plus some limited emergency services at certain acceptance facilities in major cities.
Emergency service costs an additional $35 on top of the expedited fee ($60), plus the standard passport fee. So a new passport with emergency service runs $130 plus the base fee for a new passport (currently $130 for an adult book passport, though fees change). You pay at the agency when you arrive.
To use emergency service, you must have travel within 72 hours and bring proof: a plane ticket, cruise itinerary, hotel reservation, or court order. The agency will not issue an emergency passport without documented proof that you are actually traveling. You also need all the standard documents — birth certificate or naturalization papers, photo ID, a new passport photo, and the completed form.
Getting an appointment at a passport agency
You cannot walk into a passport agency without an appointment. All agencies now require advance booking through the State Department's online appointment system at travel.state.gov. Go to the "Make an Appointment" section, select your location, and choose the earliest available slot.
Appointment availability varies by location and season. In major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, you may find same-day or next-day slots during off-peak times. In smaller cities or during peak travel seasons (spring and summer), appointments may be weeks out. If the nearest agency has no emergency slots, check agencies in nearby cities — you can travel to a different location if it gets you an appointment sooner.
Bring your appointment confirmation (printed or on your phone), all required documents, and payment. Arrive 15 minutes early. Processing at the agency usually takes 30 minutes to an hour, and you walk out with your passport the same day if you arrive before the agency's cutoff time (usually 3 p.m., but check your location).
What documents you need, no matter which service you choose
Expedited and emergency service do not waive document requirements. You need the same paperwork as a standard application: a completed form (DS-11 for new passports, DS-82 for renewals, DS-64 for lost or stolen), proof of citizenship (birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or previous passport), a government-issued photo ID, and a new passport photo.
The passport photo must meet State Department standards: 2 by 2 inches, taken within the last 6 months, with a plain white or off-white background, and your face taking up 50 percent of the frame. You cannot use a photo from your phone or a selfie. Pharmacies, UPS stores, and passport photo services can take the photo for $10 to $20.
If you are renewing by mail with expedited service, mail everything to the address on the form with both the standard fee and the $60 expedited fee. If you are going in person to an agency for emergency service, bring originals of everything — the agency will not accept copies of your birth certificate or ID.
When expedited and emergency service will not help
If your passport application is missing documents, expedited and emergency service will not speed up the fix. The agency or facility will reject the application and send it back. You then have to resubmit with the correct documents, and the clock starts over. This is why checking your documents before you go is critical.
If you are applying for a passport for the first time and have never had one, you must apply in person — you cannot renew by mail. This means you cannot use mail-in expedited service. You can go to a passport acceptance facility and request expedited service in person, or you can go to a passport agency and request emergency service if your travel is within 72 hours.
If your passport was lost or stolen, you must report it to the State Department before you can get a new one. This adds a step and cannot be rushed. File the report (Form DS-64) at the same time you apply for the replacement passport, either in person or by mail.
Alternatives if expedited and emergency service are full
If the nearest passport agency has no emergency appointments and your travel is within 72 hours, call the agency directly. The phone number is on the State Department website for your location. Some agencies hold back a small number of same-day slots for phone requests, though this is not may provide.
If you cannot get an emergency appointment anywhere, contact your airline or cruise line. Some will issue a travel document or hold your reservation while you work on the passport. This is not common, but it is worth asking before you assume the trip is cancelled.
If your travel is 3 to 8 weeks away and expedited appointments are booked, standard service may still get you a passport in time. Calculate backwards from your travel date. If standard service (6 to 8 weeks) would arrive before you leave, you do not need expedited. If it would not, keep checking the appointment system — cancellations happen daily, and new slots open up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a passport in one day without going to an agency?
No. Same-day passports are only available in person at a passport agency or a designated emergency facility. Mail-in expedited service takes 2 to 3 weeks minimum. If you need a passport today, you must go to an agency in person with all your documents and proof of travel within 72 hours.
What counts as proof of travel for emergency service?
A plane ticket (email confirmation or printed), a cruise itinerary, a hotel reservation, or a court order. The agency needs to see that your travel is actually happening within 72 hours. A screenshot of a booking confirmation on your phone is acceptable.
Do I have to go to the passport agency closest to me?
No. You can make an appointment at any passport agency in the country. If a distant agency has same-day or next-day slots and your nearest one does not, you can travel there. Check agencies in nearby cities and states to find the fastest appointment.
What if I do not have my birth certificate?
You can order a certified copy from the vital records office in the state or county where you were born. This usually takes 1 to 2 weeks by mail, though some offices offer expedited processing for an extra fee. If your travel is within 72 hours, you will not have time. Contact the passport agency to ask about alternatives — some accept other documents like a naturalization certificate or previous passport in place of a birth certificate.
Can I renew my passport by mail if I need it fast?
Mail-in renewal with expedited service takes 2 to 3 weeks. If you need it faster, you must go in person to a passport acceptance facility (for expedited) or a passport agency (for emergency). In-person expedited at an acceptance facility still takes 2 to 3 weeks, so emergency service at an agency is your only option for same-day or next-day.