How Fast Can You Get a Passport?

When someone asks the question, “How fast can you get a passport?”, I usually answer with another question: How quickly do you need to get your passport? There are several factors that need to be taken into consideration to determine exactly how fast a passport application can be processed and the passport delivered to the applicant.

The simplest answer is that a passport application can be processed as quickly as the same day. That is, the U.S. Department of State regional passport agencies offer same day passport services for U.S. citizens who need to acquire their travel documents in a hurry, whether you need to expedite a passport renewal or apply for a new one.

The problem is that the U.S. Department of State requests that applicants schedule an appointment in order to be attended at the regional passport agency. This is a problem because it is often difficult to get through to the automated scheduling service due to the number of incoming calls. Another problem is that there may not be an opening for several days.

If scheduling an appointment at a regional agency and waiting your turn is not fast enough to get your passport in time for your trip, you have a couple of options to choose from. One, you can try showing up at the nearest regional passport agency without an appointment. While there is no guarantee that you will be attended, many travelers have claimed that they were able to submit their passport application even without an appointment. If you arrive in the morning hours and have your documentation in order, you should get your passport that same afternoon.

There is a second option available to those who either don’t want to risk showing up at a regional agency without an appointment or who are unable to travel to where an agency is located. You can contract a private expediting service and authorize them to represent you before the regional agency.

Expediters charge a fee for this service over and above the fees you will pay to the U.S. government. The amount depends on how fast you want to have your passport application processed. Of course, same day processing costs the most. All these fees can run into the hundreds of dollars.

If you need your passport fast but not necessarily on the same day, you can really save a lot of money. Just be careful not to underestimate the time needed to processes your application. If time permits, choose a time frame that will get your passport delivered to you with a few days to spare.