How to Get a U.S. Passport Fast: Complete Expedited & Emergency Guide 2026
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Information sourced as of November 2025. The fees and processing times below were current when this guide was published and match our companion PDF. Passport fees and timelines change, so confirm at travel.state.gov before you apply.
Your three options, and how to pick
| Option | How fast | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Standard expedited | 2 to 3 weeks processing, 3 to 4 weeks total with express mail both ways | You travel in about 4 to 7 weeks |
| Urgent travel, agency appointment | Same day to 8 business days | You travel within 14 days, or need a foreign visa within 28 days |
| Life or death emergency | Up to 72 hours, often 24 to 48 | Serious illness, injury or death of immediate family abroad |
All three cost the same $60 expedite fee on top of the standard application fees. The difference is how you apply, not what you pay to hurry it.
The mistake almost everyone makes about timing
The processing times published by the State Department do not include mailing. That single fact strands more travelers than anything else in this guide.
| Service | Processing | Mailing | Realistic total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Routine | 4 to 6 weeks | Up to 4 weeks | 8 to 10 weeks |
| Expedited, regular mail | 2 to 3 weeks | Up to 4 weeks | 6 to 7 weeks |
| Expedited, express mail both ways | 2 to 3 weeks | About 1 week | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Urgent travel, agency | Same day to 8 days | You collect it | Same day to 8 days |
| Life or death emergency | Up to 72 hours | Prioritized | Up to 3 days |
Expedited service with regular mail is too risky for travel inside five weeks. If you are paying $60 to hurry, pay for express shipping in both directions too, or the expedite fee buys you very little.
Option 1: Standard expedited service
This suits you if you travel in roughly 4 to 7 weeks, need something faster than routine, do not qualify for urgent travel under the 14 day rule, and would rather not attend an agency appointment.
First time applicants, Form DS-11
- Complete Form DS-11 but do not sign it. You sign in front of the acceptance agent.
- Check the Expedited Service box.
- Gather your documents, listed further down.
- Visit an acceptance facility.
- Bring two separate payments: $190 to “U.S. Department of State” covering the $130 application plus the $60 expedite, and a $35 execution fee to the facility itself.
- Request express mail in both directions.
Renewals, Form DS-82
- Complete Form DS-82 and check Expedited Service.
- Include your current passport.
- Include a $190 check or money order to “U.S. Department of State”, which is $130 renewal plus $60 expedite.
- Add $22.05 for 1 to 2 day return delivery.
- Send it using Priority Mail Express.
What it costs
| Fee | First time adult | Adult renewal | Minor under 16 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application or renewal | $130 | $130 | $100 |
| Execution fee | $35 | Not applicable | $35 |
| Expedited service | $60 | $60 | $60 |
| Subtotal | $225 | $190 | $195 |
| Express return mail | $22.05 | $22.05 | $22.05 |
| Express outbound mail | $30 to $33 | $30 to $33 | $30 to $33 |
| Total with express shipping | About $277 to $280 | About $242 to $245 | About $247 to $250 |
Payment matters here. The State Department takes checks or money orders only. No cash and no credit cards. The acceptance facility fee varies by location, so call ahead and ask what they take.
Option 2: Urgent travel and agency appointments
You qualify if you are travelling internationally within 14 days, or you need a foreign visa within 28 days. Proof of travel or of your visa appointment is required, so this is not a route you can talk your way into.
- Call the National Passport Information Center on 1-877-487-2778, Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM Eastern and Saturday 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM Eastern. Have your travel details ready.
- Prepare your documentation. Everything for a standard application, plus proof of international travel within 14 days, hotel reservations if you have them, business meeting confirmations if relevant, and your visa appointment confirmation if you are using the 28 day rule.
- Attend the appointment with all standard documents, two identical photographs, proof of travel, and payment by check or money order, since most agencies do not take cards.
At the agency you go through security screening much like an airport, a document review with an agent, payment, photo verification, the oath and signature, then issuance. Same day issuance happens, but it can take up to 8 business days.
There are 26 regional passport agencies, including Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, El Paso, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan, Seattle, Tucson, Washington, Atlanta and Norwalk. Each serves a defined region, and all use the same appointment line. A few centers, including Portsmouth, St. Albans and Charleston, handle mail in applications nationwide rather than appointments.
Practical tips: call as early as you can, book urgent service as soon as you know you need it, arrive 15 minutes early, bring exact payment, and do not book non refundable travel before you hold the passport.
Option 3: Life or death emergencies
This route exists for the serious illness, injury or death of an immediate family member abroad. Immediate family means a parent or legal guardian, a child including an adult child, a spouse or partner, a sibling, or a grandparent or grandchild.
You need proof: a death certificate, hospital records or a doctor’s letter, contact information for the medical facility, and proof of your relationship to the family member.
These cases get the highest priority and are generally processed within 72 hours, often within 24 to 48, and sometimes the same day. Standard fees apply plus the $60 expedite fee. During business hours, start by calling the National Passport Information Center.
First time applicant checklist
- Form DS-11, complete but unsigned, with Expedited Service checked. Available at travel.state.gov.
- Proof of citizenship, original or certified with a seal: birth certificate, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, Naturalization Certificate, or a previous passport.
- A photocopy of that citizenship document, front and back, on 8.5 by 11 inch white paper and legible.
- Government issued photo identification: current driver’s license or state identification, military or government employee identification, or a previous passport.
- A photocopy of that identification, front and back, same paper rules.
- Two identical photographs, 2 by 2 inches, in colour, taken within the last six months, on a white or off white background, facing forward, no glasses unless you have a medical statement, and no hats except religious coverings.
- Two payments as described above.
- Proof of travel if you are using urgent service.
Related guides
If you are not in a hurry, our standard passport guide covers the routine process and online renewal. If your passport went missing, see what to do when a passport is lost or stolen. If you are travelling over the holidays, check the holiday passport deadlines.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to expedite a passport?
The expedite fee is $60 on top of standard fees. A first time adult application comes to $225 before shipping, or roughly $277 to $280 with express mail both ways. An adult renewal is $190 before shipping.
How fast can I actually get a passport?
Up to 72 hours for a documented life or death family emergency. Same day to 8 business days through an agency appointment if you travel within 14 days. Otherwise 3 to 4 weeks with expedited service and express mail in both directions.
Do published processing times include shipping?
No, and this is the most common and costly misunderstanding. Processing times exclude mailing in both directions, which can add up to four weeks each way with regular mail.
Can I pay the passport fee by credit card?
Not for the State Department portion. That must be a check or money order. The separate $35 execution fee at an acceptance facility varies by location, so call ahead.
Who qualifies for an urgent travel appointment?
Anyone travelling internationally within 14 days, or needing a foreign visa within 28 days. You must show proof of the travel or the visa appointment.
What counts as immediate family for an emergency passport?
A parent or legal guardian, a child including an adult child, a spouse or partner, a sibling, or a grandparent or grandchild.
Should I book my flights first?
Do not book non refundable travel before you have the passport in hand. Urgent appointments require proof of travel, so book refundable arrangements where you can.
Official resources
- Passport information and forms: travel.state.gov
- National Passport Information Center: 1-877-487-2778, Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM Eastern, Saturday 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM Eastern
- Find an acceptance facility: iafdb.travel.state.gov
Details as of November 2025. Fees and processing times change, so verify at travel.state.gov before applying. GovClarity is not a government agency and cannot expedite applications.
