Maybe you have a family emergency abroad. Or you may notice that your passport expired a week before your international trip. Suddenly, speeding up the US passport application will be a priority.
In countless situations, it is not uncommon to have to do so, as you may need to hurry up and have a new or renewed passport. For example, if your passport is valid for less than six months, some countries do not allow entry. Some people, like South Africa, require that the passport book have at least two consecutive blank pages. If you are concerned about whether your existing passport will be accepted for your flight, check the US Department of State website for visa and passport requirements in each country, or contact your airline or travel agent.
How to get a new US passport quickly
Fast
Fast service takes 2-3 weeks and does not include mailing times. This applies whether you renew your passport or apply first. There is no quick option when renewing your passport online. The cost of a quick passport service totals $190. Passports are $130 and rush fees are $60.
Emergency trip
If you have a life-or-death or emergency international trip within 14 days, you can make an in-person appointment at one of the 29 passport agencies across the United States. If you need a passport to obtain a visa (for another country) within 28 days, it is the same process. You will need to plan to visit the agency. Nothing accepts walk-in. Make an appointment online or by calling 1-877-487-2778. These appointments can be difficult to obtain and should not be used to travel at a whim at the last minute.
How long does it take to get a quick passport?
Applying a quick passport directly to the US Department of State will take two to three weeks. However, it is very important to note that this is do not have Includes email delivery times. The State Department says, “It may take two weeks for your application to reach us and two weeks for you to get your passport after mail,” but this depends on the area in the US where you live.
For faster turnarounds, consider an Expediter like rushmypassport.com. It offers fast passport services one business day to three weeks after receiving the State Department. These will cost you. The price to get your passport back in one business day is $740 (at the time of this writing, it’s discounted to $629). For a turnaround of 2-4 business days, the cost is $479. And for a turnaround of 7-9 business days, it’s $299.
Services like rushmypassport.com rely on a subset of available plans, so rushmypassport’s fastest service is listed as one business day, which also limits availability.
David Alwaysdish, CEO and founder of Itseasy.com Passport & Visa Services, notes that the swift slots are being snatched away. Itseasy.com Passport & Visa is currently charging $685 for a 3-day passport processing service and $585 for a 4-6-day service. Seek for a one-day pricing (from $190 and service fees).
Note: All prices above I’ll exclude it State Department fee of $212.05. This means that it costs $950 to get a new US passport in one business day.
How to apply for a quick passport
To apply for a quick passport, start on the Department of State website. This website uses a handy checklist to ensure that you don’t make mistakes that can slow the process down. These are the cost of a quick passport.
- $60: Fast Fee (You can pay this and request a refund for this fee if your passport is not expanded quickly)
- $130: Standard passport application fee
- $35: First-time applicant enforcement fee
- $22.05: 2-day return delivery to further reduce the timeline
If you need quick service, please use USPS Priority Mail Express to submit your application. The Department of State recommends that applicants send their applications with a tracking number so that they can see when they arrive in the system and enter them.
If you are applying directly for a quick (or regular) passport, find a passport acceptance facility and make a reservation (fees a $35 fee). These are post offices, court clerks, libraries and local government offices. You can make a reservation at the post office at usps.com. Form DS-11 is required if you are applying for your first passport or for a child under the age of 16. If you are renewing your passport for someone over the age of 17, you will need the form DS-82 (you can download these forms here).
There are three steps to complete when filling out the passport application.
- Make sure the submitted form is on one side and is clearly printed.
- Before completing the application online, or print it or enter it by hand in black or blue ink. Don’t forget to write “Expedited” on the envelope and include two recent photos that meet the specifications of your passport photo.
- If you are applying by email, you must include a check. Payment can only be made by card at a passport agent or center (if reservations are required). Passport acceptance facilities allow you to pay a fee of $35 per card, but you must pay the passport fee by check or mail order.
For quick passports, fill out the form and print it out and send it to us. As long as it has expired or has expired, you can start the process online. Your passport was issued when you are over the age of 16. It was published within the past 15 years. There are also documentation that was published to the current name or supports renaming. Children under the age of 16, all first-time applicants, and those who have lost or stolen their passports must apply directly.
If you are unable to book online, please call 1-888-874-7793 on 1-877-487-2778 or 1-888-874-7793 on TDD/TTY from 10am to 3pm, or over the weekend.
If you need a passport within 24-72 hours, try visiting the agency directly.
If you have a life or death emergency such as illness, injury or death in your near-kind and you need to go abroad, being appointed directly at your agency is your only option. You cannot enter. You must make a reservation in advance by calling 1-877-487-2778. Even if you need to fly to a passport agency in the city where you are flying international flights, you can save valuable time by going in person. In these situations, it can take anywhere between 24 and 72 hours depending on where you apply and whether you are able to provide accepted documents, such as death certificates and documents signed by a healthcare professional.
How to avoid the stress of a last minute passport application or renewal
The best way to avoid extra payments to promote your passport is to set a reminder for 7 months before the expiration date of your current valid passport (7 months, as many countries don’t use passports that expire within 6 months). At that point you can be aware of your trip and know the best 8 week period to apply. Ideally, you know you won’t go abroad. If you travel so often that it is difficult to find such a period, we recommend considering applying for a second passport.
This article was originally published in 2023 and was recently updated on October 8, 2025, with current information included.
