Expedited Passport Service: Fees, Timelines, and How to Apply

Expedited passport service from the U.S. Department of State costs an extra $60 on top of the standard application fees and shortens the wait from the routine four-to-six-week window down to two to three weeks.¹ If you’re leaving the country within 14 days, expedited mail-in service won’t be fast enough; you’ll need an in-person urgent travel appointment at a passport agency instead.² The right choice comes down to when you’re traveling, how much you want to spend, and whether you’re applying for the first time or renewing.

How Fast Is Expedited Processing

The State Department publishes two speeds for applications submitted by mail or at an acceptance facility. Routine takes four to six weeks. Expedited takes two to three weeks.¹ Neither figure includes mailing time in either direction, so the door-to-door wait is longer unless you also pay for faster shipping.

If your trip is more than six weeks out, routine is usually fine. Expedited fits the three-to-six-week window and gives a buffer. Inside 14 days, neither mail option will get there in time.

What Expedited Service Costs

The $60 expedite fee sits on top of the base application fee and, for first-time applicants, the $35 acceptance facility fee. The full stack looks like this:

New adult passport book (age 16+): $130 application + $35 acceptance + $60 expedite = $225³
New adult passport card: $30 + $35 + $60 = $125
Adult book and card together: $160 + $35 + $60 = $255
Adult renewal by mail: $130 + $60 = $190 (no acceptance facility fee)
Child under 16 passport book: $100 + $35 + $60 = $195⁴

You can add one-to-two-day return delivery of the finished passport for $22.05, paid to the State Department along with your other fees. That’s separate from what you spend shipping the application out. A first-time adult book with expedited processing and fast return delivery lands at roughly $247.

How to Pay

Payment rules depend on where you apply. At an acceptance facility (a post office, library, or county clerk’s office), the application fee and expedite fee go by check or money order to “U.S. Department of State.” The $35 acceptance fee goes to the facility itself, and accepted payment methods vary by location. Mail-in renewals also require a check or money order. Passport agencies flip the rules entirely: they take only credit cards, debit cards, and contactless payments such as Apple Pay or Google Pay. No checks, no money orders.⁵

Submitting an Expedited Renewal by Mail

Eligible renewals go directly to the State Department. Write “EXPEDITE” clearly on the outside of the mailing envelope.⁶ Without that marking, the application gets sorted into the routine pile even though you paid the $60.

Processing doesn’t start until the package arrives, so use overnight or two-day shipping on the way there too. Priority Mail Express is a common pick. Faster outbound shipping plus the $22.05 return delivery upgrade can shave a week or more off the total turnaround.

Include your completed Form DS-82, your most recent passport, a new passport photo, and a single check or money order covering the application fee, the $60 expedite fee, and the $22.05 return delivery fee if you want it. Put the applicant’s name and date of birth in the memo line.⁵

Submitting an Expedited First-Time Application

First-time applicants must apply in person at an acceptance facility using Form DS-11. Bring proof of U.S. citizenship (such as a birth certificate), a valid photo ID, a passport photo, and your fees.³ Scheduling ahead through the USPS online scheduler saves a wasted trip; slots are visible up to four weeks out by ZIP code.⁷

The agent at the facility collects your documents and the $35 acceptance fee, then mails the package to the State Department. To get expedited service, pay the $60 expedite fee in your check to the State Department and ask the facility about their shipping. If they default to standard mail, some of the speed advantage you paid for gets eaten up before the application arrives.

Why Online Renewal Won’t Work for a Rush

The State Department offers online passport renewal, but only at routine speed. You must not be traveling for at least six weeks from your submission date.⁸ For expedited service, submit by mail.

Online eligibility is narrower than mail eligibility. You qualify only if:

Your current passport is a 10-year book, expiring within one year or expired less than five years ago
You are 25 or older
You aren’t changing your name or other personal information
You’re located in a U.S. state or territory when you submit
Your passport is in your possession, undamaged, and not reported lost or stolen

One catch worth knowing: once you submit an online renewal, the State Department cancels your current passport. You can’t travel on it while the new one is processing.⁸ If there’s any chance you’ll need to leave during the wait, renew by mail with expedited service.

Traveling Within 14 Days: Urgent Appointments

Leaving the country within 14 calendar days, or within 28 days and needing a foreign visa, means neither mail expedite nor online renewal will get you there. You need an in-person appointment at a passport agency or center.² Agencies see customers by appointment only.

Booking the Appointment

If you haven’t submitted anything yet, use the Online Passport Appointment System. You’ll enter travel details to confirm eligibility, verify your identity by email and phone, and pick a time slot. The system holds your slot for 15 minutes; confirm it or start over.²

If you already mailed an application and your travel date is closing in, call the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) at 1-877-487-2778. NPIC is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern and weekends from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. They can transfer your file to an agency or schedule an urgent appointment.²

What to Bring

Bring citizenship proof, photo ID, a passport photo, the completed form, and evidence of your upcoming travel such as a flight itinerary. Payment at agencies is by card or contactless only.⁵ Showing up late or missing a document usually means rebooking.

Life-or-Death Emergencies

A separate, faster track exists when an immediate family member outside the United States has died, is in hospice, or has a life-threatening illness or injury, and you must travel internationally within two weeks. Accepted proof includes a death certificate, a mortuary statement, or a doctor-signed hospital letter explaining the condition. Documents not in English need a professional translation. You’ll also need proof of imminent travel.⁹ These appointments are scheduled only by phone through NPIC at 1-877-487-2778.

Using a Private Courier Company

Private expediting companies can submit your application to a passport agency for you, sometimes advertising turnarounds as short as one business day. Their fees vary widely and come on top of all government fees. Verify the company is registered with the State Department; a list of registered couriers is published on its website.¹⁰

Couriers can save time and stress, especially if you don’t live near an agency. They aren’t a replacement for the State Department’s own urgent travel service. If you qualify for a direct appointment, that’s usually cheaper and more reliable. Couriers make the most sense when you can’t attend an appointment yourself, or when every agency slot is taken.

Tracking Your Application

After submitting, check status at passportstatus.state.gov using your last name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number.¹¹ The State Department suggests waiting 14 business days after applying before checking, since it takes time to enter the system.¹²

The tracker shows general updates such as “In Process,” “Approved,” or “Mailed,” and you can sign up for email notifications. If your travel date is approaching and the status hasn’t budged, call NPIC at 1-877-487-2778. Agents can look into the file and, if you’re now within 14 days of departure, escalate it to a passport agency. Have your flight booked before calling; NPIC needs a concrete travel date to move you up the priority list.

1
U.S. Department of State. Processing Times for U.S. Passports
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U.S. Department of State. Make an Appointment at a Passport Agency or Center
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U.S. Department of State. Apply for Your Adult Passport
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U.S. Department of State. Apply for a Childs Passport Under 16
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U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
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U.S. Department of State. How to Get My U.S. Passport Fast
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United States Postal Service. Schedule An Appointment
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U.S. Department of State. Renew Your Passport Online
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U.S. Department of State. Get a Passport if You Have a Life-or-Death Emergency
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U.S. Department of State. Using a Passport Courier Company
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U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passport Application Status
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U.S. Department of State. Passport Application System