How to get a US passport fast
Pay $60 to expedite your application, and $26.87 more for 1 to 3 day return delivery. If you travel abroad within 14 days, or need a foreign visa within 28 days, book an in-person appointment at a passport agency or center: online if you haven’t applied yet, or by phone at 1-877-487-2778 if you have. Booking is free. Online renewal is for routine service only.
Option 1: expedite your application
Add the $60 expedite fee when you apply in person or renew by mail. You can also pay $26.87 for 1 to 3 day return delivery of a passport book; pay it with a separate check or money order. Processing times change, so check the current times on the State Department’s processing times page before you choose.
Online renewal is for routine service only. If you need your passport fast, apply in person or renew by mail with the expedite fee. See all passport fees.
Option 2: urgent travel within 14 days
If you travel abroad in the next 14 days, or need a foreign visa in the next 28 days, you can get an appointment at a passport agency or center. How you book depends on whether you have applied yet:
- Not applied yet: use the online appointment system. It books up to 7 people in one household and holds your slot for 15 minutes while you finish.
- Already applied: call 1-877-487-2778, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern Time (TTY 888-874-7793).
The State Department does not charge a fee to book an appointment. Anyone who asks for money to book one is not the State Department.
What to bring to an urgent appointment
- Proof of travel, such as a ticket or itinerary; staff check it on the day
- Your filled-in form (DS-11, or DS-82 if you can renew)
- Proof of citizenship and a photo ID
- One passport photo, 2 × 2 inches
- The fees, including the $60 expedite fee
Option 3: a life-or-death emergency
If an immediate family member abroad has died, is dying or in hospice care, or has a life-threatening illness or injury, and you travel within 2 weeks, you can ask for a life-or-death emergency appointment. Immediate family means parents or guardians, children, spouses, siblings and grandparents.
Bring proof of the emergency, such as a death certificate or a signed letter from the hospital on letterhead (with a translation if it isn’t in English), proof of travel, your form, a photo and ID. Call 1-877-487-2778 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time, or 202-647-4000 after hours, on weekends and on holidays.
Do you need a private expediting company?
No. The State Department says courier companies can’t get your passport processed faster than you can on your own. Their fees are extra and not refunded by the Department. If you apply with Form DS-11, you still have to appear in person at an acceptance facility.
Don’t let the photo slow you down
A rejected photo can delay your passport. You can take the photo at home, check it against every rule before you pay and print it the same day. See why passport photos get rejected.
Already have a photo? Check it free with the passport photo checker. Every rule in one place: passport photo requirements.
Questions
How much does it cost to expedite a passport?
$60, plus $26.87 if you also want 1 to 3 day return delivery of a passport book.
What is the fastest way to get a passport?
If you travel within 14 days, book an urgent appointment at a passport agency or center and bring proof of travel. Otherwise, apply with the $60 expedite fee and pay $26.87 for 1 to 3 day return delivery.
Can I expedite an online renewal?
No. Online renewal is for routine service. To get a passport fast, renew by mail or apply in person with the $60 expedite fee.
Does it cost money to book an urgent appointment?
No. The State Department doesn’t charge a fee to make appointments.
Sources: Get your passport fast - travel.state.gov , Passport agencies and centers - travel.state.gov , Life-or-death emergencies - travel.state.gov , Courier companies - travel.state.gov , Passport fees - travel.state.gov . Checked Oct 18, 2026. How we keep rules accurate