Passport Processing Wait Times Have Finally Gotten a Lot Quicker

U.S. passport wait times have finally returned to normal, the U.S. Department of State announced this week. The current wait times for those who applied on or after Dec. 18, 2023 are now six to eight weeks for routine service and two to three weeks for expedited service, with an added cost of $60.

The backlog was initially triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, when international travel came screeching to a halt. As a result, the federal agency laid off contractors and reassigned staff that had been in charge of processing passports. However, when travel resumed, the State Department was unprepared for the inundation of applications. A record number of passports (22 million) were issued in 2022, with 2023 expected to surpass that number.

From January through May of 2023, a record-breaking 500,000 applications were being submitted each week, with standard processing times sometimes exceeding 10 to 13 weeks for a new or renewed passport and seven to nine weeks for expedited service. There are currently over 160 million valid U.S. passports in circulation; nearly double what there was in 2007.

But while this is undoubtedly good news for travelers, there are still workarounds for those who need their passports quicker than even two to three weeks. By making an in-person appointment at one of 26 passport agencies across the U.S., you can apply for an "urgent travel" expedited passport and receive your documentation in just days or even hours.

There are also exceptions for life-or-death emergencies, in the instance you need to visit immediate family members outside of the United States who are sick or dying.

For those who have already applied for a passport, you can check the status of your application online.