How to Expedite a U.S. Passport Application You Already Submitted

If you’ve applied for a U.S. passport using routine processing, but your travel date is closer than expected, don’t panic; you may still have options. Depending on how soon you need to travel, you may be able to upgrade your passport application to expedited processing, request faster return delivery, or request urgent travel assistance through the National Passport Information Center.

Important distinction: Upgrading to expedited service is not the same as getting an emergency passport appointment at a regional passport agency. Expedited processing is an upgrade to the speed of your existing application. Urgent and life-or-death emergency cases follow a separate escalation path.

Can You Expedite a Passport Application After Submitting It?

Yes, in many cases, you can request expedited service after submitting a routine passport application. The State Department instructs applicants who need their passports sooner to call and discuss available options. You should have either your application number or your last name and date of birth ready.

Requesting expedited service after submitting your application for routine processing:

• Does not restart the passport application process.
• Does not guarantee delivery by a specific date.
• Does not automatically create an urgent passport appointment at a regional passport agency.

It is a request to upgrade the processing and shipping path on an application that is already in the system. To upgrade your application’s processing from routine to expedited, follow these steps:

Step 1: Check Your Passport Application Status

Before calling, check your passport application status online. You may need your last name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number if you are checking manually.

• If your status says “In Process”: Your application is being reviewed. This is usually the point where calling the National Passport Information Center to request expedited service makes the most sense.
• If your status says “Approved”: Your application has already been approved and is moving toward printing or mailing. At this stage, ask about faster return delivery for your completed passport book instead of paying to speed up processing that may already be finished.
• If your status says “Passport Mailed”: Look for the tracking information and follow all updates. If you have questions about tracking, call the National Passport Information Center.
• If your status says “Additional Information Needed”: Your application is on hold. Expediting may not help until you respond to the letter or email requesting the missing information.

Step 2: Call to Request Expedited Service

If you need your passport sooner and your status is “In Process,” your best option is to call the National Passport Information Center. You may request to upgrade your application’s processing to expedited service for the standard $60 fee.

How to upgrade processing from routine to expedited:

1. Check your application status online first.
2. Find your application number, if available, and gather your personal information.
3. Call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778.
4. Ask to add expedited service to your pending passport application.
5. Write down any confirmation number, payment instructions, or next steps you receive.

Step 3: Add Faster Return Delivery if Available

If your passport application is for a passport book, ask whether you can add faster return delivery when you call the National Passport Information Center.

The State Department currently lists 1–3 day delivery for a completed passport book at $22.05. This option is not available for passport cards, which are sent by First Class Mail.

Faster return delivery only speeds up the shipping timeline after your passport is approved and mailed. It does not speed up the actual passport review process.

What if You Are Traveling Soon?

If you have already applied and you are traveling internationally within 14 days, you may need an appointment at a regional passport agency or center. If you need a foreign visa, the appointment window may extend to 28 days before travel.

Because your application is already in the system, you cannot use the online appointment scheduler. You must call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778. Appointment availability is not guaranteed.

Important reminders:

• You must have proof of international travel, such as a flight itinerary.
• You must have an appointment to be seen at a regional passport agency or center.
• Walk-ins are not allowed.
• The State Department does not charge a fee to make an appointment.

Tip: If your application is stuck “In Process” and your travel is days away, you may also consider contacting your local U.S. Representative or Senator. Congressional constituent service teams can sometimes submit a formal inquiry to the passport agency on your behalf.

What if You Have a Life-or-Death Emergency?

Life-or-death emergency service may be available if you need to travel internationally within 14 days because an immediate family member outside the United States has died, is dying in hospice care, or has a life-threatening illness or injury. Immediate family includes a parent, legal guardian, child, spouse, sibling, or grandparent.

If this describes your situation, call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 immediately and ask about a life-or-death emergency appointment.

Required life-or-death emergency documentation may include:

• A death certificate, statement from a mortuary, or hospital letter.
• A professional English translation if the document is not in English.
• Proof of international travel within 14 days.

Can a Passport Expediter Help After You Already Applied?

Usually, a registered passport expediter is most useful before an urgent passport application is submitted. Once your application is already in the State Department system, your options are typically limited to contacting the National Passport Information Center to request expedited service, add faster return delivery, or seek an urgent passport agency appointment.

If you already submitted your application, be cautious about paying anyone who promises to “pull” your passport application or guarantee faster processing. In reality, the State Department—not a private company—controls the pending application, and expediters cannot intercept an application once it is in government hands.

What if Your Application Status Says “Not Available”?

It can take up to two weeks from the day you apply for your application to appear as “In Process.” During that time, your application and supporting documents may still be moving through mail, intake, payment processing, and data entry.

• If it has been less than two weeks: It is common for the status to be unavailable. Keep monitoring the status online.
• If it has been more than two weeks and your payment has not been processed: Use your mail tracking number to confirm delivery, or contact the National Passport Information Center.
• If payment has processed but no status appears: Call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 because there may be a data issue with your application.

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