How to Get an Urgent Passport Correction in Two Weeks or Less

If you need an urgent passport correction in two weeks or less and standard or regular expedited processing isn't fast enough, your best option is to apply directly at a Regional Passport Agency.

You can either make an appointment and attend yourself or hire a registered passport expediting service to manage the process on your behalf.

This guide is exclusively for American citizens who:

• Received a U.S. passport issued with errors (e.g., a misspelled name, incorrect gender, misprinted data, or a defective chip) and
• Need a corrected passport in less than 14 days due to immediate international travel.

This urgent passport guide explains how to fix passport errors quickly-step by step-so you can travel without delays or documentation issues.

How to Get an Urgent Passport Correction in 5 Steps

Follow these five steps to get a corrected passport issued in two weeks or less:

Step #1: Determine Eligibility

To qualify for urgent processing, the applicant must be either:

• A U.S. citizen, or
• A qualifying non-citizen national

To process an urgent passport correction request quickly, you must also:

• Complete Form DS-5504 (for corrections to passport data, name changes, or replacing limited-validity books);
• Submit your passport with the error;
• Provide a signed statement describing the error;
• Include evidence showing the correct data, if applicable (e.g., birth certificate, legal documents);
• Include a new passport photo if the original passport was issued more than 90 days ago;
• Provide acceptable proof of immediate international travel within 14 days (or 28 days if a foreign visa is also required);
• Appear in person at a Regional Passport Agency to sign and swear an oath before a passport agent or use a registered passport expediter.

*Acceptable proof of urgent travel includes confirmed flight itineraries, hotel bookings, cruise tickets, or border crossing documentation.

Step #2: Gather Required Documents and Fees

Documents for an Urgent Passport Correction

To apply for a passport correction, prepare the following:

• Form DS-5504
  • Download the form here and fill it out clearly in black ink.
  • Important: Do not sign until your appointment!
• Your current passport containing the error.
• A signed statement explaining the error and requesting correction.
• Evidence showing the correct information, such as:
• Certified U.S. birth certificate,
• Court order, or
• Marriage or divorce certificate.
• Photocopies of all identification and citizenship documents.
• One passport photo, if it's been over 90 days since your passport was issued.
• Proof of Immediate Travel: (e.g., airline ticket, travel itinerary).

Urgent Passport Correction Fees

Passport corrections are free if:

• The error was made by the U.S. Passport Agency, and
• The correction request is submitted during the first year of the passport's issuance.

Passport corrections are not free and may require a fee in certain situations, such as:

• The correction is requested more than one year after passport issuance. If the passport was issued more than 1 year ago, a correction is treated as a renewal, and standard fees apply.

Example: You discover a typo in your name two years after receiving your passport.

• The error was made by the applicant, not the U.S. Department of State. If you made a mistake on your application (e.g., incorrect birth date or name) and it was printed that way, you must pay to correct it. Only Department of State errors qualify for a free correction.
• You're requesting a change, not a correction. Changes like updating your name due to marriage/divorce or upgrading a limited-validity passport are not considered "corrections" and generally require a new application and payment.
• You're requesting expedited processing. Even if the correction itself qualifies as free, requesting faster service (like 1-2 week processing) requires paying the expedited fee

• Standard Fee, if applicable
• Expedited service fee
• Execution (acceptance) fee

• Check or money order
• Exact cash
• Major credit/debit card
• Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Current fees :

Hidden Costs to Consider for Urgent Passport Corrections

Although corrections themselves are often free, costs can add up when urgent travel is involved:

• Travel expenses (transportation, hotel, meals)
• Lost wages or personal time from missing work
• Additional logistics or childcare costs

Use our guide Understanding the Hidden Costs of Urgent Passport Applications and planning worksheet to calculate your total expenses before deciding whether to travel to an agency or hire an expediter.

Tip: If you live far from one of the 26 Regional Passport Agencies, hiring a professional registered passport expediter can save you time, stress, and last-minute travel costs.

Step #3: Schedule Your Appointment

Appointments at Regional Passport Agencies are required. You must book an appointment through the State Department's Online Passport Appointment System. Check out our guide for scheduling a passport appointment. Slots are limited, so book your appointment as early as possible to secure timely processing.

Tip: A registered passport expediter may be able to secure a faster appointment on your behalf or submit the correction request directly for you.

Choose the location of the agency or processing center below that is nearest to you:

Step #4: Attend Your Scheduled Appointment

• The applicant must be present.
• The applicant will sign DS-5504 in front of the passport agent.
• Clearly label your request as a correction; write "Urgent Attention: Correction."
• Present all required documents, your passport with the error, and proof of travel.

If all paperwork is correct and approved, your new passport may be ready the same day or within a few business days, depending on the agency's processing speed.

Using an Expediting Service Instead?

If you can't travel to a passport agency, an authorized passport expediter can help:

• Visit a passport acceptance facility (like a post office) to have your documents verified.
• The acceptance agent will seal your paperwork in an official envelope and send the sealed envelope via overnight delivery to your expediter.
• The expediter will hand-deliver your documents to the passport agency.
• Your corrected passport is shipped to you directly once approved.

Using a trusted expediter can dramatically reduce turnaround time, and it may be your best option for same-day or next-day issuance.

Step #5: Track Your Passport Status

After submitting your correction request, monitor your application through the U.S. State Department's Passport Status Portal.

You can also contact the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 for live updates and support.

Check out our full guide to Tracking Your Passport Status Updates for more help.

Quick Reminders for Urgent Passport Corrections

• Corrections requested within the first year of issue result in a new 10-year passport.
• Corrections after one year are still free, but may not extend the expiration date.
• Your current passport will not be returned after correction.
• Don't sign your passport until you confirm it's error-free.

Need Your Passport Fixed Fast? Make the Right Choice.

Passport errors happen, but waiting too long to fix them can ruin your trip.

At U.S. Passport Service Guide, we've helped thousands of travelers correct mistakes and get updated passports fast.

Get help from a trusted, registered passport expediting service here.

Still deciding? See what unexpected costs your should prepare for.

Top 5 Questions About Expedited Passport Couriers