When applying for a passport, the last thing you want to do is wait in vain. Thus, it is helpful to know your passport application status to ensure its progress and determine the steps to take if something goes wrong. The United States Department of States offers several ways to track your passport application status. Here are some frequently asked questions about passport application status.
Table of Contents
How can I check my passport application status online?
You can check your passport application online by following the steps below:
- Go to the U.S. Department of State Online Passport Status System.
- Enter your name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security Number.
- Click the “Submit” button.
- After submitting your information, click on your record number listed below “Submitted Applications” to check the status of your case.
- If you do not see your record listed, mark the box “Unable to find a passport record.”
- Enter your email address after locating your pending application to receive automatic status updates.
It might take five to six weeks for you to receive a status update after you submit your passport application. You need to wait at least six weeks to track your passport application status online, by phone, or by email. These weeks are the period of time when your passport application and supporting documentation are in transit to a passport agency or center.
How can I check my passport application status by phone?
Contact the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 to check your passport application status by phone. For individuals with impaired hearing, you may contact 1-888-874-7793.
Whether you are checking your passport application status by phone, email, or online, you will need to furnish the following information:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Last four digits of your Social Security Number
The best hours to contact them are 8:30 p.m. and 9 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).
How can I check my passport application status via email?
Send an email to the National Passport Information Center at NPIC@state.gov to receive an update about your passport application status.
You will have to furnish the information below for them to locate your records:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Last four digits of your Social Security Number
- Application Number
Please allow up to five days for a response from the National Passport Information Center.
When should I call the National Passport Information Center?
You may contact the National Passport Information Center if you do not receive any update on your passport application status. You may also call them if you did not receive your passport after six weeks of checking its status online or by phone. They are open during normal business hours, Monday through Friday. You should not contact them on Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holidays.
The National Passport Information Center does not have exact records of when your passport will be mailed to you after it has been approved. Your passport will only be mailed to the address listed in your passport application. If you do not live in the United States, your passport will be mailed to your nearest U.S. Consulate or Embassy.
What if I did not receive a response from the National Passport Information Center after five days?
If you did not receive a response from the National Passport Information Center five days after your inquiry, you may contact them again through a phone call to ask for your concern.
What if I did not receive my passport after six weeks of checking its status with the National Passport Information Center?
Contact the National Passport Information Center to check on your case. It might take another six weeks for you to receive your passport if it was mailed out already. If your passport was not mailed out yet, contact them with any information you have that can help them resolve your case.
What information does the National Passport Information Center need before updating me on my passport application status?
The National Passport Information Center needs your name, date of birth, last four digits of your Social Security Number, or your U.S. passport number to locate your records in their system.
How do I check on the status of passport renewal?
All passport applications, including renewal and replacement, have the same process for tracking passport application status. You will have to contact the National Passport Information Center and provide your name, date of birth, last four digits of your Social Security Number, or U.S. passport number.
The U.S. Department of State recommends submitting your passport application through trackable mail so that you can monitor its progress before it enters their system.
Why does my passport application status say “not found”?
If you checked your passport application status and it says “not found,” your passport application may be in transit to a passport agency. There is a six-week waiting period after you submit your passport application to be able to track its status.
If it has been more than six weeks, you may contact the National Passport Information Center to check on your case.
Do passport applications get rejected?
Your passport application can be rejected during the approval process. If this happens, you will not receive your passport and will receive a notification of rejection by mail.
The most common reasons for a passport application rejection include incorrect information on your application and not having enough documentation.
If my passport application is rejected, can I still get a passport?
Yes. You have to resubmit your passport application if it gets rejected. However, obtaining a passport after rejection depends on the reason why your passport application got denied.
If your passport application was denied for minor reasons, such as incorrect or incomplete documentation, you may reapply. If the reason for passport denial is drug offenses, child support, or other crimes or felonies, you may be denied a passport until you serve your prison sentence or settle the issue.
What disqualifies a passport application?
The U.S. Department of State will only issue a passport to an eligible applicant. Disqualifying factors for U.S. passports include:
- Having a criminal record;
- Owing child support; and
- Not being able to provide proper identification when applying for a passport.
How soon can I check on the status of my passport renewal?
You will have to wait six weeks after submitting your passport application to check its status online or by phone.
Do you get a refund if your passport application is denied?
No. If your passport application is denied, all your passport fees except the expedite fee are not refunded.
How long are passport applications taking right now?
The amount of time it takes for a passport to be processed depends on the type of service you avail.
If you avail of the $60-expedited service, you can get your passport in 12 weeks. If you avail of the routine service, it may take 18 weeks before you receive your passport.
If you are in the United States and need to travel within ten weeks for life-or-death reasons or other legitimate cases requiring an emergency flight, you can get a rushed passport in eight business days.
To obtain a rushed passport, go to your local passport agency and schedule an appointment. Submit your passport application with the required documents to prove your situation, such as death certificates, a letter from a healthcare professional, or documentation from a mortuary.
You can also pay a private passport agency to expedite your application for $399, which may take up to six weeks of processing time.
Does it really take 4 to 6 weeks to get a passport?
No. You may get a new passport in 12 or 18 weeks. If you avail of the expedited service, the 12-week timeframe includes six weeks for processing and 5 to 6 weeks for mailing times on the front and back end.
If you avail of the routine service, the 18-week timeframe includes 12 weeks for processing and 5 to 6 weeks for mailing times on the front and back end.
How do I know if my passport application was approved?
To know if your passport application was approved, go to the U.S. Department of State Online Passport Status System. You may use it to track your passport application status.
If your passport application status reads “Approved,” it means it has been evaluated and will now start producing your finished passport.
How do you know if your passport application has been denied?
To know if your passport application was denied, go to the U.S. Department of State Online Passport Status System and check its status. You may also contact 1-877-487-2778 to check on your passport application status.
If your passport application’s status reads “Windows Validation Error” or “Check Application Status,” it means your passport application is still being reviewed and has not been approved or denied yet.
If the status reads “No Record Found,” it means that you have submitted a new passport application, but your old passport was approved.
You may also receive a letter from the U.S. Department of State if your passport application was denied due to insufficient or incorrect documents.
What if I make a mistake in my passport application?
If you made a mistake in your passport application, you may still correct it. You may know the steps here.
How long does it take to receive a passport after the check is cashed?
If your check is cashed, it means your passport application was received. You may check your passport application status online or by phone.
It may take four to six weeks for your finished passport to be produced and mailed to you if you availed of the routine service and two to three weeks for the expedited service.
Can I expedite my passport application after applying?
Yes, you may expedite your passport application after applying. Contact the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 and receive instructions on how to expedite your passport. Prepare $60 for the expedite fee.
How can I check my passport application status by SMS?
There is no option to check your passport application status via Short Message Service (SMS) in the United States. You may only do so by phone call, email, or online.
How long does it take to receive a passport after paying?
If you paid your passport fees, you will receive your new passport depending on the passport service you availed of.
It will take 18 weeks for your finished passport to be mailed to you if you availed of the routine service and 12 weeks if you availed of the expedited service.
What is the ARN in the passport application?
The Application Reference Number (ARN) is a unique number given to your passport application. It may be used as a reference when checking your passport status.
What does passport application status “In Process” mean?
If your passport application status says “In Process,” it means your passport application is currently being reviewed and has not been approved or denied yet. It also implies that the passport agency or center needs more time to approve or deny your passport application.
What does passport application status “Mailed” mean?
If your passport application status says “Mailed,” it means your passport has been mailed to your mailing address. You may check on the Online Passport Status System your tracking number.
Your supporting documents will be sent in a separate mailing.
What is a tracking number?
A tracking number is a number assigned to your passport application that you may check on the Online Passport Status System. It allows you to trace the status of your passport application.
What does passport application status “Not Available” mean?
If your passport application status says “Not Available,” it means your passport application is still in transit to a passport agency. You may recheck your passport application status after five to six weeks.
How long are passports good for?
Both passport books and passport cards are valid for ten years if you are age 16 or older. If you are below 16 years old, the validity period for both passports is five years.
Do you need to keep old passports?
Yes, you need to keep your old passport, especially if it is still valid. You may use it to renew a passport. You may also use it to prove your U.S. citizenship.
What if I am an adult and my father just applied for a passport for me?
All adult applicants are advised to get their own passports. Go to a passport acceptance facility and submit the following:
- Form DS-11 — Use Form DS-11, Application Form for New U.S. Passport, if you are a first-time applicant or applying for passport replacement due to damage.
- Form DS-82 — Use Form DS-82, U.S. Passport Renewal Application For Eligible Individuals, if you have an old yet valid passport.
- Citizenship Evidence — Submit an original and a photocopy of your citizenship evidence. If eligible for renewal, you may use your old yet valid passport book.
- Photo Identification — Submit an original and a photocopy of any government-issued identification. You may use your driver’s license.
- Passport Photo — Submit a valid passport photo. See guidelines to take a valid passport photo here.
- Name Change Document — If you had a name change, submit your marriage certificate, divorce decree, and other documents certifying your name change.
- Passport Fee — Passport fees vary on what type of passport you want to obtain. For a passport book, you need to pay a $110-application fee and a $35-execution fee. For a passport card, you need to pay a $30-application fee and a $35-execution fee. If you are eligible for passport book or passport card renewal, you do not have to pay the execution fee.
What should I do if my address has changed?
If your address has changed and you are expecting a passport delivery to your old address, you may call the National Passport Information Center or visit a passport agency to have your passport delivered to your new address.
What if I need my passport fast and the check has not been cashed yet?
If your cash is not yet cashed, it means the passport agency has not received your passport application. You may wait until six weeks to receive updates on your passport application status.
If you are in a rush, you may contact the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 and receive instructions on how to expedite your passport. Expect your passport to be produced and mailed to you in two to three weeks.
How do I make an appointment?
The U.S. Department of State allows individuals to make an appointment if they are in a life-or-death emergency or need urgent travel.
Our passport agencies and centers offer two types of appointments: Life-or-Death Emergency Service and Urgent Travel Service.
To make an appointment for a life-or-death emergency, contact the U.S. Department of State at:
- 1-877-487-2778 on Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M.
- 202-647-4000 outside the hours and day above
Making an appointment has special considerations. It is best to provide supplementary documents to support your situation. You may submit a medical or death certificate, a statement from a mortuary, or a letter from a hospital.