If you ever find yourself in a situation where you need to urgently travel abroad, make sure that your passport is valid and up-to-date. In order to ensure that your passport is ready for use at any time, the United States Department of State recommends you apply for a passport ahead of your travel date. However, if you failed to do so and you were faced with unpredictable emergencies or circumstances requiring you to travel internationally, passport expediting services might be the solution.
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Do I need a rush passport?
You may need a rush passport if you:
- have a life-or-death emergency;
- have urgent international travel plans within two weeks, or need a foreign visa within four weeks; or
- need to travel in the next ten to fourteen weeks.
The United States Department of States recommends that you take action to apply for a rush passport at least three weeks before your scheduled international travel or expedite rush passport service.
What is a rush passport?
Rush passports refer to the rush processing of a regular United States passport application. The Department of State offers rush passport service in emergencies and at an additional fee. During these rush passport services, the rush passport agency works to process your application as quickly as possible.
Can I get a passport in a week?
Yes, you can get a passport in a week if you have a life-or-death emergency that requires you to travel to a foreign country or region within 72 hours.
If you are in the United States and your travel date is at the moment, you may book an appointment with the U.S. Department of State to apply for the Life-or-Death Emergency Service that takes up to 72 hours or three days of processing time. However, you must be eligible to apply for this service. You are eligible if your immediate family member is outside of the United States, and he or she is:
- has died;
- is dying; or
- has a life-threatening illness or injury.
Your chances to book an appointment or qualify for the Life-or-Death Emergency Service may improve if you have valid and solid documents that may supplement your situation. Some of the documents you may attach to your passport application are a police report, death certificate, letter from a healthcare professional, or documentation from a mortuary.
How to book an appointment for the Life-or-Death Emergency Service?
To book an appointment for rush passport service, you may either visit or call the Department of State office.
According to the U.S. Department of State, here are the steps you must take to book an appointment for the emergency passport:
- Provide documentation of the emergency. You may do so by obtaining a death certificate, a statement from a mortuary, or a letter from the hospital where your immediate family was confined.
- You must translate the documentation you provided into English if it is written in a foreign language. You do not have to notarize your document.
- Provide evidence of your urgent flight in the next 72 hours. You may do so by obtaining an itinerary or airline ticket.
- Complete your passport application.
- Contact the U.S. Department of State to inquire whether you qualify for the Life-or-Death Emergency Service. If you qualify, they will try to make an appointment for you. However, they cannot guarantee that you will have your passport in time for your travel.
For the contact information, you must refer below:
Contact 1-877-487-2778/ 1-888-874-7793 (TTY/TDD) on Mondays through Fridays, 8:00 in the morning to 8:00 in the evening.
If you have an emergency after 8:00 in the evening of Mondays through Sundays and during federal holidays, you may contact 202-647-4000.
Who is an immediate family member?
In order for you to qualify for the Life-or-Death Emergency Service, you must prove that the person you need to rush to is your immediate family.
The U.S. Department of State defines immediate family members as:
- spouse;
- parents;
- legal guardians;
- children (including children-in-law and adopted children);
- siblings (including half, steps, and adoptive siblings); or
- grandparents.
They do not consider the following immediate family members as a valid reason for the Life-or-Death Emergency Service:
- uncle;
- aunt;
- nephew;
- niece;
- cousin;
- brother-in-law;
- sister-in-law; or
- other relatives not mentioned above.
Can you get a passport in ten days?
Yes, you can get a rush passport in ten days.
You may apply for the Urgent Travel Service of the U.S. Department of State at limited passport agencies or centers if you have urgent international flights within two weeks or need a foreign visa within four weeks.
The U.S. Department of State recommends that you call your agency or center beforehand to confirm the details about the rush passport application and schedule an appointment or ask for a rush submission.
Here are the lists of available passport agencies or centers you can contact or visit:
- Arkansas Passport Center
- Atlanta Passport Agency
- Boston Passport Agency
- Buffalo Passport Agency
- Chicago Passport Agency
- Colorado Passport Agency
- Connecticut Passport Agency
- Dallas Passport Agency
- Detroit Passport Agency
- El Paso Passport Agency
- Honolulu Passport Agency
- Houston Passport Agency
- Los Angeles Passport Agency
- Miami Passport Agency
- Minneapolis Passport Agency
- National Passport Center
- New Orleans Passport Center
- New York Passport Agency
- Philadelphia Passport Agency
- San Diego Passport Agency
- San Francisco Passport Agency
- San Juan Passport Agency
- Seattle Passport Agency
- Vermont Passport Agency
- Washington Passport Agency
- Western Passport Center
- Special Issuance Agency – Located in Washington, DC, this agency issues diplomatic, official, service, and no-fee regular passports, and facilitates visa processing for those traveling on behalf of the U.S. government. You will not be able to access this webpage if you’re not browsing the web on a U.S. government-issued computer or mobile device.
Where can I get a passport in 24 hours?
For the Life-or-Death Emergency Service, you can apply for rush passport renewal at any U.S. passport agency or center that offers expedited services with a local acceptance agent.
However, the chance for you to obtain a passport in 24 hours is low, so you may consider applying for a rush passport at a private expediting company. It may cost up to $799, depending on your rush passport choice.
To avoid such expensive fees, you must apply for a passport ahead of time at a passport agency or center.
How much does a same-day passport cost?
The cost of a same-day passport depends on your passport application and the company where you rush your passport.
Most private companies that expedite passports in 24 hours offer rush passport applications that range from $299 to $799.
Can I get an expedited passport at a post office?
Yes, you can rush a passport at a post office. You can get a passport in two to three weeks.
Is expedited passport service worth it?
Whether rush passport application is worth it depends on your situation.
If you need to rush to an emergency, the rush service may be helpful. However, if you can apply for a passport ahead of time at a local acceptance facility or post office, then there is no need to rush the process. This way, you can save money since rush passport applications are more expensive compared to regular application procedures.
What if I travel in the next 10 to 14 weeks?
If you need a passport to travel in the next ten to fourteen weeks, you must apply for expedited service at a passport acceptance facility or by mail.
To apply for an expedited passport at an acceptance facility, here are the steps you must take.
- Fill out Form DS-11. Form DS-11, Application Form for New U.S. Passport, is used to apply for a new passport or replace your damaged, lost, or stolen passport. You may fill out your Form DS-11 at home. However, you must sign it in front of a passport acceptance agent.
- Together with your Form DS-11, you must submit the following:
- A valid passport photo;
- Citizenship evidence;
- Old yet valid passport if renewing by mail;
- Photo identification;
- Name change documents, if applicable; and
- Passport fees. For adult passport applicants, you need to pay the application fee of $110 for a passport book and $30 for a passport card. For minor passport applicants, you need to pay the application fee of $80 for a passport book and $15 for a passport card. Both passport applicants need to pay the constant $35-execution fee unless they renew their passports by mail.
- Include an additional $60 for the expedited service fee.
- Contact your local acceptance facility to determine if an appointment is required.
To apply for an expedited passport by mail, here are the steps you must take.
- Fill out Form DS-82. Form DS-82, U.S. Passport Renewal Application For Eligible Individuals, if you are eligible to renew your old passport by mail. You can file Form DS-82 if you have your old yet valid passport in your possession.
- Complete your passport application requirements.
- Include a check or money order payable to “U.S. Department of State” for your passport fees, including the additional $60 for the expedited service fee.
- Place your passport application in an envelope. Then, mark the outside of the envelope with “EXPEDITE.”
How much is a rush passport?
The cost of a rush or expedited passport depends on the processing time and the company where you rush your passport.
A rush or expedited passport is more expensive than a regular passport application as it ensures faster delivery time compared to regular passports, which take 18 weeks to process.
Most rush passport companies offer rush passports for $299 to $799. However, if you apply for an expedited passport at a passport agency or center or passport acceptance facility, you may get it for $60.
The $60 is in addition to your passport fees. Refer below for the breakdown of your passport fees.
- For minors:
Passport book = $80
Passport card = $15
- For adults:
Passport book = $110
Passport card = $30
- Execution Fee for Adult and Minor Passport Applicants
Applying for a New Passport = $35
Replacing a Lost, Damaged, or Stolen Passport = $35
What’s the quickest way to get a passport?
The quickest way to get a passport is to apply for expedited service. If you have a life-or-death emergency, you can get your passport within 24 to 72 hours at a passport agency or center. However, you need to submit the necessary documents to prove your emergency situation.
If you do not have an emergency, the quickest way to get your passport is to rush it through a private rush passport company using a priority mail service. It may be costly, but the chance for you to get a rush passport is higher.
Can I get a passport in less than a week?
Yes, you can get a passport in less than a week, especially if you have a life-or-death emergency that requires you to travel within 72 hours.
Call your local passport agency or center to book an appointment.
Why are passports taking so long?
There are many factors why your passport application is taking so long to be processed. Some of the reasons are technical, such as:
- missing documents in your passport application;
- you submitted incorrect documents;
- you did not include your passport fees; or
- your passport photo is invalid.
Other reasons include:
- the volume of passport applications;
- fragmented information;
- technical system downtime; or
- security procedures.
What do I need to get a rush passport?
The documents you need to get a rush passport depends on your passport application type. It includes whether you are applying for a new passport, replacement, or renewal.
The documents you need to apply for a new passport are:
- Form DS-11;
- Citizenship evidence;
- Passport Photo;
- Photo identification; and
- Passport fees.
If your passport was lost or stolen, you must submit the following:
- Form DS-64, Statement Regarding A Lost Or Stolen U.S. Passport Book And/Or Card — Form DS-64 serves as your signed statement explaining that your passport was lost or stolen.
- Form DS-11;
- Citizenship evidence;
- Passport Photo;
- Name change documents, if applicable;
- Photo identification; and
- Passport fees.
If your passport was damaged, you must submit the following:
- Damaged U.S. passport;
- Signed Statement explaining the damage;
- Form DS-11;
- Citizenship evidence;
- Photo identification;
- Name change documents, if applicable;
- Passport photo; and
- Passport fees.
If you have an old yet valid passport, you may submit the following by mail:
- Form DS-82;
- Citizenship evidence;
- Photo identification;
- Name change documents, if applicable;
- Passport photo; and
- Passport fees.
What if I have urgent travel and I only have my expired passport? Can I use it to travel?
No, you cannot use your expired passport to board a flight. Your expired passport is considered invalid if you will use it to board a flight. However, you may use it to apply for renewal by mail if it is still valid.
Submit your expired passport with the necessary documents by mail and add $60 to expedite your passport application.
You may be able to apply for an expedited passport in 24 hours if you have a life-or-death emergency. Provide documents to back up your situation.
Can you pay extra to get your passport faster?
Yes, you can pay extra to get your passport faster. The fee to expedite your passport is $60. It is in addition to your regular passport fees.
What happens if my passport doesn’t come in time?
If your passport does not come in time, you may contact the passport acceptance facility or passport agency where you sent your passport application.
Can you get a temporary passport?
Yes, you can get a temporary passport in special circumstances. Usually, you can get a temporary or limited validity emergency passport if you are outside the United States and your passport was lost or stolen.
To obtain a temporary passport, you must go to the nearest U.S. consular or embassy and submit the following documents:
- Form DS-11;
- Form DS-64;
- Citizenship evidence;
- Photo identification;
- Passport photo;
- Passport fees; and
- Travel itinerary.
Do passports really take four to six weeks?
Yes, it normally takes up to four to six weeks for regular passport processing. If you need your passport sooner, rush services are available.
Do you get a refund if your passport is denied?
No, you do not get a refund if your passport is denied.
The U.S. Department of State does not refund the application and execution fees you paid for a passport book or passport card. However, they may refund the $60 you paid for expedited service under certain circumstances.
You may request a refund on your expedited fee if you have reason to believe that you did not receive expedited service. This situation may include your passport application being denied or rejected.
To request a refund on your expedited fee, you may visit the official website of the U.S. Department of State and fill out the Expedite Refund Request Form. You must provide the following information:
- Name
- Email address
- Mailing address
- Phone number
- Application number
- Reason for refund
Once the U.S. Department of State receives your form, your refund may be processed for up to six weeks.