You never thought it could happen to y'all: you have the take a chance to keep the trip of a lifetime – but it's a final-minute opportunity and you lot don't have a passport! Or maybe you do have a passport, only you've just realized it's expired and your airplane leaves in days.

Whatever the scenario, you need a passport, and you need it ASAP. Standard passport service through the postal service office now takes 6-eight weeks, but don't panic! Nosotros're going to walk you lot through how to get an expedited passport, pace-by-stride.

Step 1: Decide How Quickly You lot Need Your PassportUnited States passport with the headshot and information blurred out

If you're planning to exit the country in the next 8 weeks, yous'll need some type of expedited passport service. If you want to go your passport in time, it's important to choose the correct expediting method from the list below.

Expedited Passport Service at the Post Function (ii-three weeks)

You tin request expedited service at the post function (or another passport acceptance function).  You'll pay a $60 expedite fee forth with your regular application fees. And if you want overnight commitment, you'll pay an additional aircraft fee. Expediting at the post office will but go you two-3 week service and it'due south not guaranteed. If at that place are whatsoever issues with your documents, your passport will exist delayed.

Pro Tip: Is your mail service role always busy and slow? Use this tool to look for other passport acceptance offices nearby. For example, you might exist able to apply at a local library or county clerk'south function.

Expedited Service at a Passport Bureau (less than 2 weeks)

If yous're leaving in eight days or less, yous can make an date at one of the State Department'south regional passport agencies. You are likewise eligible for an appointment if y'all're leaving in the adjacent month and need to get a visa before you travel. Passport agencies will generally get your passport to you within viii business concern days.  But if you need information technology sooner, they volition attempt to accommodate yous.

At a regional passport agency, you'll pay the same additional $60 expedite fee you'd pay if you were applying for passport expedited service at the post office.

What'due south the catch? At that place are merely 26 regional passport agencies serving the entire state. And then, yous may accept to travel to go to the nearest i. Too, passport agencies tend to have limited operating hours and an engagement is ofttimes required. If you lot piece of work during the 24-hour interval and tin can't become time off, this may not exist an pick for you.

Using a Passport Expediting Company (less than ii weeks)

If you're in too much of a hurry to wait for the post office, but yous can't (or don't desire to) go far to a nearest regional passport agency, so consider using a passport expediting company. A registered passport expediting company will hand-carry your application documents to the Department of State, for processing in as little as 24 hours. Then, they'll ship your new passport dorsum to you, usually overnight.

Even if you lot have 2-three weeks before you lot leave, an expediting visitor might exist a good idea.  Some companies offer a less expensive, bones option that still gets your passport to you lot in 10-12 business days.  Using an expediter reduces the run a risk of mistakes that could filibuster your awarding. If at that place is a holdup at the passport office, the expediting company can inform yous immediately so yous tin correct it.

If yous decide to utilise an expediting company, the start thing you'll do is place an lodge. When you place the social club, you'll pay the expediting visitor for handling your application for you. So, you'll pay the regime fees separately. And yes, you'll have to pay the $threescore regime expedite fee every bit well.

Step two:  Gather Your Documents

If you're using an expediting company, that company will probably assist you assemble the documents y'all need. At RushMyPassport, nosotros transport out a detailed checklist and assign a case manager to help you lot with any questions or problems.

What documents do you need to become a passport? It depends. Below, we've listed the requirements for the nearly mutual passport scenarios.

New PassportsUnited States Passport book

If you've never had a passport before, or if your electric current passport is not eligible to renew by mail, so yous'll need the following documents:

  • Proof of Identity: State Department-approved photo IDs include a commuter's license or state ID card, a previous US passport or passport card, Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship, military ID or authorities ID bill of fare. Y'all'll need the original and a photocopy of the front and back.
  • Proof of Citizenship:  Submit either a previous Us passport, a certified birth document, Document of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship, or Consular Report of Nativity Away.
  • One passport photo.
  • Passport fees. For new passports, in that location'southward an application fee of $110 for a passport volume, $xxx for a passport card and $140 for both. There's also an execution fee of $35, too as a $60 expedite fee. Learn more than about passport fees here.
  • Passport Application Class DS-11
  • Going to a Passport Agency or using an expediting service? You'll need a copy of your itinerary, also. However, business travelers who haven't booked a flight yet can employ a letter from their employer.

Lost or Stolen Passports

You'll need everything that's listed nether new passports, plus Course DS-64, Statement Regarding a Lost or Stolen U.S. Passport.

Passports for Childrena child in a yellow shirt holding a passport, plane ticket and carryon bag

To apply for a passport, children must appear at a post office or passport credence office in person.

For children under 16, both parents must come in with the kid. Bring the following documents:

  • Proof of identity for the parents, as described above.
  • Proof of citizenship for the kid.
  • Evidence of the child'south relationship to the parents or guardians, such as a nascence document or courtroom order.
  • One passport photograph.
  • Passport Application Form DS-11
  • Passport fees.  The passport application fees for children are $eighty for a passport book, $fifteen for a passport carte and $95 for both.  The execution fee remains $35, and the expedite fee is yet $60.
  • Going to a Passport Agency or using an expediting service? Yous'll need a copy of your itinerary, too."

If but one parent can make information technology, bring one of the post-obit:

  • Form DS-3053, filled out, notarized and signed by the absent-minded parent.
  • Proof of sole custody, if applicative, or a death certificate if the other parent is deceased.
  • If you don't know where the other parent is, include grade DS-5525 explaining why you are non able to contact them.

Children xvi and 17 tin utilize past themselves if they have their own identification, just it's all-time to bring at least one parent to demonstrate "parental sensation."

Passport Renewals

You may be eligible to skip the passport office altogether if you lot already take a passport. If all the following statements utilise to your most recent passport book or carte du jour, you can utilize Class DS-82 and renew by postal service.

  • Your about recent passport is still in your possession and has never been reported lost or stolen.
  • Information technology's less than 15 years old.
  • Information technology was valid for a full 10 years and non a limited validity passport.
  • It is in the name you currently use OR you tin submit legal documentation like a marriage certificate or court order to back up a proper noun change asking.

If you're non eligible to renew by mail, follow the instructions above for applying for a new passport.

If you are eligible, you lot'll need the following:

  • Your most recent United states of america passport (book or bill of fare).
  • Passport renewal awarding Form DS-82.
  • One passport photo.
  • Passport fees: $110 for a passport book, $thirty for a passport bill of fare, $140 for both, plus the $threescore expedite fee. You tin can learn more about passport fees here.
  • Going to a Passport Bureau or using an expediting service? Y'all'll need a re-create of your itinerary, as well. All the same, business travelers who haven't booked a flight all the same can apply a letter from their employer. Going to a Passport Agency or using an expediting service? You'll demand a copy of your itinerary

Footstep three: Make full out the application.

Filling out an expedited passport application

Side by side, fill up out the application form. If you tin, fill out the form online and print it. This will ensure that your application isn't delayed because the passport function can't read your handwriting.

If you don't have access to a printer, you tin can get a re-create of the application at the mail function. Fill it out in blackness ink, and write neatly.

If you're using Form DS-11, don't sign it until you're in front of an agent at the postal service function!

Footstep four:  Get to the passport part (if required).

Unless you're doing a passport renewal by mail, yous'll have to get to the postal service role even if you're using a passport expediting company.

If you're not using an expediting company, the post office will review your documents and transport the application off to the Country Department for processing in 2-iii weeks.

If you lot are using an expediting visitor, the passport amanuensis will "seal" your application package for you. You'll follow the visitor'southward instructions to ship your awarding to them for processing in the time frame y'all ordered.

Pro Tip: If you lot're applying at a regional passport agency, exist at least 30 minutes early to let for security screening. And retrieve, you lot must be in that location at your designated date fourth dimension, but that doesn't hateful a passport agent will be able to see you immediately. Just similar a md's function, you might take to wait to be seen. So, permit some extra time.

Stride five: Expect for your new passport to make it.Passport booklet with a travel ticket blurred in the background

Now, the only matter left to do is wait.  If you expedited through the post office, you tin can rail your awarding here.

If yous used an expediting company, you should receive updates on your gild as its processed. If you use RushMyPassport, you tin rail your gild here, and agents are bachelor past telephone, email or live chat to assist yous if you have further questions.

Need a passport, fast? Don't accept the fourth dimension or the patience for a trip to a passport agency? Bank check out our expedited passport services and see why RushMyPassport is the most user-friendly manner to get a passport in a hurry!