Here’s Why Now Is the Best Time to Renew Your Passport

Passport processing times are back to a “pre-pandemic norm," the U.S. State Department announced.

Passport processing times have once again returned to normal, pre-pandemic levels.

Passports are now being processed within six to eight weeks for routine service and two to three weeks for expedited service, the U.S. Department of State said this week referring to the timeline as a “pre-pandemic norm.”

“With this update, we have fulfilled our commitment to return to benchmarks from March 2020,” the State Department said in a statement. “This reflects the work of dedicated employees working for the American people.”

For months, passports have been taking unusually long to process, with wait times reaching as long as up to 18 weeks during the height of the pandemic. But processing times had started to ease this year and had dropped down to eight to 11 weeks in October, and seven to 10 weeks in November.

The higher-than-usual processing times also came as the State Department saw “unprecedented demand for passports” this year, issuing the most passports in the department’s history. In total, the Department issued more than 24 million passport books and cards from October 2022 to September 2023.

While processing times have decreased, the State Department still encourages Americans to apply for a passport “well in advance of any planned international travel to avoid last-minute issues.”

Travelers may apply for a passport in person or by mail, and can check the status of that application by enrolling in email updates. Renewing passport books costs $130, according to the State Department. Expedited service costs an additional $60.

The State Department has also rolled out “Special Passport Acceptance Fairs” in-person in public spaces like libraries, recreation centers, and local city administrative offices. These passport fairs are specifically aimed at helping new passport applicants and are being held in both December and January across the country from New Jersey to Texas, California, and more.

Last year, the State Department introduced a pilot program to renew passports online, but the program is currently paused, according to the department.

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