Being filled with excitement for an upcoming trip abroad is an indescribable feeling ― until you realize that your passport is expired (or a few months away from expiring, which may make it invalid in some countries). Or perhaps you unexpectedly have to travel and don’t have a passport.
When getting a passport ― whether for the first time or as part of a renewal ― it’s likely to take four to eight weeks, depending on the season, said Jonathan Alder, a travel adviser and the founder of travel management company Jonathan’s Travels. However, this isn’t ideal for someone with an expired passport and an upcoming trip out of the country.
We spoke with travel experts who laid out a handful of secrets to getting a passport quickly if you need one ASAP.
Request an expedited passport.
Recently, the U.S. State Department announced that you can renew your passport online, but it’s unclear if this will speed up the process.
When renewing your document, you can ask for it to be expedited, which is useful if you have to travel in less than eight weeks. If you’re getting a new passport, which is done in person, you need to let the passport agent know that you’d like it to be expedited as well.
But be prepared to pay a fee, Alder said. Your request is going to cost an extra $60, but “this will make it happen twice as fast as usual,” he explained.
Schedule an in-person appointment with a passport agency.
“If you already have a vacation booked, another convenient option is to wait until you’re two weeks or less out from that trip, as passport agency offices will take in-person appointments for people that can show proof of their fast-approaching travel itinerary,” Alder said.
This will be considered an “urgent” passport renewal, as opposed to an expedited renewal.
“The best part about this option is that there is no additional cost beyond the normal $60 expediting fee,” Alder continued. “The only difference is that you need to show proof of upcoming travel within the next two weeks.”
If you’re dealing with a life-or-death emergency that requires travel in the next two weeks, you can also make a special in-person appointment. This option is for people with an immediate family member who has died, is dying in end-of-life care, or has a life-threatening illness or injury.
“If you are in a life-or–death emergency situation and need to obtain or renew your passport to travel internationally, visit travel.state.gov to see if you qualify for a same-day passport appointment,” said travel expert Michael Delucca, the founder of social media travel app Otsy. “You will need proof of the emergency and an upcoming flight itinerary. If you qualify, you can make a same-day appointment.”
To schedule an appointment, the State Department that notes you’ll need to have documentation of the emergency, such as:
- A death certificate, statement from a mortuary, or letter from a hospital that’s signed by a doctor. If it’s not in English, the document should also be translated.
- Proof that you are traveling to a foreign country in the next two weeks. This can be an itinerary or plane ticket.
You’ll then need to complete your passport application, get a passport photo taken if needed, and ensure that you have a valid government-issued photo ID.
Most of the time, you can’t walk into a passport agency without an appointment. Schedule one with the State Department’s Online Passport Appointment System to help get your passport quickly.
Consider using a private service.
Alder also recommended using a service to help get your passport in time for your trip. “There are several services that, for a significant fee, can expedite the process even further — sometimes as fast as 24 hours,” he said.
Many of these passport-expediting services are private companies, which can submit applications and pick up passports for customers in time for their trips. However, private services may have extra fees compared with passport agencies offering free appointments.
Delucca said some examples of these companies include Rush My Passport, Clear and HelloGov.
“Personally, I have used Rush My Passport and found it to be an enjoyable experience,” he said. “I followed the steps online, got a passport photo taken at a CVS, filled out the passport documentation, provided a copy of my state-issued ID and birth certificate, along with a check for the passport office. After sealing my documents in an envelope, I mailed it off, and three business days later I had my newly minted passport in hand.”
Attempt to contact your state representative.
If all else fails, you can contact your U.S. representative to help expedite your passport application. There are a few steps for doing this, according to the travel website U.S. Passport Service Guide.
The first step is to identify your representative in Congress, if you aren’t already aware. You can head to the official website of the U.S. House of Representatives and search your ZIP code to find them.
Next, draft an email to your representative that clearly states your situation and why you need your passport quickly. Make sure to request their assistance in expediting the application process. Include your name, contact information and any supporting documents that prove your travel plans. A representative’s email address should be available on their official website.
With this option, it’s important to be patient. You can contact the representative’s office after a few days if you haven’t heard back.