US Passport Processing Times Return to Pre-Pandemic Standards

December 22, 2023

The United States Department of State has announced that passport processing times have returned to pre-pandemic standards. Effective December 18, passport applications will be processed within 6-8 weeks for routine service and 2-3 weeks for expedited service, with an additional $60 fee. This marks the third reduction in processing times in 2023, reflecting the State Department’s efforts to meet the increased demand for passports as international travel resumes.

01 November 2023, Palestinian Territories, Rafah: A US citizen holds his passport while waiting at the border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt in Rafah. Injured Palestinians, Palestinians with second passports and foreign nationals can be evacuated through the Rafah border crossing. Photo: Mohammed Talatene/dpa (Photo by Mohammed Talatene/picture alliance via Getty Images)

In the last fiscal year, the State Department set a record by issuing over 24 million passports, the highest in U.S. history. To ensure timely processing, travelers are encouraged to apply well in advance, preferably 6-9 months before their passport’s expiration date.

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