News Passport Application Wait Times Are Taking Up to 18 Weeks, State Department Says "The pandemic's disruptions continue to have a ripple effect on all steps of the passport process, including the amount of time it currently takes us to process a passport application." By Alison Fox Alison Fox Instagram Twitter Alison Fox is a journalist whose work regularly appears in Travel + Leisure. She has also written for Parents.com, The Wall Street Journal, and amNewYork. She focuses on travel news and feature stories based on personal experiences and interviews. Born in Brooklyn and a lifelong traveler, she developed a love for exploring the world at an early age and hopes to visit every country. * Traveled to 50+ countries * Received a master's degree in journalism from Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications at Northwestern University * Received a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on July 19, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Passport applications are currently taking up to 18 weeks to process and the State Department says it "will take time" before that long waiting period eases. The State Department currently has an application backlog of between 1 and a half million to 2 million applications, which is "somewhat higher" than normal, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Passport Services Rachel Arndt told reporters in a news briefing last week. "We as a department continue to recover from the effects of COVID-19 while we work to meet passport demand as U.S. citizens increasingly seek to travel overseas again," Arndt said. "However, the pandemic's disruptions continue to have a ripple effect on all steps of the passport process, including the amount of time it currently takes us to process a passport application." She added: "U.S. citizens who wish to travel overseas this summer and do not currently have a passport may need to make alternate travel plans." Anyone who wants to renew their passports right now is looking at wait times of up to 18 weeks (12 weeks for processing and up to six weeks for mailing), according to the State Department. Expedited service, which costs an extra $60, is currently taking up to 12 weeks (up to six weeks for processing and up to six weeks for mailing). Tetra Images/Getty Images Travelers can also choose to pay an additional $17.56 for one to-two-day delivery for the return of their completed passport. In addition to long wait times, Arndt said last-minute appointments are "extremely limited." These in-person appointments are available for life-or-death emergency services and urgent travel services. Arndt said the State Department was "ramping up our staffing" to manage the application backlog. The State Department has agreed to honor expired passports for Americans who are currently abroad and looking to return to the U.S. until the end of the year. Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. When she's not in New York City, she likes to spend her time at the beach or exploring new destinations and hopes to visit every country in the world. Follow her adventures on Instagram. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit