AMERICANS can now get a new passport two weeks faster than before – making it almost as quick as getting it expedited.
The State Department announced on Thursday that wait times for both online and paper applications are now as short as four to six weeks.
Americans can now get a passport two weeks quicker than normal[/caption]
The wait time for a US passport is now just six to eight weeks[/caption]
That is down from the previous processing time of six to eight weeks.
Expedited processing times remain at two to three weeks, the announcement from the Bureau of Consular Affairs said.
“Today, the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs is reducing processing times for passports to 4-6 weeks, down from our prior commitment of 6-8 weeks,” the Department said in a statement.
“This announcement comes after months of issuing passports well under the 6-8 week commitment and showcases our progress to continuously improve the efficiency, equity, and accessibility of the US passport application process.”
“The updated 4-6 week processing time applies to both applications submitted by paper or online.
“For Americans in need of expedited service for U.S. passports, our processing remains 2‑3 weeks.
“These processing times begin when an application is received by the State Department and do not include mailing times.”
It comes weeks after the department made passport renewal fully available online.
At the time, Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the move to online renewals “a significant step forward in ensuring that Americans can more easily access passport services.”
Most adults aged 25 and older can apply online if they own a passport that has been valid for 10 years and they are within the US or a US territory.
The news follows the introduction last year of legislation that would implement new measures to clear passport application backlogs and reduce processing delays.
This Democrat-proposed legislation called the PASSPORT Act, will streamline the process by notifying passport holders of the expiration date a year in advance.
It would also ensure customers booking international travel are aware at the time of the passport requirements.
HOW TO RENEW YOUR PASSPORT ONLINE
AMERICANS now have the option to renew their passports online. This is how you do it:
- Confirm you meet the requirements – currently have a US passport that has been valid for 10 years, aged 25 or older, and live in the US or a US territory.
- Create your account – go to the MyTravelGov homepage and start your application. You must finish it within 30 days.
- Enter info – Double-check all the information is correct. Put in your travel plans. If you are traveling in less than six weeks, you cannot renew online. Upload an original digital photo of yourself in .JPEG file format.
- Sign in and pay – you will get emails about the status of your payment. Keep your most recent passport.
- Enroll in email updates.
During the Covid pandemic, a huge backlog in passport processing built up.
It took until last December for the State Department to confirm that wait times had finally got back to pre-pandemic norms.
Excluding passport cards, between 42 and 47% of all Americans own a passport.
Last year held the record for the most US passports issued in a single year – with over 20 million issued.
Around 160 million US passports are currently in circulation.
Online Passport Renewal for Americans is available at Travel.State.Gov/renewonline.
To research your travel destination, visit travel.state.gov, and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.
