How to Check the Status of Your Passport Application

Find out how long it will take to get a new passport.

Alison Fox is a Travel + Leisure contributor. She has also written for Parents.com, The Wall Street Journal, and amNewYork. When she’s not in New York City, she can be found at the beach or on the slopes.

Have you ordered a new passport and are wondering when you'll receive it? There are a few ways to check your passport application status — including online and by phone. To check your passport progress, you will need personal information including your last name, your date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. With this information in hand, you can easily find out the status of your passport application.

The entire passport issuing process can take up to two months or more, so allotting enough time for it to arrive is key to avoid a stressful wait. In addition to expediting passport renewal, there are options for emergency and urgent travel for those who must travel in three weeks or less.

Check Your Passport Status Online

If you applied for your passport in person or by mail, you can check the status of your passport application on the State Department's Passport Status website. Updates are typically available 14 days after you apply or renew your passport.

Your application status will be listed as "Not Available," "In Process," "Approved," "Passport Mailed," or "Supporting Documents Mailed," which could include your passport, a birth certificate, or a naturalization certificate.

You can sign up for automatic email updates by entering your email address. If you applied online, you can check your status on your MyTravelGov account.

Check Your Passport Status by Phone

You can call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 or 1-888-874-7793 (TDD/TTY) to check on your status. The center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. or Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST, excluding federal holidays. You can also expedite your passport after applying for it over the phone.

What to Do If You Have Not Received Your Passport

If your passport has been issued, but you have not received it after at least two weeks, you should call the National Passport Information Center and fill out a DS-86 form, which is a signed statement that you did not receive the issued passport.

You must file the form to report the undelivered passport within 90 days from the date it was issued. Otherwise, you will have to reapply and pay the processing fees again.

What to Do If You Just Can’t Wait

Passport processing times can be over eight weeks because the processing time does not include the time it takes to mail the issued passport. But if you just can't wait, you can pay an extra fee to expedite the application and have it processed within two to three weeks. (Visit the State Department website to view the most current processing times.)

If you have a life-or-death emergency that requires international travel within two weeks, you can make an appointment for the emergency passport service. The same service is available to those with urgent travel occurring within three weeks.

You can book an appointment online or visit the State Department's Passport Agency Appointment website to find the closest agency and its specific website. Note that these centers are different from typical facilities that accept passport applications such as the post office.

What to Do If You Applied Outside the U.S.

If you are residing abroad or traveling long-term you can apply for a new passport with the nearest embassy or consulate. However, the application process varies by country and you will either have to apply in person or by mail. Often, consulates will have specific instructions about what mail service provider to use. If you've already applied, you will need to contact the consulate or embassy directly about the status of your application.

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