Urgent Passport Travel: When And How To Qualify

If you need to travel internationally within 14 days, or you need to obtain a foreign visa within 28 days, you may qualify for an urgent travel passport. This service is intended for travelers who have confirmed international travel plans within 14 days or who must obtain a foreign visa within 28 days. To apply for an urgent passport, you need to make an appointment at one of the 26 passport agencies or centers in person only. These appointments can be very competitive, so even if you meet the criteria to apply, there is no guarantee that you will be able to get an appointment. The cost for an urgent passport includes the regular application fee of $130 plus extra fees. Additional fees include a $60 expedite fee and a $21.36 fee for expedited return shipping as needed, bringing the total cost to $211.36.

International travel within 14 days

If you need a passport for international travel within 14 days, you can apply for an urgent passport. This service is intended for travelers with confirmed international travel plans within 14 days or who need to obtain a foreign visa within 28 days.

To apply for an urgent passport, you must make an appointment at a passport agency or center in person. These appointments can be competitive, so even if you meet the criteria, you may not get an appointment. You can make an appointment by using the online portal or calling 1-877-487-2778. You must call within 14 days of your trip to schedule an urgent travel appointment. The appointment can be any time within 13 days before your trip or on the day of your trip.

You will need to submit the required proof, such as an airline ticket, itinerary, or a letter from a foreign embassy confirming a visa appointment. You will also need to pay an additional $60 expedite fee on top of the standard passport fees.

The urgent travel passport service is meant for instances when your international travel is too close for traditional expedited passport service, but you don't have a life-or-death emergency that requires a last-minute passport. The cost of the urgent travel passport service is $190, including the regular application fee of $130 and the $60 expedite fee. If you need 1-2 day delivery of your passport, you can pay an additional $18.32 for expedited shipping.

It's important to note that you must be the one to call and show up for your appointment. This ensures that third-party services cannot book all the appointments. Additionally, you will need to bring everything required to identify yourself and prove your travel to your appointment. This includes a completed passport application, a new passport photo, your old passport (if renewing), proof of international travel, and name change documents (if needed).

If you are getting an urgent travel passport for a child under 16, both parents of the child must be present at the appointment.

Foreign visa appointment in the next 28 days

If you need a foreign visa appointment within the next 28 days, you must make an appointment at a passport agency or center. You can do this by calling the National Passport Office at 1-877-487-2778. Please note that appointments are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.

To be eligible for an urgent travel appointment, you must be traveling internationally within 14 calendar days. If you have already applied, you must be traveling within 5 calendar days. You will need to provide evidence of the date of travel and that a visa is required for your destination country.

When scheduling an appointment, the passport call center representative will advise you on the specific documentation required. However, here is a list of the most commonly requested documents:

• Application confirmation email and unique confirmation number
• Completed and unsigned Form DS-11
• Evidence of U.S. citizenship (original civil long-form birth certificate, original Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth, original Certificate of Naturalization, or original Certificate of Citizenship)
• One passport photograph
• Government-issued photo identification
• Confirmed flight receipt or itinerary showing that the date of travel is within 14 days of the appointment

Please note that you cannot submit your application online. Instead, you should use the online electronic form filler to input your information, print the form, and bring it to your appointment.

If you are applying for a minor, you will need to provide additional documentation, such as a birth certificate or foreign birth certificate, to show your relationship to the child. Both parents or legal guardians should attend the appointment with the child. If this is not possible, please refer to the Department of State website for information on required consent forms.

Life-or-death emergency involving an immediate family member

If you need to travel internationally within 3 business days due to a life-or-death emergency involving an immediate family member, you may qualify for an emergency passport. This includes situations where your immediate family member (parent, child, spouse, sibling, or grandparent) outside of the United States is dying (in hospice care) or has a life-threatening illness or injury.

To apply for an emergency passport, you must collect the necessary documentation, including proof of the emergency and imminent travel. This can include a death certificate, a statement from a mortuary, or a medical statement from a hospital. If the documentation is not in English, it must be translated by a professional translator. You will also need proof of travel, such as an airline ticket or itinerary. In addition, you will need to complete a passport application, have a passport photo ready, and provide valid government-issued photo ID.

Once you have gathered the required documentation, you can schedule an appointment at an official passport agency. You can do this by calling the designated phone numbers during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET). If you are facing difficulties or need to schedule an appointment outside of business hours, you can also use the online portal if possible. It is important to note that appointments for emergency passports are very competitive, and even if you meet the criteria, there is no guarantee that an appointment will be available.

The cost of an emergency passport includes the regular application fee of $130, plus additional fees. The total maximum cost is $211.36, which includes a $60 expedite fee and a $21.36 fee for expedited return shipping if needed. In rare cases, it may be possible to receive your passport on the same day, but this cannot be relied on. Typically, emergency passports are ready within two to three days.

Passport expired or expiring soon

If your passport has expired or is expiring soon, you may need to apply for an urgent expedited passport. This is only available to those who are travelling internationally within 14 calendar days. If you are travelling within 28 days and require a foreign visa, you may also be eligible.

To apply for an urgent expedited passport, you must make an appointment at a passport agency or centre. You cannot walk in without an appointment. To make an appointment, call the National Passport Office at 1-877-487-2778. The passport call centre representative will ask you several questions to determine your eligibility and provide the next available appointment at the nearest regional passport agency.

On the day of your appointment, you will need to bring the following documents:

• Application confirmation email and unique confirmation number
• Completed and unsigned Form DS-11
• Evidence of U.S. citizenship with a photocopy of each document
• Original, undamaged U.S. passport
• One passport photograph
• Government-issued photo identification
• Proof of upcoming travel, such as a confirmed flight receipt or itinerary

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and a passport agent may ask for additional documentation.

Proof of travel

When applying for an urgent passport, you must provide proof of travel. This can be in the form of:

• An airline, bus, or train ticket
• A written statement explaining why you need to travel if travelling by car
• A travel itinerary showing proof of payment
• Proof of illness or death in the family requiring you to travel
• A written statement from you or a third party explaining why you need the passport, for example, for legal, banking, or residency requirements

If you are applying for an urgent passport in the United States, you must be travelling internationally within 14 calendar days. If you have already applied, you must be travelling within 5 calendar days. You will need to call the National Passport Office or the National Passport Information Center to schedule an appointment.

If you are applying for an urgent passport in Canada, you can apply in person at a Service Canada Centre or passport office. You will need to provide proof of travel and may need to pay additional fees. You can also call the Canadian government's passport support line for assistance.

Frequently asked questions