How to Expedite a Passport Renewal

When your trip is getting close, you have several ways to speed up a passport renewal. Some cost extra, some are free but require an appointment, and one popular route, online renewal, cannot be expedited at all when you apply. This guide lays out every official option and when each one makes sense. Fees and times come from the State Department's pages as checked on October 7, 2026.

Your options at a glance

Expedited service: $60 for 2 to 3 weeks

Expedited service is the standard way to speed up a renewal. As of October 7, 2026, the State Department lists expedited processing at 2 to 3 weeks, compared with 4 to 6 weeks for routine. On its refund page, it says that when you pay the $60 fee, it processes your application within 15 business days. If it misses that, you can request a refund of the $60 expedite fee through an online form. No other fees are refunded.

How to expedite a mail renewal

1. Complete and sign Form DS-82.
2. Staple one 2 x 2 inch photo taken in the last 6 months to the form.
3. Enclose your most recent passport and any name change document.
4. Pay the application fee plus $60 by check or money order payable to "U.S. Department of State." Add $26.87 if you also want 1 to 3-day return delivery.
5. Write "EXPEDITE" on the outside of the envelope.
6. Mail it to: National Passport Processing Center, Post Office Box 90955, Philadelphia, PA 19190-0955.

The DS-82 instructions recommend using 1 to 2-day delivery to send your expedited application and including the fee for fast return delivery, so you do not lose the time you paid to save.

Why online renewal cannot be expedited

The State Department's online renewal page says plainly: online renewals cannot be expedited. That is why one of the online requirements is that you are not traveling for at least 6 weeks after you submit. Your current passport is also cancelled the moment you submit, so you cannot fall back on it.

If you already renewed online and your plans change, call the National Passport Information Center at 877-487-2778. The State Department lists requesting expedited service or 1 to 3-day delivery among the reasons to call after an online application. If you have not applied yet and your trip is less than 6 weeks away, renew by mail with expedited service instead. See online vs mail renewal for the full comparison.

Faster delivery: both directions

Processing is only part of the wait. The State Department says mailing your application can take up to 2 weeks, and getting your passport back can take another 2 weeks.

• Return trip: pay $26.87 for 1 to 3-day return delivery of a passport book. It is not available for passport cards, which always go by First Class Mail. Do not include a prepaid return envelope.
• Inbound trip: send your renewal with a fast, trackable USPS service at your own cost.

Combining expedited service with fast shipping both ways is the quickest mail renewal. Our passport renewal processing times guide adds up realistic totals for each combination.

Urgent travel: appointments at passport agencies

If you have international travel within 14 calendar days, or need a foreign visa within 28 days, you may get an appointment at one of the State Department's passport agencies or centers. You will need proof of your international travel.

• If you have not applied yet: use the State Department's Online Passport Appointment System. You can book for up to 7 people in your household.
• If you already applied: call 877-487-2778. If there is time to issue your passport before you travel, the State Department notifies the agency working on your application. If not, it makes an appointment for you.

The State Department does not charge a fee to make appointments and warns that anyone asking you to pay for one should be treated as fraudulent. Appointment slots may not be available right away, so act as soon as you know you need one.

The photo can cancel your speed advantage

Paying $60 buys you a faster review, not a pass on the rules. The State Department says unacceptable photos are the number one reason it puts applications on hold. If your photo fails, your application stops, you get a letter or email, and the clock does not resume until your new photo arrives. You have up to 90 days to reply, but every day you wait is added to your timeline.

In other words, an expedited application with a rejected photo can end up slower than a routine application with a good one. When time is short, the photo deserves as much care as the fee. Our guide to what to do when your photo is rejected explains the fix, but avoiding the rejection is far better.

Before you mail an expedited application, run your photo through the free passport photo checker. If you print at home, follow the 2 x 2 printing guide so the size and head height are right.

Also double-check the basics that get mail renewals sent back: a signed and dated form, every page included, the correct total fee, and your most recent passport in the envelope. A returned application wipes out the time you paid to save.

Beware of paid shortcuts

Private courier and expediter companies can carry your application to a passport agency for a fee, but the State Department says using a registered courier company will not get you your passport any faster than applying at a passport agency yourself. It also warns that sites ending in .com, .org or .us are private companies, not part of the State Department, and may charge for things that are free.

Tracking an expedited renewal

Expedited applications show the same statuses as routine ones. It can take up to 2 weeks after mailing for the first "In Process" status to appear, so a fast inbound shipping service helps here too. Follow along with our guide to checking your passport renewal status.