Expedited Passport Service: How to Get a U.S. Passport Fast
Short answer: Expedited U.S. passport service costs $60 on top of the government application fee and cuts Department of State processing to about 2–3 weeks instead of 6–8, not counting mailing time. If you travel within 14 days, book an urgent travel appointment at a passport agency instead — a passport can be issued there in as little as 1–3 days. ExpediteGov prepares the packet so it is not rejected; the government still sets the timeline.
Updated August 2026. Government processing times and fees per the U.S. Department of State (travel.state.gov).
If your trip is weeks away instead of months, routine passport processing will not get you there. This page explains exactly how expediting works, what the government actually controls, what a concierge service like ExpediteGov does for you, and how to avoid the paperwork mistakes that send applications back to the start of the line.
Key facts
| Expedited processing | 2–3 weeks |
|---|---|
| Urgent travel appointments | 1–3 days |
| Our service fee | From $97 |
| Applicants served | 200,000+ |
What expedited processing actually means
Expediting is a service level you request from the U.S. Department of State. You pay an extra government expedite fee, and your application moves into a faster queue at the passport agency. The State Department publishes processing times that change through the year — expedited service is currently around 2–3 weeks at the agency, not counting mailing time in either direction.
There is a separate, faster track: an in-person appointment at a regional passport agency, reserved for people with documented international travel inside 14 days (or inside 28 days when a visa is also required). Those appointments are limited and release on a rolling basis.
| Service level | Government processing | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Routine | 6–8 weeks | Travel more than 3 months away |
| Expedited (mail) | 2–3 weeks | Travel 4–10 weeks away |
| Urgent travel appointment | As little as 1–3 days | Documented travel within 14 days |
| Life-or-death emergency | Same day where granted | Immediate family emergency abroad |
What ExpediteGov does — and what we don't
We are a private concierge service. We prepare a complete, review-ready application packet: the correct government form filled in for your exact situation, a document checklist, photo compliance review, the fee instructions with the right payee and memo line, and mailing or appointment guidance.
We do not file on your behalf, and we do not work inside the government's system. You sign your form and send your packet, or bring it to your appointment. What we remove is the part people get wrong: the wrong form, the unsigned page, the photo that fails, the missing citizenship evidence, the check made out incorrectly.
- Correct form selected for your case (DS-82, DS-11, DS-64, DS-5504, DS-3053)
- Every field completed from the answers you gave us — no blank boxes
- Photo checked against the 2x2 government standard before you mail it
- Fee sheet showing exactly what to write on your check or money order
- A real human on the phone if anything is unclear
What it costs
There are two separate costs and they go to two different places. Our concierge service fee starts at $97 and is charged at checkout. Government fees are paid directly to the U.S. Department of State by check or money order — we never collect them, and the amount depends on your application type, whether you add a passport card, and whether you request expedited service or 1–2 day return shipping.
Your packet includes a fee sheet with the exact amount, payee, and memo line for your case, so nothing gets rejected over the payment.
The fastest realistic path for your situation
- Traveling in 3+ months: routine service is usually enough. Apply now, don't pay for speed you don't need.
- Traveling in 4–10 weeks: request expedited processing and 1–2 day return shipping.
- Traveling within 14 days: you need an urgent travel appointment at a passport agency, plus proof of travel.
- Renewing but your passport is damaged, lost, stolen, or was issued when you were under 16: you cannot renew by mail — you'll apply in person on Form DS-11.
The five mistakes that cause delays
- A photo that fails the 2x2 standard — wrong size, shadows, glasses, a smile that shows teeth, or a background that isn't plain white.
- Using the renewal form when you're not actually eligible to renew by mail.
- Sending a photocopy of a birth certificate instead of a certified copy with a raised or colored seal.
- A check written for the wrong amount or to the wrong payee.
- Forgetting to sign and date the form — or signing a DS-11 before you're in front of the acceptance agent.
Frequently asked questions
How fast can I actually get an expedited passport?
Expedited processing at the agency is currently about 2–3 weeks, plus shipping each way. If you have documented international travel within 14 days, an in-person urgent travel appointment can produce a passport in as little as 1–3 days.
Does paying a service make the government go faster?
No. No private company can make the Department of State process faster than the service level you pay them for. What a service does is make sure your packet is correct the first time, which is what usually costs applicants weeks.
How much does expediting cost?
Our concierge fee starts at $97. Government expedite and shipping fees are separate and paid directly to the Department of State by check or money order; your packet includes the exact amount for your case.
Can I expedite a passport renewal by mail?
Yes. If you're eligible to renew on Form DS-82, you can request expedited processing and 1–2 day return delivery when you mail your application.
Start My Expedited Application