The short version
- SelfieToPassport: a passport photo checked against the State Department rules, $6.95, free preview.
- Routine processing: 4 to 6 weeks.
- Expedited processing: 2 to 3 weeks.
- Add up to 2 weeks of mail each way.
- Travel in less than 3 weeks: book an appointment at a passport agency.
- October to December is the quiet season.
Processing times today
The State Department publishes two processing times: routine and expedited. The clock starts when the application arrives, not when you mail it.
The rules
- Routine processing of a passport application takes 4 to 6 weeks. travel.state.gov
- Expedited processing takes 2 to 3 weeks. travel.state.gov
- Mail time is not part of the processing time: up to 2 weeks for the application to arrive and up to 2 more for the new passport to come back. travel.state.gov
- After the envelope is mailed, the first status of “In Process” can take 2 weeks to appear. travel.state.gov
Traveling soon
If the trip is less than 3 weeks away, mail is too slow: the State Department sends you to a passport agency appointment instead.
The rules
- Travel in less than 3 weeks calls for an appointment at a passport agency, booked within 14 calendar days of the trip. travel.state.gov
- Demand is highest from late winter through summer, and the State Department suggests applying between October and December, when it is less busy. travel.state.gov
The photo is the most common delay
A photo the State Department cannot accept stops the clock until a new one arrives. SelfieToPassport sizes your photo to the 2 x 2 inch rule and shows the measurements before you pay $6.95.
The rule
- Photo problems top the list of reasons the State Department holds up passport applications. travel.state.gov
FAQ
How long does a U.S. passport take right now?
Routine processing takes 4 to 6 weeks and expedited 2 to 3 weeks, plus mail time each way. Source: official page "Get Your Processing Time", checked on Oct 26, 2026.
Which time of year is the quietest to apply?
The State Department says October to December is its less busy season; late winter through summer is the busiest. Source: official page "Get Your Processing Time", checked on Oct 26, 2026.
Where this information comes from
Every rule on this page comes from a page published by the U.S. Department of State and the companies named, read on the date shown. We rewrite each rule in plain words and link to the page it came from. Each rule has a review deadline; one that passes it without a new check comes off the page.
- Get Your Processing Time travel.state.gov · checked Oct 26, 2026
- Renew Your Passport by Mail travel.state.gov · checked Oct 26, 2026
- Uploading a Digital Photo travel.state.gov · checked Oct 25, 2026
Something here out of date? Tell us and we will check it against the official page.