The years-long bureaucratic tangles that plagued passport renewals and first-time applications since the pandemic are finally over. Not only have US passport processing times bounced back to pre-pandemic rates—they’re the shortest they’ve been in years.
On October 3, 2024, the U.S. State Department announced that the Bureau of Consular Affairs had successfully reduced “processing times for passports to 4-6 weeks, down from our prior commitment of 6-8 weeks.” The milestone followed months of issuing passports well under the previous six to eight week timeframe, a benchmark initially set in 2023 to meet pre-pandemic processing standards. The new, quicker processing times currently apply to both paper and online applications. Expedited service remains two to three weeks.
Here are four reasons why right now is one of the best times to apply for a US passport in recent history—just in time for the holiday travel season. Pro tip: Some countries require your passport must be valid for at least six months after the start of a trip, so you may need to renew your passport sooner than you think.
There’s a new online renewal system
As of September 18, 2024, Americans can renew their passports entirely online, following years of trial and development. (Adults applying for a US passport for the first time must still submit their applications in person.) Eligibility requirements include: being at least 25 years of age, having a passport that was issued between 2009 and 2015, not changing any personal information (name, gender, place of birth, date of birth), being a United States resident, having your previous passport on hand, and having a passport that is not more than five years after expiration. For the most up-to-date information about the online renewal system, visit the State Department’s page.
It’s the slow season for passports
According to the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ page on passport processing times, the number of passport applications submitted can vary depending on the month of the year. The department advises, “From late winter into summer, demand for passports is generally higher than other periods of the year. Plan ahead and apply during our slower season from October through December.” That means fall is one of the best times to apply for a US passport, or renew one.
The State Department has increased staffing
On June 7, 2023, the Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Rena Bitter testified before Congress, in part, to report the department’s progress in handling the backlog of passport and visa requests that had swelled since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. In 2023 alone, 177 new passport adjudicators were hired, increasing the agency’s staff by 10%. “It takes time to onboard and train new staff for these national security positions and, working with other bureaus in the Department,” Bitters said. “We are leveraging those authorities to increase substantially the number of consular adjudicator positions filled in 2023 and to continue that trend into 2024, budget permitting.” The additional staff produced immediate improvements, honoring 5.4% more passport requests in the first five months of 2023 compared to the same period from 2022, the previous record-breaking year.
The pandemic backlog has finally calmed down
After years of varying stay-at-home orders, reduced service from airlines, and general safety concerns during the pandemic, 2020 through 2023 saw an unprecedented increase in passport renewal and application requests. During a March 23, 2023 House Appropriations subcommittee budget hearing, Secretary of State Antony Blinken reported that the State Department was “getting 500,000 applications a week for passports,” a 30 to 40% increase from 2022. Processing times were as long as 10 to 13 weeks until July 2023, over double what they are now. With a significantly reduced backlog, the State Department is on track to focus on current requests without the added pressure of issuing previously accumulated submissions.
