Courier companies, also known as “passport expeditors,” are private companies, some of which are allowed to submit passport applications on behalf of customers.
No. Some companies may appear to be part of the U.S. government because they use logos that look like official government seals. These companies are not part of the U.S government or government contractors and do not operate as a part of the U.S. Department of State.
No. You can only renew your passport online through the U.S. Department of State. All passport applications submitted by a courier company must be printed out and signed in ink. You must also provide original, physical documents when submitting your application through a courier company.
No. Passport applications are available free-of-charge on the Passport Forms page. There is also no fee for making an appointment at a passport acceptance facility or one of our passport agencies or centers.
Not necessarily. However, we do advise that you practice due diligence by researching courier companies you plan to use since you will be sharing with them your most sensitive identification information and documents. In addition to standard consumer research, the Better Business Bureau and Chamber of Commerce may be helpful resources.
Be sure to read the "fine print" when visiting these companies' websites.
You can expedite your application directly with Passport Services. For details, please see Get A Passport Fast.
