Application Status

If you applied in person or renewed by mail, check your passport application status online. Status updates may not be available in the first 2 weeks after you submit your application. You will need the following information to check your status:

  1. Last Name
    • Include suffixes (ex. Jones III, Patton Jr, etc.)
    • Include hyphens as appropriate (ex. Jackson-Smith)
  2. Date of Birth (MM/DD/YYYY)
  3. Last Four Digits of Social Security Number
If you renewed online, login to your MyTravelGov account

Contacting Us If You Have Urgent Travel

We understand some customers are facing extended wait times when calling the National Passport Information Center and we are taking steps to improve the experience. We encourage customers who have already applied to check their application status online and sign up for updates via email. How our contact center can help you depends on your travel date, and if you have applied or not yet applied...

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I have already applied and do not have my passport

I'm traveling in 5 days or less. I'm traveling in 6-14 days. I'm traveling in more than 14 days.
Call 1-877-487-2778. You must have an appointment to go in person to a passport agency or center. Appointments are limited and we cannot guarantee that one will be available. Call 1-877-487-2778. We will notify the agency processing your application of your date of travel and request that your passport is processed in time.
Do not call unless you applied in person or renewed by mail, and you are changing your mailing address, upgrading to expedited service, or requesting 1-2 day delivery of your completed passport. If you renewed online, complete these changes on your own in your MyTravelGov account up until the time your application is approved. We are working around the clock to issue your passport. Continue to check online for status updates.

I have not applied yet

I'm traveling in 14 days or less. I'm traveling in more than 14 days.
Call 1-877-487-2778. You must have an appointment to go in person to a passport agency or center. Appointments are limited and we cannot guarantee that one will be available. Do not call us unless you need a foreign visa within the next 28 days. 

Reminders for Contacting Us

  • Representatives are available Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. We are closed on federal holidays.
  • Our primary number is 1-877-487-2778.
  • Se habla español.
  • If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call 1-888-874-7793 for TDD/TTY teletype services.
  • Contact your local U.S. embassy or consulate if you are applying outside the United States.
  • Email us only if you need to cancel an appointment at a passport agency or center. Do not email us if you are requesting a status update or you have a travel emergency. Our email is NPIC@state.gov.
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What Your Status Means and How to Check It

Applied In Person or Renewed by Mail

  1. Use the Online Passport Status System to check your application status if you applied by mail or in person. 
  2. You may not be able to get a status update for 2 weeks after you apply or renew. During these weeks, your application and supporting documents are safely on their way to us. 
  3. Receive automatic email updates on the status of your application by entering your email address after locating your pending application.

What Each Application Status Means

Application Status Description
Not Available This update means your application is still in transit to a passport agency or center. During this time, your application is delivered to a mail facility and your payment is processed at an intake facility. When your tracking number says "Arrived," your application has reached the mail facility. When your payment is processed, your application has reached the intake facility but your status will be "Not Available." It may take up to 2 weeks from the day you apply until your application status is "In Process" at one of our passport agencies and centers. 
In Process Your application is being reviewed at one of our agencies or centers. The length of time your application remains In Process depends on the service you selected and our current processing times
Approved  We have finished reviewing your application and will begin printing your completed passport.
Mailed  We are sending your passport to the address you provided on your application. Check our Online Passport Status System for the tracking number. The amount of time it takes to receive your passport in the mail is not included in our processing times. We will send your supporting documents such as birth certificates and previous passports in a separate mailing that may not arrive for up to 8 weeks after you receive your new passport.
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Renewed Online

  1. By Email: You will receive email updates about your application and completed passport.
  2. MyTravelGov Account: Login to your account to check your application status.

What Each Application Status Means

Application Status Description
Submitted You signed and submitted your application but we have not received it yet. Please wait up to two days for your application to move to the Received status. When renewing online, your processing times begin the day you submit your application.
Received We have received your application in our system and will begin reviewing it shortly. Your application may be at this stage for several weeks. 
In Process Your application is being reviewed by employees at one of our passport agencies. The length of time your application remains In Process depends on the service you selected and our current processing times
Approved/Printed  We have finished reviewing your application and will begin printing your completed passport.
Mailed/Shipped  We are sending your passport to your mailing address. If you applied for a passport book, check your MyTravelGov account for the tracking number. Passport cards are sent via First Class Mail. The amount of time it takes to receive your passport in the mail is not included in our processing times.

You may also receive emails if we need more information from you to process your application, or if you save your application and do not finish it within 30 days.

Our Passport Status page is for applications by mail only and will not indicate the status of your online renewal application. If you check the status of your online passport on this page, you will see an update of "Not Available."

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Help! What Should I Do If:

My passport was "Mailed" but I have not received it.

If you have waited over two weeks since the date we updated your application status to "Mailed" and you have not received your passport, contact the National Passport Information Center. Customer service representatives will help you complete a special form (known as the DS-86 form) which is a signed statement that you didn't receive your U.S. passport.

You have 90 days from the date your passport was issued to complete the DS-86 form. After 90 days, you must reapply and pay all fees.

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I need my passport sooner than I thought.

Upgrade your application from routine processing to expedited processing for an additional $60. You may also choose to add 1-2 delivery of your completed passport book for an additional $19.53. One-to-two day delivery is not available for passport cards. We only send cards via First Class Mail.

If you applied in person or renewed by mail, call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 (1-888-874-7793 TDD/TTY) and ask to upgrade your application service type. You’ll need either your application number or your last name and date of birth. The National Passport Information Center will email you additional information about how to upgrade your application to expedited service or 1-2 day delivery.

If you renewed online, you can login to your MyTravelGov account and upgrade to expedited service or pay for 1-2 delivery service of your completed passport book. You can pay for these additional services in your account up until the time that your application is approved.

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I changed my mailing address.

If you applied in person or renewed by mail, contact the National Passport Information Center. You do not need to contact us if your address changed after you received your passport.

If you renewed online, login to your MyTravelGov account and click on "Manage Application" to change your mailing address. You can complete this change on your own up until the time that your application is approved. 

When completing your child's passport application, we recommend you add your name in the “In Care Of” part of the Mailing Address section on Form DS-11. 

Passports can be delivered only if your name is connected to your address. If you want to receive your passport at an address other than your own, or an address where you are not registered, the passport must be sent “In Care Of” someone else. 

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Frequently Asked Questions for Applying in Person or Renewing by Mail

Why does my status say "Not Available" after it was already "In Process"?

You will see this update if we are experiencing temporary, technical issues with our Online Status Passport System. We recommend you check your status on another web browser or check again in several hours. 

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You cashed my check. Why is my status still "Not Available"?

Your application status is "Not Available" because your application is still in transit to a passport agency or center. After you apply, your application is:

  1. Delivered to a mail facility. Your tracking number may say that your application has "Arrived" at the mail facility. 
  2. Sent from the mail facility to a separate intake facility where your payment is processed (check is cashed).
  3. Sent by the intake facility to a passport agency or center. 

It may take up to 2 weeks from the day you apply until your application status is "In Process" at one of our passport agencies and centers. 

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Why does my status say "Mailed" if I just applied?

Your status may be "Mailed" if you recently received a new passport in the last 180 days, and you are re-applying for a new passport. For example, you may need to re-apply for a new passport using Form DS-5504 if you need to Change or Correct Your Passport. It may take 2 weeks after the date you apply on Form DS-5504 for your status to change to "In Process." 

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Why does my status say "In Process" after it was already "Approved"?

You may see this update if we discovered an error or problem we need to fix during our final quality control review of your passport. We are fixing the issue and preparing to print a new passport for you. 

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Will I receive my new passport and my documents back in one envelope?

You will likely receive multiple mailings depending on what document(s) you applied for:

Passport Book: You may receive your newly-issued passport and your citizenship documents (examples: previous passport or birth certificate) separately. You may wait 8 weeks after receiving your passport before you receive a second mailing with your citizenship documents. We will return the passport book using a trackable delivery service.

Passport Card: You may receive your newly-issued passport card and your citizenship documents (examples: previous passport or birth certificate) separately. You may wait 8 weeks after receiving your passport before you receive a second mailing with your citizenship documents. We only send the passport card via First Class Mail. We do not send cards using 1-2 day delivery services.

Both a Passport Book and Card: You may receive three separate mailings; one with your citizenship documents (examples: previous passport or birth certificate), one with your newly-issued passport book, and one with your newly-issued passport card. You may wait 8 weeks after receiving your passport book before you receive a second and third mailing with your passport card and citizenship documents.

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I received my passport and have waited over 8 weeks but have not received my supporting documents. What should I do?

It may take 8 weeks after you receive your new passport for your supporting documents (e.g. birth certificate or previous passport) to arrive. If you have been waiting more than 8 weeks, contact the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 to report that you have not received your documents. 

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How do I know which location is processing my application and has my documents?

Applying in Person or Renewing by Mail

The first two digits of your nine-digit passport application locator number allow you to know which agency or center is working on your application. You can find your application locator number by checking our Online Passport Status System. The unique digits for each of our agencies and centers are below.

Renewing Online

All online passport renewal applications begin with "95." You will not be able to use the locator number to determine which agency is working on your application. Go to our Renew Online page to learn more about how to submit your application, check its status, and contact us. 

 

Location First Two Digits of Application Locator Notes
Arkansas Passport Center 65  
Atlanta Passport Agency 74  
Boston Passport Agency 10  
Buffalo Passport Agency 77  
Charleston Passport Center 34-39 This center reviews and processes passport applications but is not open to the public. You can contact this center by mail at: 44132 Mercure Circle, PO Box 1031, Sterling, VA, 20166-1031
Chicago Passport Agency 18  
Colorado Passport Agency 17  
Connecticut Passport Agency 14  
Dallas Passport Agency 55  
Detroit Passport Agency 56  
El Paso Passport Agency 78  
Honolulu Passport Agency 12  
Houston Passport Agency 79  
Los Angeles Passport Agency 50  
Miami Passport Agency 51  
Minneapolis Passport Agency 54  
National Passport Center 15, 20-29, 45, 68, 69, 71  
New Orleans Passport Center 40-42  
New York Passport Agency 11  
Philadelphia Passport Agency 58  
San Diego Passport Agency 76  
San Francisco Passport Agency 05, 57  
San Juan Passport Agency 67  
Seattle Passport Agency 53  
Vermont Passport Agency 75  
Washington Passport Agency 19  
Western Passport Center 61-64  
Special Issuance Agency 80 Issues diplomatic, official, service, and no-fee regular passports, and facilitates visa processing for those traveling on behalf of the U.S. government. You will not be able to access this webpage if you're not browsing the web on a U.S. government-issued computer or mobile device.
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What happens to my processing times if I receive a letter or email requesting more information?

If you receive a letter or email requesting more information to complete your application, respond as soon as possible. Your processing times may be delayed if you receive this letter or email. Follow the instructions in the letter or email, and go to our Respond to a Letter or Email page for more information.    

Last Updated: May 23, 2023