1. Use the Online Passport Status System to subscribe to automatic email updates about your application. You can subscribe to updates as soon as your application is "In Process."
2. Your processing times may be delayed if you receive a letter and/or email from us requesting more information.

What each application status means

I got a letter and/or email requesting more information

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.

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 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.

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. 

Follow the instructions in the letter and/or email. You must respond within 90 days of the date on the letter and/or email. Our Respond to a Letter or Email webpage has tips and reminders on how to respond. 

If your status update is "Additional Information Needed" and you have not received a letter and/or email within one week of the date in the status update, call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778. Check the junk or spam folder of your email account before contacting us. 

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. 

Still In Transit: 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). Note: If you are renewing by mail and your application is missing information, the intake facility may send you a letter asking you to resubmit your application.
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. 

Technical Issue: Another reason why your status is "Not Available" is we are experiencing a temporary, technical issue with our system. Please try again in several hours. 

Entering Your Last Name: If you cannot find a status update on the first try, make sure the name you enter is spelled the same as the name you provided on your passport form. If you have a hyphen in your name, try entering your name with and without the hyphen.

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." 

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. 

Make sure to register for email updates about the status of your application and supporting document. 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.

Make sure to register for email updates about the status of your application and supporting document. 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. 

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.