Getting a Same Day Passport
Despite what airline agents will tell you, it is pretty straightforward to get a same day passport.
A few things you should know:
- The search results are polluted. Most of the ‘passport-expediters’ will slow you down / make it impossible to get a same day passport.
- You have to make an appointment. From what I can tell they don’t hold you to the exact time. The appointment process is really just to keep the riff-raff out. Update: Some readers have been able to get a passport with out an appointment. YMMV.
- Your passport has to be processed at one of the 14 Regional Centers. If you can’t get there in person, you’re not getting a passport the same day. The expediters all require you to ship stuff. These centers are:
- East Coast: Boston, Miami, New York, Norwalk, CT ?, Philadelphia, Washington DC
- West Coast: Los Angeles, Honolulu, San Francisco, Seattle
- Middle: Aurora-CO, Chicago, Houston, New Orleans
- It takes 3-5 hours to actually make the passport. Take the earliest appointment you can get. You can’t count on just stopping by the office, standing in line and then heading to the airport. My appointment was at 8:30 AM. I got my passport by 2:15.
The process looks like this:
- Make an appointment. 1-877-487-2778. This is number is an automated service. It is available 24/7. We found a minor bug in the system since our home address was in Seattle, but we needed to visit the LAX center. So, we used the zip code of our hotel at LAX. They apparently help people 7 days a week (except federal holidays). However, they don’t publish their weekend hours, so it isn’t clear how open they really are.
- Do this immediately.
- Take the earliest appointment available.
- Get passport photos. No, they don’t do this there - mind-boggling. Many 1-hr photo places can do these. I got mine at CVS (look for the ones with ‘1-hr photo’). Walmart does them as well. Call ahead if you are going to go to a 24-hr place like CVS or Walmart - they don’t always have people at the photo labs. It costs about $10 and takes 5 minutes. Updated: Feedback from visitors strongly favor getting photos taken at Kinko’s as their photo facilities are always running when the store is open. CVS closes their photo lab during some off-hours.
- Show up, fill out forms. Pay. It cost me $220 to get mine.
- You need to prove US citizenship and you need to prove identity. The identity part is straightforward (you can even have someone testify that it is you). Apparently the only way to do this is with a birth certificate or passport. If you had a prior passport, they can look it up in their system. However, they charge you $60 for the ‘research’ (it takes 2 min).
- Come back later and pick up your passport. They’ll give you a time to show up. Get there as early as possible.
The State Department website is reasonably useful as well and should be used as your primary research. I find it amusing that they feel it is necessary to include this statement:
THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR AN APPOINTMENT AT A PASSPORT AGENCY. CUSTOMERS SHOULD NOT PAY ANYONE OR ANY BUSINESS MAKING SUCH A CHARGE.
[...] BTW, my collection of lessons learned is here: Getting a same-day passport [...]
Thanks for the info. we are traveling in Feb. 2009 and I want to get our passports the same day. You said it is around $220.00? Wow that's alot when it more than one in the family.
Yeah. They hit you with a lot of fees… If you can plan ahead, I'd
highly recommend it.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE DETAILED INFO! I am travelling tomorrow actually, and I came across this this morning. Make an appt this morning for 11. My new passport would be ready @ 3:30. :)
Thanks David, This is exactly what i needed to know.
Hey David,
First thanks for the helpful info. I do have a couple of minor questions. Can I pay with a personal check? Why was the fee $220? We site specifically states $75 and $25 for a total of $100? Can you be specific as to what other fees you incurred? I will have all necessary other documentation btw.
Thanks
I don't know about the check. The extra fees involved charges for
'verifying my identity' since my old passport had another tear and
then some sort of a rush charge. Still, you'll have to talk to them
to figure out all the costs.
Thank you for the clear, concise information. It is hard to find online about this subject.
I did this in Boston was well. Arrived at 9AM with confirmation number photos and docs to prove citizenship and travel, and lined up with the crowd at 4PM to pick up the passport. Almost no hassle at all actually.
This is exactly the info that I needed. Thanks – I could not find it anywhere else clearly on the web!!
I missed my flight last night because of an expired passport. This morning I was first in line at the new Detroit agency without appointment, was in there for a whole 30 mins. By 12:30PM I have the new passport and the new passport card in hand! Make sure you have everything you'll need, especially the passport photos. Also just a tip, print out the DS-82 form and fill it out before you go, that may save you time from filling it out there. You can get sameday passports at any passport agencies on travel.state.gov not just the 14 listed here. So check travel.state.gov for latest Info. Lastly all these agencies are by appointment only! However, if you have an emergency with proof (in my case my boarding pass) they will take care of you anyways. Good Luck!
Here are the breakdown of what I had to pay in which I think is VERY reasonable for last minute service:
Passport Photos: $8.47
Expedite: $60.00
Secuity Surcharge: $20.00
Passport Book: $55.00
Passport Card: $20 (Optional, I just got it cus I also goto Canada often)
Grand Total: $163.47
Just a supplement, Northwest charged me an extra $350 to reshedule my entire Euro trip. So I guess in the end my mistake of misreading the expiration date on my passport cost me a lil over $500 and a day off my long needed vacation. Good luck to anyone else with this problem!
Thanks soo much- I was so worried when i called last week – exactly 15 days before travel- and they gave me an appointment for 4 days before i am leaving. With that appt being on a Thursday. This blog helped calm my fears tremendously. The only part i wonder about is, in what case would they require more documents?
I'd expect that if you didn't have an existing passport, they would
require proof of citizenship, etc.
what to do if you cant get an appointment ? will they take you if you have an itinerary showing that your leaving this weekend – with an expired passport. But just realised it , luckily before going to the airport .
I'm not sure. I've not heard of anyone not getting an appointment, but I'm sure it could happen.
Yes, they should take you with a flight leaving this weekend.
Depending on how busy they are I guess, I went in without an appointment and just showed them my boarding pass and they took me immediately. I was also first in line and got there an hour before they opened.
Hello,
I have an appointment Aug 4, 2009 at the Detroit regional passport agency. Can I pay the passport fees with a credit card at the Detroit agency ?
I was able to pay by credit card.
Yes I paid with my Mastercard when I went.
Thank you so much for this information. I called for my appointment. They gave me a Friday @ 1:30 slot and I leave Saturday afternoon. It's reassuring to read that I can get my passport the same day.
Makes me feel much better. I have an appointment tomorrow in LA and I leave Friday. I was very worried they would not issue same day so this put me a little more at ease.
Thanks for the tip, this really helped me a lot. I went to the NYC passport agency last week, submitted my paperwork, but the idiot at the counter lied and told me they don't make the passports there and I'd have to wait for the mail. This was only 7 days before my flight.
3 days before my flight (today) I called and they put in an emergency 72-hour expedite (didn't cost extra) and I had to go back to the passport agency and pick up the passport. Don't let this happen to you guys.
I got my passport when i was like 15 and now its expired, so i need to make an appointment to get a new one. I need to get it same day because im going to Canada on the 1st, I need to bring proof that i need to leave within 2 weeks. Can i show them a hotel reservation or does it have to be itinerary? Also will they be able to see if i have traffic warrants or anything like that an not give it to me? let me know asap please
We are travelling in 5 days and my toddler son's passport hasnt arrived yet, we applied 1st week of August so thats like 12 weeks ago.. I am thinking of going to the passport agency (Houston) on wednesday (3 days before travel) which is around 3 hours drive from us, will they let us in w/o appointment?, We already have travel plans and stuff.. Im not sure if i should make an appointment since we are not gonna apply, just wanted to see what is going on with my son's application, the 877 number keeps telling me its still processing… Or can i re-apply for a same day passport even with my son's on going application? Im lost… help.. thanks
If you want a same day passport you MUST have an appointment. They
should give you one if you are travelling in 3 days. I don't know
whether the passport agency will be able to help with the prior
application. It seems like you should go get a same day passport.
However, I am not a lawyer and not a passport specialist, etc.
This blog really helped. My husbands passport went through the wash and all info was completely legible so he assumed it would be fine. Well it wouldn't scan so the airline wouldn't accept it. This was on a Saturday night. I found this blog and called to make an appointment at the LA office immediately. The office is not open on Sunday. Though my husband's appointment was for Tuesday, he showed up at 7am on Monday and had his passport Monday by 3pm. We were able to leave that night. What I've learned is, if you question wether your passport my be damaged, don't take a chance, get a new one.
This was one of the most helpful blogs I have ever visited. Saved us about $200 for the expediting service + $50 to $75 on Fedex + time on the phone + headache of waiting…
I noticed on Wednesday night that my minor daughter's passport had only 2 months left and we are leaving next Tuesday for Europe – requirement is to have at least 6 months validity. Around midnight Wednesday got an appointment for 8.30am on Thursday at the Houston office. Got the pp photos at a 24 hr Kinkos and we were at the office at 8.35am – out by 9am. The officer asked us to pick up the passport on Friday 2.30pm. Just did…
So, a big THANKS to Dave. Total cost: $145 at the office + parking and photos ($14). Time spent: 30 minutes (about 20 minutes at the Agency on the first visit and about 10 minutes today for pickup. They take all major credit cards (no extra fee) at the Passport office. And, do remember that if you are getting a passport for a minor, BOTH parents have to be present and a few other specifics – all very clearly listed out on the Govt site.
IF you live near a Regional Center – DON'T waste your money with an expediting service.
Thanks, Dave!
Awesome, I'm really glad it was helpful. There sooo much info out
there about expediting centers that the actual information necessary
to do it yourself just gets lost…
doing this monday !0 am. was supposed to leave tomorrow morning @ 5:40 AM!! expired passport and realized it only 2 hours ago. thanks for all the help. been searching web for two hours and couldn't find info to help me. husband and 3 kids going to aruba without me. i will renew passport monday and fly out tuesday am. flight already booked. cross your fingers and thanks for all the info!!
You rock Dave!
Question: Are they concerned about the REASON for expediting? Does it matter if you are travelling for leisure versus business? Much quicker than expected, my wife was approved to take her Citizenship Oath a couple weeks before our planned and paid for Christmas vacation to a warmer clime….We had anticipated this to happen AFTER we returned, but Immigration was much faster than expected. As such, the new citizenship requires a passport, as the green card will be returned…all 5 days before our travel! Did you gather from your experience that they cared whether it was for vacation or something less 'important' to a holiday grinch that may be our processing agent? Thanks again!
Nope, I don't believe they cared at all.
Have a great trip!
what is the website ? and the address of the agency.. thanks
Hi!
I missed my flight from ATL to Johannesburg last night because I didn't have enough space in my passport for a full page visa stamp. I am now back in my point of origin – Miami – waiting for the passport agency to open Monday morning so I can get more pages put into my passport. So my question to you – the passport agency website says I can only go to the agency with an appointment. The next available appointment is next Thursday. If I show up Monday morning at 8 am when they open, will the Miami passport agency accomodate my emergency situation? I can't talk to a representative regarding the issue as they are closed on weekends.
Please let me know – any help is greatly appreciated. THANK YOU!
hi,
I am waiting for my daughters birth certiifcate to arrive this week from the country she is born (thats the only document we are missing). I have appointment on Dec 21st, next monday at San Francisco agency. We are leaving on Dec 23rd early morning. Is 21st and 22nd enough time to get a passport for brand new passport. Thanks Dave, I started to calm down after I found ur site.
As long as the passport agency knows you will be traveling immediately afterwards, then you should be able to get the passport the same day.
Have a great trip!
Hi. I am traveling to Mexico this coming saturday, and I was planning on going to the LA federal building tomorrow morning to renew my passport in person.
I have a friend who was in the same situation a few months ago, and is almost sure that she didn't make an appointment. she just showed up, waited in line, showed them her itinerary and got her passport within 2 days.
I just called the help line, and they said it is REQUIRED that you have an appointment and that they will ask me to leave if I don't have one.
The only thing is, the next available appointment time is the day before I leave.
My question is, is it REALLY necessary to have an appointment in LA to renew your passport? Is it worth my time to try and show up early tomorrow morning and wait in line even if I don't have an appointment until friday?
So this morning I decided to try my luck, without an appointment. I got there about a half-hour before they opened, and was one of the first people in line. At 7:00, they took the people without an appointment to a separate line, while the people with 7:30 appointments (the earliest ones available) went inside. Basically, if you were in line without and appointment, you had to show proof of travel within the next few days, and they gave you a ticket to go inside. From that point on, I was among everyone else who had an appointment. I only had to wait about an hour from the time I was in line at 7:00 until the time when I got my receipt for my passport. It cost me $160 total, but it will be done in 2 days.
hope that is helpful for someone. Basically, they say you MUST have an appointment, but I think that's just to keep the number of stand-by's limited. If you can't get an appointment, you don't really need one.
thanks for all of the information, Dave. Your blog was very calming.
Awesome, thanks for the follow-up. That is super-helpful to other readers!
While I can't comment on other passport agencies, I just went through the process in Philadelphia and I was AMAZED at how quick and painless it was. We needed a last-minute passport for our newborn daughter (1mo. old) and didn't have time to apply by mail. We made an 8am appointment in Philly and were done with all the paperwork at 8:20am. They gave us a receipt, and we came back to pick up the passport at 11:30am sharp, as promised. It honestly could not have been any smoother. Note: It goes without saying that you should have all your documents/photos in order and the application filled out before you show up. I'm very glad I found this blog — otherwise I probably would have tried using an "expediter" and gotten ripped off! Great site, Dave. Thanks!
Great Blog!! I just found out today that I could go on I cruise Jan 2nd and did have not a passport. After a couple quick web search I found this and have a apointment in Minneaoplis on monday. I really lucked out on this one!! Thanks alot!
hi Im going to tijana on the 23rd i need my sons passport for that day i called the agency they said i need Prof that im traveling need a hotel reservation the problem is im visiting family at there home what do i do
Thank you so much Erin! I had the exact same question, with almost the same scenario in that my appointment was scheduled the day before my flight. First thing Monday morning I'm going to do the same thing you did – go a half hour early – and then pray I can still go to the Brazil Consulate and get a Visa before Friday!
Hi Dave,
We got the passport yesterday and we are leaving tomorrow, wanted to thank you once again for being here to provide info and suggestions to people like me.
For new readers, I went to SFO agency. Our appt was at 10.30am, we checked in by 9.55am, our number was 91. The number that was being processed was 33. They are pretty efficient, many counters to accept the applications. We were out at 11:30am. I requested if we can pick up the same day. The lady was nice and she asked us to come back by 3.00pm. We left the agency with passport by 3.40pm. You stand in line many times but its worth the effort as you get everything done in one day. Thanks Dave!
Thanks for the story. Have a great trip!
I'm leaving to study in Paris next saturday and was going to pick up my student visa on the 5th when I lost my passport, so I made an appointment on monday at an agency in Boston. Would anyone know if they would refuse me my visa (even though it was already okayed) since I am getting it in my new passport?
Let me begin with a few words of praise: this blog is an island of critical information in a sea of confusion! I discovered my passport was missing a bit after midnight before a 6 pm departure: without this blog I would not have made the plane. My experience was with the LA agency, but seems largely similar to others posted above. A few thoughts on my experience as they integrate those posted above: 1) If you are within 24 hours of departure you might not be able to get an appointment by phone. I called on the 11th and the next available appointment was on the 15th. Do call to see if there is one available but you may, like me, need to proceed without an appointment. 2) Get pictures. My experience was that CVS, while open 24 hours, had nobody to take the pics until 9:00am. 24 hour Kinkos (thanks Layman!) shot my pics at 5:15 am. 3) Get there early (thanks Gabe & Erin Bates). I arrived 1 hour early and was 2nd in line. I was processed before 9 am, had the passport at 1 pm and was on the flight at 6 pm: from panic to passport in less than 13 hours. In summary, to get a passport if you cannot get an appointment before your scheduled departure:
1) Find out when your nearest agency opens and plan to be there – documents, pictures and payment in hand – at least an hour early. The opening times can be found on the State Department website.
2) Find the nearest place to get your photos made (CVS, Walmart, Kinkos). Confirm by phone that they can make the photos at the time you need them made.
3) Assemble documents. a) Fill out the application form. You can do it at the agency, but doing it before hand saves time and reduces anxiety. b) Proof of citizenship and identity. Dave's summary at the top of this blog is good. c) Proof that you are about to leave the country (e.g. boarding pass or ticket receipt with departure information).
4) Execute: get photos made, go to agency and get in line early, return to get new passport, go to airport.
hi my name is dolly and i need a passprt before january 17 i will be going away for winter vacation. please contact me as soon as you can and explain all the details for me. as i see everyone was charged diffrently in the comments review?
thank you, awaiting for your reply.
Dave,
Thanks for the info. This is great. A few points to add for those around the D.C. area:
(1) Appointments – they (the U.S. State Dept.) say you absolutely positively need one and lines of walk-ins (w/o apptmt.) no longer form. I called the automated line a few times throughout the night. The first appointment it gave me was like five days out, so I just kept calling back, and eventually I guess someone cancelled or something because I got an 8AM appointment the following day.
(2) Photos – similar to others on here, I've had the experience that CVS photo labs, even if the store they are in is open, do not operate 24 hours. FedEx/Kinkos is the way to go for photos.
(3) Time – bring a book to the processing center, and expect to be there for an hour or two. This is, after all, the federal government.
That's it. I got my passport less than 24 hours after I found out I needed it. Expediters take 24-48 hours after they receive your documents, and they only submit info to the government once a day, each day at 9AM. So if you get your stuff to the service after 9AM, don't expect your passport within 24 hours, no matter what you pay them. Follow the steps above, avoid the headache and the expediting fee, and enjoy your travels!!
Thanks again Dave.
Andrew,
Awesome, detailed and super-helpful writeup! Thanks for sharing this
- it should absolutely help future readers.
Enjoy your trip!
Dave
At SF passport agency you do not need an appointment if you say you're leaving in less than 14 days and provide a copy of your itinerary…