Your new passport could take longer than usual to arrive, bringing the potential to snarl your upcoming travel plans.
The U.S. Department of State announced passport applications filed after March 24 could take up to three months to process as it faces a surge in requests.
“Processing times are cyclical and rise and fall based on seasonal demand,” the agency wrote in a news release. “However, the volume of applications we have received during periods this year has outpaced records set by last year’s volume by more than 30 percent.”
So, what should you expect before your next international trip? Here are some tips for getting your passport on time as well as more details about the processing delay.
How Long Can You Expect to Wait?
If you applied between Feb. 6 and March 24, processing times for your routine U.S. passport could take eight to 11 weeks.
But as of March 24, it could now take 10 to 13 weeks to process passport applications. For reference, the change went into effect 13 weeks before late June, the start of summer.
Still, the delay to get your passport could be even longer, as estimated wait times don’t include the period it takes to send your application or to receive your new passport back through the mail.
“It may take up to 2 weeks for applications to arrive by mail at a passport agency or center, and up to 2 weeks for you to receive a completed passport in the mail after we print it. Consider the total time it will take to receive your passport when you are booking travel,” the state department wrote, adding that now is the time to renew your passport if you plan to go abroad in 2023.
“Definitely apply as soon as possible,” Brian Kelly, founder of the travel website The Points Guy, told KOMO. “Don’t go too close to the date of your trip and give yourself undue stress.”
If you’re traveling abroad less than 13 weeks from your submission date, you can pay an extra $60 for an expedited application. Those are expected to take seven to nine weeks to process.
