How to Schedule a Passport Appointment at Your Local Agency

Where to book your passport appointment

You book a passport appointment through the State Department's official website at passports.gov, or by calling 1-877-487-2778. The website lets you search for appointments at passport acceptance facilities and passport agencies in your area, then reserve a specific date and time. If you call, a representative will search available slots and book one for you over the phone.

Not all locations offer the same services. Some facilities only accept passport applications and renewals; others can issue passports on the spot. The search tool on passports.gov shows you which services each location provides, so you can pick one that handles what you need.

Walk-in appointments are not available at most locations. Even if a facility accepts walk-ins, you will wait much longer than if you had booked ahead. Booking online or by phone reserves your spot and keeps your wait time short.

Key Takeaways

• Book your appointment at passports.gov or by calling 1-877-487-2778; walk-in service is not reliable and usually means a long wait.
• The passports.gov search tool shows you which locations near you offer the service you need — some only accept applications, while others issue passports the same day.
• You will need to bring specific documents depending on whether you are renewing, replacing, or getting your first passport.
• Appointment wait times vary by location and season; booking several weeks ahead gives you more options than waiting until the last minute.
• If you need a passport urgently, some passport agencies offer expedited service, but this costs extra and requires an in-person appointment at a passport agency, not a local acceptance facility.

What documents to bring to your appointment

The documents you need depend on what type of passport you are getting. For a first-time passport, bring your birth certificate (original or certified copy), a government-issued photo ID like a driver's license, and proof of citizenship. You will also need a completed passport process form — DS-11 for a new passport or DS-82 for a renewal — which you can fill out before you arrive or at the appointment itself.

For a passport renewal, you need your expired or expiring passport, a completed DS-82 form, and a new passport photo if your old one is more than five years old or no longer looks like you. If you are renewing by mail instead of in person, you do not need an appointment at all.

For a replacement passport (if yours was lost or stolen), bring a police report of the loss, a government ID, proof of citizenship, and a completed DS-11 form. You must do this in person; it cannot be done by mail.

Bring the original documents, not photocopies. The facility will not accept copies of your birth certificate or ID. You will also need a passport photo — 2 by 2 inches, taken within the last six months — unless you are renewing and your old photo still looks like you.

How to prepare before your appointment

Fill out your process form before you arrive. You can read DS-11 (new passport) or DS-82 (renewal) from passports.gov and complete it by hand or print it after filling it out online. Bringing a completed form saves time at your appointment, though staff can help you fill one out if you arrive blank.

Get a passport photo taken at a pharmacy, post office, or photography studio. Many CVS and Walgreens locations have photo services and can take your passport photo on the spot. The photo must be 2 by 2 inches, in color, with a plain white or off-white background, and taken within the last six months. Do not wear sunglasses or a hat, and your face must be clearly visible.

Check the facility's website or call ahead if you have questions about what documents they need. Some acceptance facilities have slightly different requirements, and calling first means you will not arrive unprepared.

Standard processing times and when to book

Standard passport processing takes 6 to 8 weeks from the day the agency receives your process. Expedited processing takes 2 to 3 weeks but costs extra. These timelines assume no errors on your process and no missing documents — if something is wrong, the agency will contact you and the clock restarts when you send the corrected version.

Book your appointment at least 4 to 6 weeks before you need your passport if you are using standard processing. If you need it sooner, you can request expedited processing at your appointment, though this is more expensive and not available at all locations.

Wait times for appointments vary by location and season. Summer and the weeks before holidays are busier, so appointments fill up faster. If you book in January or February, you will usually find an appointment within a week or two. If you book in June, you might wait 3 to 4 weeks for an open slot.

Expedited service and passport agencies

If you need a passport in less than 6 weeks, you can request expedited processing at your appointment. This costs extra and speeds up the agency's work, but it does not speed up your appointment itself — you still have to wait for an opening at a passport acceptance facility or agency.

For the fastest service, book an appointment at a passport agency rather than a local acceptance facility. Passport agencies are run directly by the State Department and can issue passports the same day or within a few days if you pay for expedited service. However, passport agencies are only in major cities, and appointments there fill up quickly. Check passports.gov to see if there is an agency near you.

If you are traveling within 2 weeks and have no passport, call 1-877-487-2778 and ask about emergency service. The State Department can sometimes issue a passport in 24 hours if you have a flight booked and can prove it, but this is rare and requires an in-person appointment at a passport agency.

What happens at your appointment

Arrive 15 minutes early with all your documents. A staff member will check that you have everything, review your process form, and take your photo if you did not bring one. They will verify your identity and citizenship documents, then submit your process to the State Department.

At a passport acceptance facility, you cannot get your passport the same day — they send your process to a processing center, and you will receive your passport by mail in 6 to 8 weeks (or 2 to 3 weeks if you paid for expedited service). At a passport agency, you may be able to pick up your passport the same day or within a few days if you pay for expedited service, but this depends on how busy the agency is.

You will pay the passport fee at your appointment. The cost depends on the type of passport and whether you choose standard or expedited processing. Bring a check, money order, or credit card — most facilities accept all three, but call ahead to confirm what your location takes.

Rescheduling or canceling your appointment

If you need to change your appointment, log into your account on passports.gov and select a new date and time. You can reschedule up until the day before your appointment. If you cannot reschedule online, call 1-877-487-2778 and a representative will change it for you.

If you cancel your appointment and do not reschedule, that slot opens up for someone else. There is no penalty for canceling, but you will need to book a new appointment if you still need a passport.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bring someone else to my appointment?

Yes. A parent or guardian must accompany minors under 16. Adults can bring a friend or family member for support, but only the person getting the passport needs to be present for the actual process process.

What if I do not have a birth certificate?

You can get a certified copy from the vital records office in the state or country where you were born. This usually takes 1 to 2 weeks and costs $10 to $30. Contact your state's vital records office or visit vitalrecords.com to find the right office and order a copy.

Do I need an appointment if I am renewing my passport by mail?

No. If your passport is not damaged, expired less than five years ago, and you were an adult when it was issued, you can renew by mail without an appointment. Mail your process, old passport, and payment to the address on the DS-82 form.

What if my appointment is coming up and I do not have all my documents?

Call 1-877-487-2778 or contact the facility directly to ask what you are missing. If you cannot get the documents in time, reschedule your appointment for a later date. Showing up without required documents will mean your process is rejected and you will have to book another appointment.

Can I get a passport the same day?

Only at a passport agency with expedited service, and only if the agency has same-day capacity that day. Most passport agencies can turn around a passport in 1 to 3 days with expedited service. Call the agency directly or check passports.gov to see if same-day service is available at the location near you.