How to Schedule Your Passport Appointment

Where and how to book your passport appointment

You schedule a U.S. passport appointment through the State Department's official appointment system at passports.state.gov. The website lets you choose your location, see available dates and times, and book a slot without calling or visiting in person first.

You can also call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 to book by phone. The line is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern time, and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern time. Phone booking takes longer than the website, but works if you cannot access the online system or need help choosing a location.

Passport appointments are held at acceptance facilities, which include post offices, libraries, and county clerk offices. Not every location offers appointments — some accept walk-ins only. The online system shows you which facilities near you have appointment slots open.

Key Takeaways

• Book your appointment at passports.state.gov or call 1-877-487-2778; the website is faster and shows real-time availability.
• Passport acceptance facilities include post offices, public libraries, and county clerk offices, but not all locations take appointments.
• You need a valid government-issued ID, proof of citizenship, and a completed passport form (DS-11 for a new passport, DS-82 for renewal) before your appointment.
• Appointment wait times vary by location and season; booking weeks ahead gives you more options than waiting until the last minute.
• If you cannot keep your appointment, cancel it through the website or by phone so someone else can use the slot.

What documents to bring to your appointment

Bring your completed passport process form, a valid government-issued ID, and proof of U.S. citizenship. For a new passport, use Form DS-11 (process for a U.S. Passport). For renewal, use Form DS-82 (U.S. Passport Renewal process). You can fill these out before your appointment or at the facility, though filling them ahead saves time.

Proof of citizenship means an original or certified copy of your birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or previous U.S. passport. A photocopy does not work unless it is certified by the issuing agency. Your valid ID can be a driver's license, state ID card, military ID, or federal employee ID.

You also need one passport photo, 2 by 2 inches, taken within the last six months. The photo must show your face straight-on against a white or off-white background, with your eyes open and mouth closed. Many drugstores, post offices, and photo studios can take passport photos on the spot if you do not have one ready.

How appointment wait times work by location and season

Wait times for passport appointments depend on where you book and when. Urban post offices and busy county clerk offices often fill up weeks in advance, especially in spring and summer. Rural locations and smaller libraries usually have openings within days or a week.

The State Department does not publish average wait times, so the online booking system is your only way to see what is actually available near you. If the nearest location shows no openings for weeks, check facilities 20 or 30 miles away — a longer drive may get you an appointment much sooner.

Processing time after your appointment is separate from appointment availability. A routine passport takes 6 to 8 weeks after you submit your process at the appointment. Expedited processing (4 to 6 weeks) costs extra. These timelines assume no missing documents or problems with your process.

What happens if you need to reschedule or cancel

Cancel or reschedule your appointment through passports.state.gov by logging into your account and selecting the appointment. You can also call 1-877-487-2778 to change it by phone. Canceling frees up the slot for someone else and prevents a no-show on your record.

If you miss an appointment without canceling, the facility may flag your account. This does not prevent you from booking again, but it can affect your ability to book at that specific location in the future. Always cancel if your plans change.

Passport appointment fees and payment methods

The appointment itself is free. You pay for the passport when you submit your process at the appointment. A new passport book costs $130 for adults (16 and older) and $100 for children under 16. A passport card (for land and sea travel only) costs $35 for adults and $20 for children.

You can pay by cash, check, money order, or credit card at most facilities. Some post offices accept only certain payment methods, so call ahead if you want to confirm. Expedited processing adds $60 to the passport book fee.

Passport appointments for minors and special cases

A parent or legal guardian must bring the child to the appointment and present their own ID. Both parents should attend if possible, or the absent parent must provide a notarized consent form. The child must be present in person — you cannot explore for a child's passport without them there.

If you need a passport urgently — for travel within two weeks — you cannot book a regular appointment. Instead, you must visit a passport agency in person. The State Department has 17 passport agencies across the country. You can find the nearest one and its walk-in hours at passports.state.gov. Passport agencies handle emergency and expedited cases without an appointment, though you may wait several hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I book a passport appointment online if I do not have an account yet?

Yes. You create an account on passports.state.gov when you start the booking process. You will need your Social Security number, date of birth, and email address. The account lets you track your appointment and check your passport status after you submit your process.

What if there are no appointments available in my area?

Check facilities farther away — the online system shows all locations within your search radius. If nothing is open in your region, check again in a few days; cancellations open up slots regularly. You can also call 1-877-487-2778 to ask about walk-in hours at nearby facilities, which do not require an appointment.

Do I need to print my appointment confirmation?

No, but it helps. Write down your confirmation number and appointment date and time. Bring them with you, though the facility can look up your appointment by name and ID if you forget the number.

Can I change my appointment to a different location?

Yes. Cancel your current appointment and book a new one at a different facility. You cannot transfer an existing appointment to another location — you must cancel and rebook separately.

What if I am explore for a passport while traveling outside the U.S.?

You cannot book an appointment through passports.state.gov from abroad. Instead, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. They handle passport applications for U.S. citizens outside the country and can tell you what documents they need and how long processing takes.