Where to check your passport status depends on which country issued it

The fastest way to check your passport status is through your country's official passport agency website. In the United States, you check through the State Department's passport status tool at travel.state.gov. In Canada, you use the Government of Canada's passport office tracker. In the UK, you check through Her Majesty's Passport Office online portal. Each country maintains its own system, and you'll need your process reference number or receipt to look up where your passport is in the process.

If you applied in person at a passport office or acceptance facility, you should have received a receipt with a tracking number. Keep that receipt — it's the document you'll need to check status online. If you applied by mail, your receipt came in the envelope with your process materials.

Key Takeaways

  • The State Department's online passport status tool at travel.state.gov is the fastest way to check, and it updates every 24 hours.
  • You need your receipt number from when you applied; if you don't have it, you can call the passport agency directly with your name and date of birth.
  • Processing times vary by process type — routine service takes 6 to 8 weeks, expedited service takes 2 to 3 weeks, and emergency service is same-day in some cases.
  • If your passport is delayed beyond the stated processing time, contact the passport agency by phone rather than email, because phone lines have shorter wait times.

Using the State Department's online passport tracker

Go to travel.state.gov and look for the "Check Your Passport Status" link on the homepage. Click it, and you'll be asked to enter your receipt number and date of birth. The receipt number is an 8-digit code printed on the receipt you received when you submitted your process. If you applied in person, it's on the form you were given. If you applied by mail, it came with your process materials in the return envelope.

The system updates every 24 hours, so check in the morning for the most recent information. The status will tell you whether your passport is being processed, ready for pickup, or has been mailed. If it says "ready for pickup," you can collect it at the location where you applied, usually within a few business days of that status appearing.

Calling the passport agency if you don't have your receipt number

If you've lost your receipt or never received one, you can call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778. Have your full name, date of birth, and the city where you applied ready when you call. The phone line is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern time, and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time. Wait times are typically 15 to 45 minutes during business hours.

When you reach an agent, they can look up your process using your name and date of birth alone. They'll tell you the current status and give you a receipt number for future reference. Write down the number they give you so you can check online status yourself going forward.

Understanding passport processing times

The State Department offers three processing speeds: routine, expedited, and emergency. Routine service takes 6 to 8 weeks from the date you explore. Expedited service takes 2 to 3 weeks and costs an extra $60. Emergency service (called "execution" in State Department language) is available same-day or next-day in some cases and costs an extra $60 on top of expedited fees.

The processing time clock starts when the State Department receives your process, not when you submit it. If you applied by mail, add 1 to 2 weeks to account for postal delivery time. If you applied in person at a passport acceptance facility (like a post office or library), processing begins when ready. If you applied at a passport agency office, processing also begins when ready and you may be able to pick it up faster.

What to do if your passport is delayed past the expected date

If your passport has not arrived by the end of the stated processing time, call the National Passport Information Center rather than sending an email. Phone agents can investigate delays when ready, while email inquiries can take 2 to 3 weeks to receive a response. Have your receipt number ready when you call.

Common reasons for delays include incomplete applications, missing documents, or a name mismatch between your process and your birth certificate. The agent on the phone can tell you if any of these issues are holding up your passport. If documents are missing, they'll tell you how to submit them — usually by mail or in person at a passport agency office.

Checking status for passports applied for outside the United States

If you applied for a passport through a different country's government, use that country's official passport tracking system. Canada's system is at canada.ca/passport. The UK system is at gov.uk/passport. Australia's is at passports.gov.au. Each has its own receipt number format and online portal.

If you're a U.S. citizen explore for a foreign passport, you explore through that country's embassy or consulate, not through the State Department. Contact the embassy directly for status updates, as they do not always have online tracking systems. Many embassies require you to call or visit in person to check status.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check my passport status without my receipt number?

Yes. Call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 with your full name and date of birth. An agent will look up your process and provide your receipt number. You can then use that number to check status online anytime.

How often does the online status update?

The State Department's online tracker updates every 24 hours. Check in the morning for the most recent information. If you checked yesterday and saw no change, checking again the same day will show the same status.

What does "ready for pickup" mean?

Your passport has been printed and is waiting at the location where you applied. You can pick it up during business hours, usually within a few business days of that status appearing. Bring your receipt and a photo ID.

Can I expedite my passport if I already applied for routine service?

Yes. Call the National Passport Information Center and ask to upgrade your process to expedited service. You'll pay the $60 expedited fee. The processing time restarts from the date of your upgrade request, so expedited service will take 2 to 3 weeks from that point.

What if my passport was supposed to arrive but I never received it?

Call the National Passport Information Center and tell them the status showed "mailed" but you didn't receive it. They can file a claim with the postal service and reissue your passport. Bring your receipt number and have your address ready.