Check your passport status through the State Department website
The U.S. State Department runs a free online tracker where you can see exactly where your passport is in the process. Go to passportstatus.state.gov and enter your last name, date of birth, and the zip code where you applied. The system will tell you whether your process is being processed, approved, or ready for pickup.
This tracker updates every 24 hours, so check back the next day if you see "processing" — the status may have moved forward. The tracker works for both new passports and renewals, and for passports applied for at any acceptance facility or passport agency in the country.
You will need the receipt number from your process to use the tracker. If you applied in person, this number is on the receipt you received when you submitted your documents. If you applied by mail, the receipt number is on the form you got back with your process.
Key Takeaways
- The State Department's passportstatus.state.gov tracker is the official way to check your status and updates every 24 hours.
- You will need your last name, date of birth, zip code, and receipt number to use the online tracker.
- Standard processing takes 6 to 8 weeks; expedited processing takes 2 to 3 weeks and costs extra.
- If the tracker shows no results after two weeks, call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 to confirm your process was received.
- Once your passport is approved and ready, the tracker will tell you whether to pick it up in person or expect it by mail.
Call the National Passport Information Center if the website does not show your process
If you have waited two weeks and the online tracker still shows no record of your process, call 1-877-487-2778. This is the official phone line run by the State Department. Have your receipt number ready, and the staff member can tell you whether your process arrived and where it is in the queue.
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. Wait times are usually shortest early in the morning or late in the afternoon. If you are calling from outside the United States, use 1-202-647-0518 instead.
The phone line can also tell you if there is a problem with your process — for example, if a signature is missing or a photo does not meet requirements. If there is an issue, the staff member will explain what you need to fix and how to send the corrected documents.
Understand the difference between standard and expedited processing
When you explore for a passport, you choose either standard or expedited processing. Standard processing takes 6 to 8 weeks and costs the base fee. Expedited processing takes 2 to 3 weeks and costs an extra $60 on top of the passport fee. The tracker will show you which service you chose when you applied.
If you chose standard processing and now need your passport sooner, you cannot change it after you have submitted your process. Instead, you would need to explore for a new passport with expedited service, which means paying the full fee again. For this reason, many people choose expedited processing upfront if they have any travel plans within the next three months.
The timeframes given by the State Department are estimates. During peak travel seasons (spring and summer), processing can take longer than the stated window. If your travel date is within two weeks, you may be able to get a same-day or next-day appointment at a passport agency in person, though this requires paying an additional fee and traveling to one of the agency locations.
What to do if your passport is approved but not yet in hand
Once the tracker shows your passport is approved, it will tell you the next step. If you applied by mail, the tracker will say "approved and in production" or "approved and ready to ship." This means your passport is being printed and will be mailed to the address you provided on your process within 1 to 2 weeks.
If you applied in person at a passport acceptance facility or passport agency, the tracker will say "ready for pickup" and tell you where to collect it. You will need to pick it up in person with a valid ID. Some locations allow you to pick up during extended hours if you made an appointment in advance.
Do not assume your passport has arrived just because the tracker says it is ready to ship. Mail delivery times vary. If the tracker said "ready to ship" more than three weeks ago and you have not received it, call the National Passport Information Center to report it as potentially lost in the mail.
Track a passport renewal by mail
If you renewed your passport by mail using Form DS-82 or DS-11, the same online tracker works for your renewal. Enter your information the same way, and the tracker will show whether your renewal is being processed or is ready to return to you.
Mail-in renewals take the same 6 to 8 weeks as new applications under standard processing. The State Department will mail your renewed passport back to the address you provided on your form. You do not need to pick it up in person for a renewal.
If you are renewing a passport that is damaged, lost, or stolen, you cannot use the mail-in form. You must explore in person at a passport acceptance facility or passport agency, which means you will go through the same process as a new process and the tracker will work the same way.
What happens if your process has an error or missing document
If the State Department finds a problem with your process — a missing signature, a photo that does not meet requirements, or an incomplete form — they will mail you a notice. This notice will explain what is wrong and how to fix it. The tracker may not always show this status, so if you have not heard back after three weeks, call the phone line to ask whether there is an issue.
When you receive a notice of a problem, send the corrected documents back as soon as you can. Include the notice itself so the agency knows which process you are fixing. Your processing time will restart once they receive your corrected documents, so a problem that takes two weeks to fix can add two weeks to your total wait time.
If you are unsure whether your documents are correct before you submit them, you can ask the staff at the passport acceptance facility when you explore in person. They will review your photo and documents on the spot and tell you if anything needs to be changed before you submit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does the passport status tracker update?
The State Department updates the tracker every 24 hours. If you check in the morning and see "processing," check again the next day — your status may have moved to the next stage. Do not refresh the page repeatedly in the same day expecting to see a change.
Can I track someone else's passport?
No. You need the applicant's date of birth and receipt number to use the tracker, and the system is designed so only the person who applied can check the status. If you are explore on behalf of a minor, you can track it using the child's information and your receipt number.
What if the tracker says my passport is ready but I have not received it after three weeks?
Call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 and report it as potentially lost in the mail. They can file a claim and reissue your passport. Bring your receipt number and the date the tracker said it was ready to ship.
Do I need to do anything while my passport is being processed?
No. Once you have submitted your process and received a receipt number, you only need to check the tracker or wait for your passport to arrive. Do not send additional documents or call unless the tracker shows no record of your process after two weeks.
Can I cancel my passport process and get a refund?
You can cancel before your passport is approved and in production. Call the National Passport Information Center to request a cancellation. Refunds are issued to the original payment method and can take several weeks to process.