Check your passport status through the State Department website
The fastest way to track a U.S. passport is through the State Department's passport status tool at travel.state.gov. You will need your Social Security number, date of birth, and the last name on your process. The tool shows whether your passport is in process, approved, or ready for pickup — it updates every 24 hours.
If you applied in person at a passport acceptance facility (post office, library, or courthouse), the status tool works when ready. If you mailed your process, the tool may not show your passport for up to two weeks while the State Department scans it into their system. During that gap, you can call the National Passport Information Center instead.
The status tool does not show estimated completion dates. It tells you only where your passport is in the workflow. If it says "In Process," your process is still being reviewed. If it says "Approved," your passport has been printed and is waiting to be mailed or picked up.
Key Takeaways
- The State Department's online status tool at travel.state.gov is the primary way to track your passport and updates every 24 hours.
- You will need your Social Security number, date of birth, and last name to check your status online.
- The tool may not show your process for up to two weeks if you mailed it in, so call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 during that period.
- Processing times vary by location and season; the State Department publishes current wait times on their website, separate from your individual status.
- If your passport shows "Approved," it will be mailed to your address on file or held for pickup at the location where you applied.
Call the National Passport Information Center for phone support
The National Passport Information Center answers calls at 1-877-487-2778 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern time, and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern time. You will need the same information as the online tool: Social Security number, date of birth, and last name. The wait time is often 30 minutes or longer during peak hours (late morning and early afternoon).
Call this number if your process has been mailed and does not yet appear in the online system, or if the online tool is not working. The representative can tell you whether your process has been received and scanned, and can sometimes provide a more specific timeline than the website shows.
The phone line does not handle passport renewals by mail differently than new applications. If you renewed by mail and your status is not showing online, the phone center can confirm receipt and give you a rough estimate of when to expect your passport.
Understand the difference between processing time and your individual status
The State Department publishes two separate pieces of information: how long passports generally take to process (published on their website), and where your specific passport is in the queue (shown in the status tool). These are not the same thing.
Processing time tells you that routine passports currently take 6 to 8 weeks, or expedited passports take 2 to 3 weeks. Your individual status tells you whether your passport is in the first week of processing, the final week, or already approved. A passport that shows "In Process" could be anywhere in that timeline.
The State Department updates published processing times weekly. If you applied during a busy season (spring and summer), your passport may take longer than the posted time. If you applied during a slow period (fall and winter), it may arrive sooner. The status tool does not predict which will happen to you.
Track a passport renewal by mail
Passport renewals by mail follow the same tracking process as new applications. Use the online status tool or call 1-877-487-2778 with your Social Security number, date of birth, and last name. The tool will show your renewal in the same way it shows a new passport process.
Renewals by mail take longer to enter the system than in-person applications. If you mailed your renewal, expect the status tool to show nothing for 2 to 3 weeks. During that time, call the phone line to confirm the State Department has received your envelope. Once it is scanned in, the online tool will update.
If your renewal is marked "Approved," your new passport will be mailed to the address you provided on your process. You will not receive a separate notification — the passport itself is your confirmation.
What to do if your passport status does not update
If the online tool shows no results after three weeks of mailing your process, or if the phone line cannot find your process, your envelope may not have arrived. Call 1-877-487-2778 and ask whether the State Department received your process. If they did not, you will need to resubmit.
If you applied in person and the status tool still shows nothing after one week, call the phone line. In-person applications should appear within 24 to 48 hours. A missing in-person process usually means a scanning error at the acceptance facility, and the phone center can escalate it.
If your status has been "In Process" for longer than the published processing time, call the phone line. The representative can check whether your process is delayed and, in some cases, request expedited handling if you have a documented travel date.
Track an expedited or emergency passport
Expedited passports (2 to 3 weeks) and emergency passports (same day or next day) use the same tracking tool as routine passports. Enter your information at travel.state.gov to see whether your passport is approved and ready for pickup or mailing.
Emergency passports are printed and ready within hours, so the status tool will show "Approved" very quickly. You will pick it up in person at a passport agency, not by mail. Call the agency directly to confirm your pickup time — the status tool does not show appointment slots.
Expedited passports are mailed to your address, just like routine passports. The status tool will show "Approved" when it is ready to ship. Expedited passports are mailed via priority mail and typically arrive within 3 to 5 business days of approval.
Understand what each status message means
"In Process" means your process is being reviewed. The State Department is checking your documents, verifying your identity, and preparing your passport for printing. This is the longest phase and can last several weeks.
"Approved" means your passport has been printed and is either waiting to be mailed or waiting for you to pick it up. If you applied by mail, your passport will be mailed to your address within 1 to 2 weeks of approval. If you applied in person, you can pick it up at the location where you applied, usually within 1 to 2 weeks of approval.
"No results found" means your process has not yet been scanned into the system. This is normal for mailed applications during the first 2 to 3 weeks. If it has been longer, call the phone line to confirm receipt.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does the passport status tool update?
The online status tool updates every 24 hours. Check it once per day rather than multiple times daily, as you will see the same information. If your status changes from "In Process" to "Approved," it will show the next day.
Can I track someone else's passport?
No. The status tool requires the applicant's Social Security number and date of birth. You cannot check another person's passport status unless they give you this information. Parents can check their minor child's passport status using the child's Social Security number and date of birth.
What if I applied for a passport but never received it?
Check the status tool first. If it shows "Approved," your passport was mailed and may still be in transit — allow 7 to 10 business days after approval. If it shows "In Process," it has not been printed yet. If it shows no results, call 1-877-487-2778 to confirm the State Department received your process.
Do I need to do anything while my passport is being processed?
No. Once you have submitted your process, you only need to check the status. Do not contact the State Department unless your status has not changed after the published processing time has passed, or if your process has been lost.
Can I cancel my passport process if I no longer need it?
Call 1-877-487-2778 and ask to cancel your process. If your passport has already been printed and approved, you cannot cancel it — you will receive it by mail or can pick it up and then request a replacement if you do not want it.