Passport processing times have returned to pre-pandemic normalcy. Starting December 18, 2023, passport applications will be processed in 6-8 weeks for routine service and 2-3 weeks for expedited service, which costs an additional $60, the U.S. Department of State reported.
In 1990, only five percent of Americans possessed a passport. Today, that number is 48%. More Americans can travel abroad now than at any time in the country’s history. There are now over 160 million valid U.S. passports in circulation (almost double the amount from 2007).
In the past year, the Department faced unprecedented demand for passports. Between October 2022 and September 2023 (the federal fiscal year), the State Department issued over 24 million passport books and cards – the largest amount ever recorded in the nation’s history.
Visit travel.state.gov/passport to plan your 2024 travels with the latest passport guidance and processing tips in mind. The State Department encourages all American citizens traveling abroad to renew their passports in advance. They also advise the traveling public in the U.S. to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP.state.gov) from the State Department, so they can receive important messages about their destinations directly, including timely Alerts and updates on Travel Advisories.
Source: U.S. Department of State