Yes, you can expedite a passport after submitting by upgrading to expedited service through the Passport Center and paying the expedite fee.
You already sent the application. Now the timing changed. A trip moved up. A visa appointment landed. A family event got locked in. That’s when this question shows up: can you expedite a passport after submitting?
For most U.S. passport applications, the answer is yes. You can request an upgrade from routine to expedited after it’s in the system. It’s not magic, and it’s not instant, yet it can shave time when your travel date is getting close.
Can You Expedite A Passport After Submitting? What Works In Real Life
There are three practical paths once your application is already submitted: (1) upgrade to expedited service, (2) add faster return delivery, (3) try urgent travel service at a passport agency when your trip is soon and appointments exist. Which one fits depends on how close your travel date is and where your application is in the process.
| Option | When It Fits | What You’ll Need |
|---|---|---|
| Upgrade to expedited service | Your application is “In Process” and travel is weeks away | Locator number (or name + DOB), card for the expedite fee |
| Add 1–2 day return delivery | You’re close to approval and want faster shipping back | Same info as above, plus payment for shipping |
| Urgent travel appointment | International travel is within about 14 days | Proof of travel, ID, and appointment slot |
| Change mailing address | You moved after submitting | New address, locator number, identity details |
| Fix a missing item fast | You got a letter or email asking for more documents | The exact request, quick turnaround shipping |
| Status tracking and timing plan | You want a clear “if/then” plan for each week | Online status checks and a travel date threshold |
| Refund request for expedite fee | You paid to expedite and it didn’t happen | Receipt details and processing outcome |
| Ask your travel partner to delay booking changes | Your travel date is flexible by a few days | A realistic buffer for mailing time |
How The Upgrade Works After You Already Applied
Once your application is entered, it gets a locator number. That locator is the handle staff use to find it fast. If you don’t have the number yet, the Passport Center can still search by your name and date of birth, yet having the locator helps.
Step 1: Confirm Your Status Is In The System
If you applied by mail or at an acceptance facility, it can take time for the package to arrive and be opened. The U.S. Department of State notes that mailing time can add weeks on both ends, so total time is not just “processing time.” The processing-time page lays this out clearly, including mailing transit on the front end and on the return end. Use the official Processing times for U.S. passports page to set your baseline and sanity-check your calendar.
Once your status shows as “In Process,” you’re in the window where an upgrade request makes sense. If your status still isn’t visible, call only if your travel date is getting tight. If you can wait a few days, waiting can spare you a long hold time.
Step 2: Request The Upgrade By Phone
To upgrade after submission, contact the National Passport Information Center (NPIC). The State Department’s “get a passport fast” page states that if you already applied, you can call NPIC and ask for expedited service or faster delivery. Here’s the official starting point: How to get my U.S. passport fast.
When you call, have these ready:
- Applicant’s full name
- Date of birth
- Locator number (if you have it)
- Phone number and email tied to the application
- A card for the expedite fee and any shipping fee
Say what you want in one clean sentence: you want to upgrade from routine to expedited service on an application already submitted, and you want to add 1–2 day return delivery if it’s available for your case.
Step 3: Pay The Fee And Watch For The Update
The expedite request involves an added fee. NPIC takes payment by card while you’re on the phone. After the request is placed, you may not see an instant change on the status site. Give it a little time, then check again.
Call logs can blur together, so keep your notes tight: date, time, name or ID of the agent (if offered), the last four digits of the card used, and whether you added expedited service, faster return delivery, or both.
Expediting A Passport After Submitting Your Application By Travel Date
The best next move changes based on when you leave. Don’t pick a tactic by vibes. Pick it by dates.
Travel Is More Than Six Weeks Away
If you still have a decent buffer, the phone upgrade is usually enough. Your goal is simple: get the application flagged for expedited handling, then stop creating new risk. Don’t change addresses unless you must. Don’t mail extra documents unless you were asked. Don’t book nonrefundable add-ons that depend on a passport number.
If you’re planning a visa too, mark that visa deadline separately. A visa requirement can force an earlier “must have passport in hand” date, even if your flight is later.
Travel Is Within Six Weeks
This is the zone where upgrading can still help, yet you need a backup plan. Call NPIC and request expedited service. Ask if 1–2 day return delivery is available for your case. Then map out a trigger point: if your status stays “In Process” past a certain date, you pivot to urgent travel service.
Write your pivot date based on two facts: your departure date and the reality that shipping back to you still takes time even after approval.
Can You Expedite A Passport After Submitting? If Travel Is Within 14 Days
If you’re inside about 14 days of international travel, you’re in urgent-travel territory. The State Department directs travelers in this window to seek an appointment at a passport agency or center, and it notes that you must have an appointment and that availability is not guaranteed.
Call NPIC and tell them your travel date. Have proof of travel ready in case you get an appointment slot. Proof can be an airline itinerary, a paid ticket, or a travel booking that shows your name and date. If you need a visa within about 28 days, mention that too, since it can change which service fits.
If you can’t get an appointment, still place the expedited upgrade request. It’s not a cure-all, yet it’s one of the few levers you can pull after submission.
Fees, Shipping, And What Changes When You Upgrade
Upgrading to expedited service changes how your application is handled. It does not erase mailing time. It does not create a guaranteed delivery date. Think of it as a speed boost inside the system, not a teleport.
Two common add-ons come up in the same call: expedited service and 1–2 day return delivery. Ask for both if your timeline is tight. If your timeline is not tight, expedited service alone may be enough.
You may see a refund mention online. The State Department’s fees page notes that if you paid the expedite fee and did not receive expedited service, you may be eligible to request a refund for that expedite fee. This is a “after the fact” step, not a tool to speed things up now.
| Item | What It Does | What It Doesn’t Do |
|---|---|---|
| Expedited service | Moves your application through processing faster than routine in many cases | Guarantee an approval date |
| 1–2 day return delivery | Speeds up shipping from the agency to you after it’s printed | Speed up the “in process” stage |
| Status tracking | Helps you react fast when the status changes | Change how fast staff work your file |
| Urgent travel appointment | Gives a shot at same-day or near-term service at an agency | Exist on demand when appointments are gone |
| Replying to a document request | Clears a hold that can freeze progress | Replace the upgrade step if you still need it |
| Address change request | Prevents the passport from shipping to the wrong place | Speed up printing |
| Booking buffer | Reduces stress and missed trips | Shorten government processing time |
Common Snags That Slow Things Down
Most delays after submission come from a short list of issues. You can’t control every one, yet you can avoid adding new ones.
Name Mismatch Or Data Entry Errors
If the name on your booking doesn’t match the name on your ID and application, agencies can’t fix that on a call. Your move is to align the booking to the passport name you will receive, or delay the booking change until you have the passport in hand.
Photo And Document Problems
If the agency needs a new photo or a missing document, answer fast. Use a trackable shipping method. Include the letter or reference details exactly as requested. A slow reply can stall the file even if you paid for expedited service.
Mailing Time Getting Ignored
People plan around “processing time” and forget the envelope time on both ends. Build a buffer for shipping back to you. If you’re on a tight trip, adding faster return delivery can matter as much as the expedite upgrade.
Checklist Before You Call For The Upgrade
This is the clean prep list that keeps the call short and reduces mistakes:
- Your travel date on a calendar, plus a second “visa deadline” date if a visa is needed
- Applicant name and date of birth exactly as on the application
- Locator number, if you have it
- Card ready for the expedite fee and shipping fee
- Pen and paper for call notes
During the call, ask two direct questions: (1) was expedited service added to this existing application, (2) was 1–2 day return delivery added or not. Then ask what you should watch for on the status page.
Before you hang up, confirm the mailing address on file and the name exactly as it appears on the application. If you moved, ask how to submit the change. Track status online once a day, not every hour. When approval posts, plan for mailing time too. Save the call reference number.
If you still have questions after reading this, return to the core question—can you expedite a passport after submitting?—and anchor your next step to your travel date. Upgrade by phone when you have weeks. Push for urgent travel service when your trip is close and an appointment exists. Keep your plan simple, keep your dates visible, and keep your documents ready.