State Department: Passport Applications Delayed, Expedited Service Extremely Limited

Passport Applications Delayed, Expedited Service Extremely Limited

The Department of State has currently issued a Global Level 3 Health Advisory (now raised to Level 4: Do Not Travel) due to the global impact of COVID-19. Many areas throughout the world are now experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks and taking action that may limit traveler mobility, including quarantines and border restrictions. In addition passport services operations are impacted, with expedited service extremely limited and regular service delayed.

Expedited Service

Due to public health measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, effective March 20, 2020, expedited service will be very limited. Only customers with a qualified life-or-death emergency and who need a passport for immediate international travel within 72 hours can apply. Life-or-death emergencies are serious illnesses, injuries, or deaths in your immediate family (e.g. parent, sibling, aunt, uncle, etc) that require you to travel outside the United States within 72 hours (3 days). You must provide:

A passport application with supporting documents
Proof of the life-or-death emergency such as a death certificate, a statement from a mortuary, or a signed letter from a hospital or medical professional.
Documents should be translated or in English. Proof of international travel (e.g. reservation, ticket, itinerary)

Regular Service

If you are applying for or renewing a U.S. passport on or after March 20, 2020, expedited service (2-3 weeks) is no longer offered, except for cases listed above. Routine service (6-8 weeks) may be delayed.

If you applied and requested expedited service on or before March 19, 2020, we will honor our commitment of 2-3 weeks door-to-door for expedited service. If you applied in-person at a passport agency or center on or before March 19, 2020, the passport agency or center will contact you and ask if you want to pick-up your passport in person or have it mailed to you.

Customers in Puerto Rico should be aware that our San Juan Passport Agency is closed to the public until at least March 30, 2020.

Due to public health measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, some passport application acceptance facilities, which include libraries, clerks of court, and post offices may not be accepting U.S. passport applications at this time. If you need to apply in person for your U.S. passport, please contact the facility directly to confirm if they are accepting applications.