Passports
Tips
- Always check the expiration date on your passport before making plans to travel internationally.
- Apply several months in advance for a new passport or passport renewal.
New Entry Requirements
- Many countries around the world now require American citizens to have a passport that is valid for at least six months at the time of travel. This means you could be denied entry to a country you are visiting – even if your passport is not expired.
- Europe’s 27 Schengen Area countries, which include France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and Greece, strictly enforce the six-month validity rule.
Applying for a Passport, Renewing a Passport, and Helpful Resources
- The routine processing time for renewing your passport through the State Department is 10 to 13 weeks, and the expedited passport renewal time is 7 to 9 weeks.
- How to apply for a passport for the first time.
- How to apply for a passport for your child below age 16.
- How to apply or renew a passport for your child aged 16-17.
- How to renew your passport by mail as an adult.
- How to apply for a passport if you are physically outside of the United States.
- How to change your name or correct an error on your passport.
- How to report your passport lost or stolen.
- How to check your passport application status.
If you find yourself in a bind with limited time before you travel, my office may be able to help. If your passport is expired and you are within 14 days of travelling, please do not hesitate to contact my office, where we can work with the State Department on your behalf.
While my office has successfully handled hundreds of emergency passport cases this year, we unfortunately cannot guarantee that outcome. This means that the best thing you can do is to renew your passport or apply for a new one through the standard procedures as soon as possible.
To request my office’s assistance with your passport, you can fill out the privacy release form or call my Pottsville office at (570) 781-6370 or my Washington, DC office at (202) 225-6511.