To check your passport status, use the State Department’s online status checker with your last name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. It shows where your application stands, and we explain each status below. Applied through The Passport Office? Track your order on our track page with your order number.
Don’t see anything yet? That’s normal at first. It can take up to 2 weeks from the day you apply before your status reads “In Process.” Below, we cover how to check online and by phone, what each status means, and what to do if your application seems stuck.
How to check your passport status online
- Go to the State Department’s passport status checker.
- Enter your last name, your date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
- Read your status, then check back every few days.
If you listed an email address on your application, the State Department also sends status updates by email. The State Department’s status page has the details.
Applied with The Passport Office? Track your order
If you applied through us, go to our track page and enter your order number. You’ll see where your order stands without calling anyone. If you have questions about your order, contact us and our team will help.
The rest of this page covers the State Department’s status checker, which you can use with your own details.
What each passport status means
| Status | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Not Available | The system doesn’t show your application yet. It can take up to 2 weeks from the day you apply for the status to read “In Process.” | Wait. If it’s still blank after 2 weeks, call the number below. |
| In Process | A passport agency or center is reviewing your application. How long it stays here depends on the service you chose and current processing times. | Compare your wait to the current processing times. If you’re past them, see what “stuck in processing” means. |
| Additional Information Needed | The State Department needs more from you, and your application is on hold. You have 90 days from the date on the letter or email to respond, or the application can be denied. | Follow the instructions in the letter or email. Send what they ask for to the mailing address on it, not to a passport agency’s street address. See what can put an application on hold. |
| Approved | The State Department finished its review and will begin printing your passport. | Watch for the next change. If it goes back to “In Process,” the State Department found a problem during the final review and is fixing it before it prints a new passport. |
| Mailed | The State Department sent your passport to the address on your application. | Watch your mail. See tracking a mailed passport below. |
How long does it take to get a passport?
The State Department lists routine processing at 4 to 6 weeks and expedited processing at 2 to 3 weeks. Mailing is separate. It can take up to 2 weeks for your application to reach the State Department, and up to 2 weeks for your passport to reach you. Our guide to how long it takes to get a passport covers what counts toward those times and how to plan around them.
Check your passport status by phone
Call the National Passport Information Center at 877-487-2778. If you’re deaf or hard of hearing, the TTY line is 888-874-7793. Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern, and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern. The center is closed on federal holidays.
Have your application details handy. If you need your passport within 14 days for international travel, ask about a passport agency appointment.
Applied at a post office or library?
The place where you applied accepts your application and sends it on. It doesn’t process it, so it generally can’t tell you more than the status checker shows. For anything beyond that, the State Department is who to ask.
Track your passport while it’s in the mail
When your status reads “Mailed,” the State Department has sent your passport to the address on your application. A passport book ships by a trackable delivery service. A passport card ships by First Class Mail.
If more than 2 weeks have passed since your status changed to “Mailed,” call the National Passport Information Center at the number above.
Passport renewal status
If you renewed your passport, use the same status checker with the same details. For how renewing works from start to finish, see our guide to renewing a passport.
Need your passport sooner than the State Department’s timeline allows? That’s what we do. We’re a registered courier service, and we hand-carry applications to a U.S. passport agency when your trip is close. You still pay the government fees, including the $60 to expedite, and our service fee is on top of that. We can only take on an application we submit ourselves from the start, so we can’t speed up one you’ve already mailed in. See our pricing.
With our Emergency service, we can get your passport in as fast as 2 to 3 business days.
Your status isn’t moving
If your status has sat on “In Process” longer than the posted processing times, read what “stuck in processing” means and what you can do.
Looking for your application locator number instead? See what a passport locator number is and how to use it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I track an application I submitted through The Passport Office?
Go to our track page and enter your order number. If you can’t find your order number or something looks off, contact us.
How do I check my passport status without a locator number?
You don’t need one. The State Department’s status checker asks for your last name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
Why does my passport status say “Not Available”?
Your application probably hasn’t entered the system yet. It can take up to 2 weeks from the day you apply before the status changes to “In Process.” If it’s still blank after that, call the National Passport Information Center.
How long until my passport status shows up?
Up to 2 weeks from the day you apply. After that, you’ll see “In Process” while a passport agency or center reviews your application.
Can I speed up my application after I’ve applied?
We can only take on an application we submit from the start, so we can’t speed up one you’ve already mailed in yourself. If you’re traveling abroad within 14 days, the State Department offers passport agency appointments. Call the National Passport Information Center at 877-487-2778 to ask whether you qualify.
What does it mean when my status goes back to “In Process” after “Approved”?
The State Department found a problem during the final review of your passport. It’s fixing the issue and preparing a new passport to print.
Need help getting a passport on time? Call us. We can walk you through your options and what to do next. Contact The Passport Office.