After processing times that stretched out to six months and even beyond, the waiting time for a new or renewal U.S. passport is back to normal, according to the State Department, which quotes 6-8 weeks for a routine application.
The long waits began in 2020 as passport offices were shut down by the pandemic and only limited service was available. By the time they re-opened to their full capacity, there was a huge backlog of applications and expirations, while staff was still in short supply. The situation became even worse as international travel recovered faster than expected.
As recently as last fall, waits of up to 11 weeks or more were common for routine processing; even with a $60 added fee for expedited service, the wait was still at 5-6 weeks. Today, expedited passports are being issued in 2-3 weeks.
Despite the recovery in passport processing, there are still long waiting times for applicants for the Global Entry program which eases re-entry into the U.S. for ‘trusted traveler’ members. Wait times for the required interview are still stuck at four to six months.
