How to Get an Emergency Passport Fast: Cost, Time & Steps

To get an emergency passport, book a free in-person appointment at a U.S. passport agency or center and bring a completed application, original proof of citizenship, a photo ID, one passport photo, and printed proof of travel within 14 days. A first-time adult book costs $225 in government fees.

Timing drives every decision here. The country’s 26 passport agencies and centers only see travelers whose international departure falls inside a 14-day window, or a 28-day window when a foreign visa is part of the trip, and anyone outside those windows gets routed to slower services instead. Overseas with a lost passport? That runs through a U.S. embassy, under different rules.

What Is an Emergency Passport?

An emergency passport is either a full U.S. passport issued within days at a domestic passport agency or a limited-validity travel document that a U.S. embassy issues to a citizen stranded abroad. One phrase, two products.

Type	Where you get it	Validity	Who it serves
Urgent agency passport	One of 26 U.S. passport agencies and centers	10 years for adults, 5 years for children under 16	Travelers leaving the U.S. within 14 days
Limited-validity emergency passport	A U.S. embassy or consulate overseas	1 year or less	Citizens abroad whose passport was lost, stolen, or damaged

Stateside, you’re almost certainly after the first type. It’s a regular passport book printed on a compressed schedule, and nothing on the cover marks it as rushed. The embassy version is different: a 12-page book meant to get you home, which a handful of countries won’t accept at the border.

Who Qualifies for an Emergency Passport Appointment?

You qualify for an emergency passport appointment when your international departure falls within 14 calendar days, with 2 exceptions that change the window. Each path below carries its own proof requirement.

Urgent Travel Within 14 Days

Any U.S. citizen leaving the country within 14 calendar days can book an urgent appointment. Printed proof is mandatory, and it has to show your name: an airline e-ticket receipt or a full itinerary works. Traveling by land or sea to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, or the Caribbean? A cruise ticket or hotel reservation covers you there.

Life-or-Death Emergencies

A separate track opens when an immediate family member outside the United States has died, is dying or in hospice care, or has a life-threatening illness or injury. Qualifying relatives are parents, legal guardians, children, spouses, siblings, and grandparents. Aunts, uncles, and cousins don’t qualify.

The State Department needs written evidence, which means a death certificate, a mortuary statement, or a hospital letter on letterhead signed by a doctor that describes the relative’s condition. Documents in another language need a professional translation. Trips for your own medical treatment fall under the standard 14-day rule instead.

Foreign Visa Needed Within 28 Days

Travelers heading to a country that requires a visa in advance, such as India or China, can book up to 28 days before departure. The reason is practical. Consulates hold your passport while they process the visa, so the State Department builds that time into the window.

How Can I Get an Emergency Passport in 6 Steps?

To get an emergency passport, book a free appointment at a passport agency, then arrive with a complete application and original documents. Here’s the full sequence.

Step 1: Pick the Right Form

Form DS-11 covers first-time applicants, children under 16, and anyone whose last passport was lost, stolen, damaged, or issued more than 15 years ago. Eligible renewals use Form DS-82. A lost or stolen book also needs Form DS-64, the official loss report, filed alongside the application.

Step 2: Book the Appointment

Haven’t applied yet? Use the Online Passport Appointment System, which verifies you with an emailed code and a texted code, then holds your chosen slot for 15 minutes while you confirm. One booking covers up to 7 people in a household.

Already mailed an application and your trip moved up? Call the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) at 877-487-2778, Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) or weekends from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET. Life-or-death cases after 8:00 p.m. ET, on weekends, or on federal holidays go to 202-647-4000.

Step 3: Gather Original Documents

Originals matter. Agents reject applications built on photocopies alone, so bring each original along with a single-sided photocopy of it.

Step 4: Get One Passport Photo

A single 2 x 2 inch (51 x 51 mm) color photo, taken within the last 6 months, goes with the form.

Step 5: Attend the Appointment

Arrive 15 minutes early. Federal building security screens every visitor, and an agent reviews your file before asking you to sign the DS-11 in person.

Step 6: Collect the Passport

The agent gives you a pickup time based on your departure date. Keep your appointment confirmation and photo ID with you until the book is in hand.

How Long Does It Take to Get an Emergency Passport?

An emergency passport is generally ready within 24 to 48 hours of your agency appointment, and the agency prints it to match your departure date. Someone flying tomorrow gets priority over someone leaving in 12 days.

The slower piece is getting the appointment itself. Slots open only inside the 14-day window, and busy agencies in New York or Los Angeles fill quickly during summer and holiday peaks. Book the moment you qualify.

Days until departure	Service to use	Where	Processing time
0 to 14 days, immediate family emergency abroad	Life-or-death appointment	Passport agency or center	Printed to meet your departure
0 to 14 days	Urgent appointment	Passport agency or center	24 to 48 hours in most cases
15 to 28 days, visa required	Urgent appointment for visa travel	Passport agency or center	24 to 48 hours in most cases
15 days to 6 weeks	Expedited service ($60)	Acceptance facility or mail renewal	2 to 3 weeks, plus up to 2 weeks of mailing
6 weeks or more	Routine service	Acceptance facility, mail, or online renewal	4 to 6 weeks, plus up to 2 weeks of mailing

Mailing time catches people out. Expedited service at a post office still means the book travels by mail both ways, so a 2-to-3-week processing estimate can stretch to 5 weeks door to door.

How Much Is an Emergency Passport?

A first-time adult emergency passport costs $225 in government fees at a passport agency. Renewals and children’s books cost less.

Applicant	Form	Application fee	Acceptance fee	Expedite fee	Total
Adult book and card, first-time	DS-11	$160	$35	$60	$255
Adult book, first-time or not renewal eligible	DS-11	$130	$35	$60	$225
Child under 16, book	DS-11	$100	$35	$60	$195
Adult book, renewal	DS-82	$130	$0	$60	$190

Source: U.S. Department of State passport fees.

Extra costs sit outside that table. A passport photo runs $7.64 at Walmart and $17.99 at CVS, while 1 to 3-day return delivery adds $26.87 for applications sent by mail. Can’t produce any proof of citizenship? A file search costs $150. Gas, parking, or a flight to the nearest agency often turns out to be the biggest bill of all.

Payment rules at agencies are strict. Agents accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, debit cards, and contactless wallets such as Apple Pay, so leave the checkbook at home. You can request a refund of the $60 expedite fee if the State Department misses its stated timeframe, though the application and acceptance fees stay non-refundable by law.

What Documents Do You Need for an Emergency Passport?

You need 6 items for an emergency passport appointment: the application form, proof of citizenship, a photo ID, a passport photo, proof of travel, and a card for payment. Missing even 1 of them sends you home without a passport.

Item	Accepted examples	Notes
Application form	DS-11 or DS-82	Leave the DS-11 unsigned until the agent asks
Proof of U.S. citizenship	Long-form birth certificate, Certificate of Naturalization, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, previous undamaged passport	Original plus a photocopy
Government photo ID	Driver’s license, state ID, military ID	Original plus a front-and-back photocopy
Passport photo	One 2 x 2 inch (51 x 51 mm) color print	Taken within 6 months
Proof of travel	E-ticket receipt, printed itinerary, cruise ticket	Your name must appear on it
Payment	Credit card, debit card, contactless wallet	No cash at agencies

Certain cases call for extra paperwork. Life-or-death applicants add the death certificate or hospital letter, lost-passport applicants add Form DS-64, and a parent applying alone for a child adds Form DS-3053 with notarized consent from the other parent.

Where Can I Get a Passport Photo Fast?

You can get a passport photo in under 15 minutes at most Walgreens and CVS stores, with no appointment needed. Both chains print 2 copies on the spot.

Where Can You Get Passport Photos Taken for the Lowest Price?

Prices vary by about $10 between retailers. Here’s what the main options charge, based on retailer prices published in mid-2026:

Location	Price for 2 photos	What to know
Walmart Photo Center	$7.64	Price applies to uploaded prints; not every store has a photo center
USPS post office	$15.00	Only some post offices offer photos, usually by appointment
Walgreens	$16.99	Free digital copy by email
CVS Pharmacy	$17.99	Digital copy costs $3.99 extra

FedEx Office and The UPS Store take passport photos at many locations, though prices vary by franchise. AAA branches offer them to members. Costco, by contrast, no longer provides the service. A friend with a smartphone can take the photo too, since the State Department explicitly allows home photos printed on photo paper.

Photo Rules That Prevent Rejection

Bad photos are the number 1 reason the State Department puts applications on hold. That’s a costly delay when you’re 5 days from a flight.

• Size: 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), with the head measuring 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm) from chin to crown
• Distance: camera about 4 feet (1.2 m) from your face
• Background: plain white or off-white, free of shadows
• Age: taken within the last 6 months
• Glasses: removed unless a signed doctor’s note explains a medical need
• Edits: none, including filters, background removal, and AI touch-ups

Passport Expiring Soon? How to Book a Passport Renewal Appointment

Book a passport renewal appointment at a passport agency if your passport is expired or expiring and you leave the country within 14 days. Everyone with more lead time renews by mail or online for less hassle.

To book that appointment, use the same online system as first-time applicants and bring Form DS-82 plus your current passport. Renewal by DS-82 requires 4 conditions:

1. Your most recent passport is undamaged and in your possession.
2. It was issued when you were 16 or older.
3. It was issued within the last 15 years.
4. Your name matches it, or you can document the change with a marriage certificate or court order.

Online renewal looks tempting. It isn’t built for speed, though, because the State Department limits it to routine service.

Watch the expiration date even when it hasn’t passed yet. A passport that’s still valid can fail entry rules abroad, and the Schengen Area of Europe requires at least 3 months of validity beyond your departure date from the zone. Picture a book expiring in 10 weeks and a 2-week trip to Paris next month: the airline can refuse boarding, so renew it now.

How to Get an Emergency Passport Abroad

To get an emergency passport abroad, report the loss to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate and apply there in person for a limited-validity passport valid for 1 year or less. Embassies issue these books only in limited circumstances, mainly for citizens who need to get home quickly.

Start by calling Overseas Citizens Services (OCS), the State Department’s 24/7 emergency line for Americans abroad, at +1-202-501-4444 from overseas or 1-888-407-4747 from the U.S. and Canada. A local police report helps if your passport was stolen. Bring a 2 x 2 inch (51 x 51 mm) photo, any citizenship evidence you still have, a photo ID, Form DS-64, and your onward travel plans. Each post runs its own booking method; the embassy in Paris, for example, takes emergency requests by email for travel within 7 days.

Where Emergency Passports Are Not Accepted

France is the clearest example. Its government doesn’t recognize the 12-page U.S. emergency passport for visa-free travel, allowing only direct transit through France to the United States. Check every country on your route before you book onward flights.

How to Replace a Limited-Validity Passport

Within 1 year of issue, you can swap the emergency book for a full-validity passport at no charge using Form DS-5504. Follow the instruction letter the embassy handed you with the passport. After that year passes, you’ll apply as a regular applicant and pay standard fees.

What to Do If No Passport Agency Appointments Are Available

Keep checking for cancelled slots and widen your search to agencies in other cities; a congressional office or a registered courier gives you 2 more routes. Full calendars don’t mean you’re out of options.

• Refresh the booking system several times a day, since released appointments reappear without notice.
• Search agencies in neighboring states. New York to Philadelphia is roughly 95 miles (153 km), a short drive compared with a missed flight.
• Call your U.S. Representative’s or Senator’s office. Congressional caseworkers handle passport problems for constituents and work directly with passport agency liaisons.
• Hire a registered courier from the State Department’s published list. Couriers submit applications at agencies on your behalf, which helps when you live hours from the nearest one, but they charge service fees on top of government fees.

One warning applies here. The State Department never charges for appointments, so treat any website asking you to pay for a slot as a scam.

How to Get Emergency Passport Service for a Child

To get emergency passport service for a child under 16, bring the child to the agency appointment with both parents or guardians, or bring Form DS-3053 with notarized consent from the parent who can’t attend. Children can’t renew by mail, and every under-16 application uses Form DS-11.

Parents prove 2 things at the counter. The child’s U.S. citizenship comes first, then the parental relationship, and a U.S. birth certificate listing both parents covers both at once. Adoption decrees and custody orders fill the gap when it doesn’t. A parent with sole custody brings the court order instead of a consent form.

The fee is $195, which totals the $100 application fee, the $35 acceptance fee, and the $60 expedite fee. Books issued to children under 16 stay valid for 5 years.

Teenagers aged 16 and 17 apply on the adult-style DS-11 and receive a 10-year book. Agents can still ask for evidence that a parent knows about the application, such as a parent’s signed note with a copy of that parent’s ID.

5 Mistakes That Delay an Emergency Passport

The 5 most common delays come from skipped appointments, paid booking scams, missing originals, rejected photos, and the wrong renewal channel. Each one costs at least a day you don’t have.

1. Walking in without an appointment. Every agency is appointment-only, and security turns walk-ins away at the door.
2. Paying a third party for a slot. Appointments are free, and the State Department can refuse to honor slots booked through outside services.
3. Bringing photocopies without originals. Agents need the original birth certificate or naturalization certificate in hand.
4. Submitting a noncompliant photo. Glasses, shadows, and AI-edited backgrounds all trigger a hold.
5. Renewing online with a trip days away. Online renewal stays on routine processing, which takes 4 to 6 weeks before mailing.

Conclusion

An emergency passport comes down to 2 deadlines: a departure within 14 days, or within 28 days when a visa is involved. Inside that window, a free agency appointment and a complete document set usually put a new book in your hands within 24 to 48 hours, at $225 for a first-time adult book.

Count the days until your flight before doing anything else. Then book the appointment and line up a compliant photo before printing your itinerary. Abroad, call the nearest U.S. embassy first, and plan to replace the limited-validity book with Form DS-5504 within 1 year of its issue date. Fees and windows change, so confirm both on travel.state.gov the day you apply.

Frequently Asked Questions