How to Check Passport Status? Renewal, New Passport, Non-receipt…
December 26, 2023
2 min read
At the moment, you can take one of the three ways to check the status of your passport renewal. You can do it online, by phoning or emailing the Department of the State. Let’s get into the details of how to check the status of passport renewal or new passport application.
In Focus
How to check the status of passport renewal or new passport?
On average, the passport renewal takes from 7 to 13 weeks depending on the passport service you’ve chosen and current passport processing times. If you applied for your passport renewal and you haven’t heard a word from the passport office, these are your next steps in short:
Tip 1
- Check online on the Application Status page of the U.S. State Department site: https://passportstatus.state.gov/
- Contact by phone: 1-877-487-2778 or 1-888-874-7793
- Send an email to NPIC@state.gov
Check your passport status online
The most convenient step of all is to use the US State Department website to track your application status. If you call the National Passport Information Center (NPIC), you might be waiting in line for an answer. While an answer to your email will take even longer and it’ll seem forever if your departure is due soon.
Tip 2
To check your passport status online, visit https://passportstatus.state.gov/, read and check the box with privacy and computer fraud, and abuse acts information, and submit.
Type in your personal details, including the last four digits of your Social Security Number and the CAPTCHA Code. After submitting, your application status should pop up promptly.
Types of passport status
There can be 4 types of application status online.
Not found: That means that your passport is on its way to the US State Department’s system, which takes around 14 days on average. It’s relevant if you renew your passport by mail or in person. You’ll still have to wait for 2 weeks in order to see the status changed.
In progress: That usually means that your passport application is due for processing for another 4-6 weeks. If you rush your passport using expedited service, it should take about 3 weeks.
Approved: That’s the most exciting status of all to know that your passport is approved, you didn’t miss a single document, nor made a mistake. It also means that your photo was compliant and met the passport photo rules. If you haven’t come around to getting a passport photo yet, use PhotoBooth Online to nail the task in minutes. Your photo will be verified for all US photo guidelines and screened by an expert for compliance.
Mailed: This status informs you that the passport application renewal process is coming to an end and you’re about to obtain a renewed US passport. Mind here that you should be awaiting of two packages: one with your birth certificate, ID cards, and all the necessary documents you attached (1), the other package will contain the passport itself (2).
Check your passport status by phoning the National Passport Information Center
Call the National Passport Information Center at 1-888-874-7793 or 1-877-487-2778 to inquire on your passport status with customer service from Mon to Fri from 8am to 10pm, excluding federal holidays. Make sure that enough time (14 days) has passed since you’ve posted or handed in your passport application.
Email to check your passport status
The Online Passport Status System will keep you updated on the status of your passport with automatic email updates. All you need is to provide your email address while the application is pending.
The other method is to write an email directly to the US State Department with your inquiry using NPIC@state.gov. For your email to be processed quickly, give details of your first and last name, application number, and date of birth.
If you get an email that your passport application status is rejected for an invalid passport photo, you have 90 days to take another picture and deliver it to the passport office. You’d better not wait that long and get to business today. You can snap compliant passport photos right now without leaving home. Upload a photo or take a new one with your phone. You can reapply with a new perfect photo at once.
FAQ: Passport application status updates
How to check your passport renewal status if you applied outside the US?
If you applied outside the US, you’ll need to contact your nearest embassy or consulate by mail or in person. You can find the closest office here https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/outside-us.html.
What to do if you have not received your passport?
On a very rare occasion, it may happen that you receive neither automatic email updates nor the passport within 10 business days after your status turned to MAILED. What you need to do is to fill in and lodge Form DS-86. Make sure you won’t miss the 90-day period. Otherwise, you’ll have to go through the process of passport application all over again.
According to the State Department, if you don’t report the non-receipt of your passport within 90 days after its issuance, you will need to reapply and pay all the applicable fees.
What happens if you change your address?
If you happen to apply for your passport renewal, and successively change your mail address, you should call the National Passport Information Center and ask for assistance.