The saga of applying for or renewing a passport can be tedious, but the past few years have been even more than normal.
Passport applications faced a major backlog as of mid-2020, and the extended wait times have only just gotten back to normal, per an announcement from the U.S. Department of State.
As of December 18, 2023, passport processing times have returned to the pre-pandemic norm. Now, passport applications will be processed within the standard 6-8 weeks for routine service and 2-3 weeks for expedited service, which costs an additional $60.
More Americans seem to want to leave the country (at least temporarily) than ever before.
Part of the backup included an unprecedented demand for passports in 2023, following border closures and all types of travel delays in 2020 and 2021. Between October 2022 and September 2023 the Department of State issued over 24 million passport books and cards, which is the highest ever in U.S. history.
If your passport expires in 2024, getting your renewal paperwork in order may still be in your best interest. The State Department encourages U.S. citizens traveling overseas to renew their passports early. Only 48% of Americans have U.S. passports, meaning more than half the country's citizens could potentially apply for travel documents in the coming year.
"We have worked hard to modernize and improve the service we provide to the American people," the State Department said in the announcement. "We will continue to do so in 2024."