Track Your Passport: Application Status & Delivery Tracking

Check your passport application status, understand each State Department update, and track your passport book when it is mailed back to you.

Where Do You Go for Your First Passport?

Maybe you are getting your first passport, or maybe your little one is getting theirs. Either way, it is exciting.

You may be able to take care of the application at your local Post Office. Many Post Offices accept first-time passport applications, although not every location does. Check the official Passport Acceptance Facility Locator and confirm whether you need an appointment before you go.

At the appointment, an employee will review your application and documents, verify your identity, have you sign the application, collect the fees, and send everything to the State Department. It can take up to two weeks for your application status to appear online.

Renewing a passport works a little differently and is a little easier. You can usually renew online or by mail if you qualify. If you renew by mail, you can track the envelope with your USPS tracking number. Once the State Department begins processing it, you will follow the application through its online status system.

U.S. State Department Passport Acceptance Facility Locator — Search for nearby passport acceptance facilities by ZIP code, city, or state.

Checking Your Passport Application Status

Go to passportstatus.state.gov and enter your last name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number.

Your first status may take up to two weeks to appear. If you included an email address on your application, the State Department will also email you when the status changes.

U.S. Passport Application Status form — The status form asks for your last name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number.

What the Passport Status Updates Mean

In Process: Your application is being reviewed.
Approved: Your application was approved and your passport is being printed.
Passport Mailed: Your passport has been sent. Passport book tracking information will appear with this update.
Supporting Documents Mailed: Your old passport, birth certificate, or other documents were mailed separately.
Additional Information Needed: The State Department needs something else from you. Follow the instructions in the letter or email they send.
Information Received, In Process Again: The State Department received the requested information and resumed reviewing your application.

Tracking Your New Passport Book

If your status changes to Passport Mailed, you're in luck! Your new passport is on the way, and the update includes tracking information for your passport book. You should receive it soon. Passport cards and supporting documents are sent separately.

What If Your Status Does Not Appear or Your Passport Never Arrives?

Hopefully you are not in a time crunch to get your passport. This has definitely happened to me. I needed my passport and it was not there yet. I checked with my Post Office, but there was not much they could do. They referred me to the online status check.

If your application still does not appear online after two weeks, check whether your payment has been processed. If you mailed a renewal application yourself, check the USPS tracking number and contact USPS if you need help locating it. If you applied at an acceptance facility, contact that facility. If your payment was processed but your status still does not appear, call the National Passport Information Center at 877-487-2778.

If your travel plans changed and you need the passport sooner, call the same number. You may be able to upgrade to expedited processing or add faster return delivery for a passport book. Faster return delivery is separate from expedited processing.

If your status says Passport Mailed but it has not arrived after two weeks, call the same number. The State Department will provide instructions for completing Form DS-86, Statement of Non-Receipt of a U.S. Passport.

Depending on how you applied, you may also have submitted an old passport, birth certificate, or other supporting documents. Those documents are mailed back separately. If they have not arrived four weeks after your passport book or card, call the National Passport Information Center.

Official Passport Resources

Here are some quick resources if you are having issues with the passport process. Good luck!

Mailing Other Important Documents?

Passport applications can require original documents, photos, and special forms, so follow the State Department's mailing instructions for those. For other important letters, The Letter Pilot can send USPS Certified Mail when you need a mailing and delivery record.

Learn about sending Certified Mail online

Sources

U.S. Department of State: Check Your Application Status: Status definitions, missing applications, DS-86 instructions, urgent travel options, and missing supporting documents.
U.S. Department of State: Form DS-86: The official statement used to report a passport book or card that was mailed but never received.
U.S. Department of State: Passport Services FAQ: How passport books, cards, and supporting documents are mailed.
U.S. Department of State: Apply for Your First Adult Passport: In-person application steps and supporting-document requirements.
U.S. Department of State: Passport Acceptance Facility Locator: Local acceptance facilities and appointment information.

Read guide