Passport processing times reduced, State Department says

Passport processing times have been reduced for the second time since early October, according to the State Department.

Members of Congress from both parties have urged the State Department to address backlogs and long waiting times in recent months, even proposing legislation to try to solve the problem. 

The department announced passport processing times are now down to seven to 10 weeks in a release Monday. That’s down from eight to 11 weeks only a few days ago.

Expedited passport wait times are now down to three to five weeks as of Monday, from five to seven weeks days ago, the department said in the release.

The department also noted it broke a record in the number of passport books and cards it issued in the past federal fiscal year, at 24 million.

“As more Americans are traveling internationally again, we are directing resources to meet the unprecedented demand seen so far in 2023,” the release stated.

Earlier this year, a passport backlog with processing times of 10 to 13 weeks and expedited processing times of seven to nine weeks captured the attention of lawmakers.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who represents Miami International Airport, one of the busiest U.S. airports for international travel, said earlier this year passports have been a top issue for those reaching out to his office.

“I get it — a lot of people didn’t travel during COVID, their passports expired, now they realize it and they’re trying to get on it, but it’s been incredibly disruptive,” he said.