From the book Go Well: A Summer Field Guide for Graduates and College Students · Updated October 2026
How to apply, renew, expedite, or replace a U.S. passport, with official links.
First, the rule that matters most
Check your passport today, not next month. Find it. Look at the expiration date. Then compare it to the rules for where you’re going:
| Destination | What your passport needs |
|---|---|
| Europe (Schengen countries, including France and Spain) | Valid at least 3 months beyond the day you plan to leave the Schengen area (U.S. State Department) |
| Japan | Valid for your entire stay, with one blank page for the entry stamp (U.S. State Department, Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle) |
| Mexico (by air) | A passport book is required; a passport card will not get you onto the plane (U.S. State Department) |
| Dominican Republic | Valid for your whole stay, and ideally 6 months beyond your return (U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo) |
| Jamaica | Jamaica’s embassy lists a passport valid for 6 months as a requirement for U.S. visitors (Embassy of Jamaica) |
| Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands | U.S. citizens do not need a passport; it counts as domestic travel (USA.gov). Bring a REAL ID-compliant ID for the flight. |
In Choose Well, I gave six months beyond your return date as the safe default for any trip. That’s still the rule to follow when you’re not sure. The table above shows the actual rules for this book’s destinations.
Leah’s rule: if your passport expires within nine months of your return date, renew it before you book anything. It’s the cheapest insurance you’ll ever buy.
Situation 3: You’re traveling in less than six weeks
Pay for expedited service. It costs $60 on top of the normal fee and takes 2–3 weeks, compared with 4–6 weeks for routine service (U.S. State Department).
Here’s the part people miss: processing times don’t include mailing. It can take up to 2 weeks for your application to reach the State Department, and up to 2 more weeks for the passport to reach you (U.S. State Department). To shrink those weeks:
- Sending it in: pay the acceptance facility for USPS Priority Mail Express. The cost varies by location.
- Getting it back: pay for 1–3 day return delivery (see the fee table above).
- Tracking it: check your status online with your application locator number.
| You’re traveling in… | What to do |
|---|---|
| More than 6 weeks | Routine service (4–6 weeks plus mailing) |
| 3 to 6 weeks | Expedited service ($60, 2–3 weeks) plus faster shipping both ways |
| Less than 3 weeks | Wait until you’re within 14 days of travel, then book a passport agency appointment (Situation 4) |
| An immediate family emergency abroad | Life-or-death emergency appointment (Situation 5) |
Source: U.S. State Department, Get Your Passport Fast and Apply for Your Adult Passport
Situation 4: You’re traveling within 14 days
This is the “I can’t believe this is happening” situation, and it’s fixable.
The State Department runs 26 passport agencies and centers across the country (U.S. State Department). They accept appointments if you have international travel within 14 calendar days, or need a foreign visa within 28 calendar days (U.S. State Department).
How to get an appointment (U.S. State Department):
- If you haven’t applied yet: use the Online Passport Appointment System. Enter your travel plans to see if you qualify, verify your email and phone by code, and pick a time. The system holds your slot for only 15 minutes, so have your travel dates ready before you start. You can book for up to 7 people in your household.
- If you already applied and now need it urgently: call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 (TDD/TTY 1-888-874-7793). Hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern, and weekends 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern. Spanish is available.
- Appointments are free. Anyone asking you to pay for a passport agency appointment is running a scam, and the State Department may not honor appointments booked through third-party services.
What to bring: everything from Situation 1, plus proof of your travel date (a flight itinerary or ticket). At the agency, you’ll pay by card, including contactless options, rather than check (U.S. State Department).
For California readers: there is a Los Angeles Passport Agency. Find every location on the Make an Appointment page.
Official links for this chapter (all in one place)
| What you need | Official link |
|---|---|
| Apply for your first adult passport | https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/adults.html |
| Find an acceptance facility | https://iafdb.travel.state.gov/ |
| Book a USPS passport appointment | https://www.usps.com/international/passports.htm |
| Passport acceptance fairs | https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/help/where-to-apply/special-passport-acceptance-fairs.html |
| Renew online (the only official site) | https://opr.travel.state.gov |
| Renewal eligibility | https://www.usa.gov/renew-adult-passport |
| Processing times | https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/help/processing-time.html |
| Get your passport fast (expedite) | https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/get-fast.html |
| Passport agency appointments | https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/get-fast/make-appointment.html |
| Life-or-death emergencies | https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/get-fast/life-or-death-emergencies.html |
| Fees | https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/help/fees.html |
| Courier and expediter guidance | https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/get-fast/courier-company.html |
| Report a lost or stolen passport | https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/renew-replace/report-passport-lost-stolen.html |
| Lost or stolen passport abroad | https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/help-abroad/lost-stolen-passport.html |
| Passport card vs. book | https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/help/passport-card-vs-book.html |
| U.S. territories (no passport needed) | https://www.usa.gov/visit-territories |
| National Passport Information Center | 1-877-487-2778 (TDD/TTY 1-888-874-7793) |
| Europe ETIAS (official) | https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias |
| Japan: Visit Japan Web | https://services.digital.go.jp/en/visit-japan-web/guide/ |
| Japan: U.S. State Department country page | https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/japan.html |
| Mexico: U.S. State Department country page | https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/mexico.html |
| Dominican Republic e-Ticket | https://eticket.migracion.gob.do |
| Aruba ED Card | https://www.aruba.com/us/traveler-health-requirements/before-you-travel |
| Travel insurance guidance | https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/planning/guidance/insurance.html |
| CDC Travelers’ Health | https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel |
| Japan Ministry of Health | https://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/ |
Checklist: Passport Ready
- ☐ I found my passport and checked the expiration date.
- ☐ It meets the validity rule for every country on my route.
- ☐ I have a passport book, not just a passport card.
- ☐ If I’m applying or renewing, I’ve chosen the right service for my travel date (routine, expedited, or agency appointment).
- ☐ I’ve paid for faster shipping both ways if my trip is within six weeks.
- ☐ I’ve saved my application locator number and checked my status online.
- ☐ I have a photo of my passport page in the cloud and a paper copy in my bag.
- ☐ I’ve packed two spare passport photos.
- ☐ I’ve saved the U.S. embassy contacts for each country on my route.
- ☐ I’ve bookmarked the National Passport Information Center: 1-877-487-2778.
Prices and rules change. Everything on this page was checked in October 2026. Always confirm with the official source before you book.
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