Emergency passport renewals can be obtained as fast as the same day. If you find yourself in an emergency situation and need to get your passport renewed in a hurry, you will have to expedite the application process. Renewing a passport in time can be done in two ways. You can either submit your application at a regional agency or you can authorize a private expediter to do it for you.

Emergency Passport Renewals at a Regional Agency

Your fist step to obtaining emergency passport renewal at a regional passport agency is to schedule an appointment. Call the National Passport Information Center which maintains an automated appointment system at 1-877-487-2778. Often, it can be difficult to get through so be prepared to try several attempts.

Is there an option if you are unable to make an appointment before you departure date? You can try just showing up at the regional agency closes to your location. Many applicants have been successful at applying without an appointment.

What are the requirements to get a passport renewal expedited? You must submit a completed application form DS-82, your most recent passport and two passport-style photos that are no more than six months old. Applicants whose name has changed since their last passport was issued also need to submit legal evidence of the name change.

If you decide to go to the regional agency without an appointment, you will not be able to show a confirmation number. Therefore, you will be required to present your Social Security card. You also need to present evidence of your departure date to prove your need for express passport renewal.

The total cost for emergency passport renewal is $135. The application fee is $75 and expedited service is an additional $60. Payment should be made by personal check, money order or bank draft. Make your payment payable to the U.S. Department of State. You should get your renewed passport either the same day or the day after.

Apply for Emergency Passport Renewal at a Professional Expediting Service

There is another option for those who are unable to travel to a regional agency. This option involves authorizing a passport expediting service to present the request for emergency passport renewal on your behalf. Since expediting services are usually found in the same places as the regional agencies and registered with them, it is a logical means to get your passport.

The first step is to choose the expediter that you would like to use and complete their application process. Next, you need to mail them the completed form DS-82 and the other required documents. You should use a two-way overnight delivery method that is traceable. You are also encouraged to use a secure package.

While professional expediters can get your passport renewed as quickly as the same day, you will need to factor in mail delivery time if you choose this method. Of course, getting to a regional agency could cost you a lot of time, especially if you do not live near one.

The fees for emergency passport renewals through a professional expediter vary. You should expect to pay somewhere between $65 for passport renewals expedited in two weeks to as much as $300 for applications expedited the same day. This does not include the fees paid to the State Department.

Expediting services can be costly and you can save some money if you submit the application yourself. When you cannot get to a regional agency and you are running the risk of having to cancel your travel plans, authorizing a professional expediter to submit your application for emergency passport renewal could be a very wise decision.