The State Department updated current passport processing times, showing reduced wait times for both routine and expedited services.

Key Points:

• As of Dec. 18, processing times are now six to eight weeks for routine applications and two to three weeks for expedited applications, according to the department.
• Government officials stated that the current processing times have returned to the benchmarks from March 2020.

Additional Information: It may take up to two weeks for applications to arrive by mail at a passport agency or center, and then an additional two weeks or more to receive a completed passport in the mail. These mailing times are not included in the processing times described above. Individuals must be traveling within 14 calendar days in order to schedule an in-person appointment for urgent passport or emergency passport processing services.

BAL Analysis: The decrease in wait times is welcome news, especially following significant delays over the summer. Wait times fluctuate with changes in demand, and travelers are urged to continue preparing well in advance of planned international travel.