How long do passports take to come in the mail

Here's how long it takes to get a new passport.

Updated on November 16, 2021

Table of Contents Show

Here's how long it takes to get a new passport.
How long does it take to get a passport?
How long after passport is mailed?
How long are Australian passports taking?
How long does it take to receive your passport?
Why are Australian passports taking so long?

Before you plan your dream international vacation, there's one thing you'll definitely need: a valid passport. And one of your first questions might be: How long does it take to get a passport? Right now, the process can take up to 11 weeks, so you'll want to start planning far in advance. (The exact time changes often, so check the U.S. State Department website for the most up-to-date information.) We've broken down the new passport application process and explained State Department policies to help you get your travel documents in time for your next trip.

The State Department recommends applying four to six months before your planned trip. If your passport is undamaged, was issued in the last 15 years (when you were 16 or older), and shows your current name (or you have documentation of your name change), you can renew your passport by mail. If you don't meet those conditions and need a new passport, you'll have to apply in person. You can find the full details about necessary documentation — including the ever-important passport photo requirements — on the State Department website. You'll have to fill out the forms, submit a photo, provide evidence of U.S. citizenship, present and provide a copy of your ID, and pay the application and execution fees in person at a passport acceptance facility. Then, you can track your application status online. To ensure you receive your new passport as quickly as possible, you'll want to follow the instructions carefully and fill out every required piece of information to prevent any delays.

Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images

How long does it take to get a passport?

Before the coronavirus pandemic, typical processing times ranged from four to eight weeks. Right now, it can take anywhere from a few days to nearly three months to get a passport. According to the State Department website, routine processing can currently take up to 11 weeks from the day the application is received, and expedited processing may take up to seven weeks. Travelers can get their passports expedited at a passport agency or center if they have international travel plans within three days, but these appointments are only offered in specific situations. If your travel date is in five to seven weeks, you can pay $60 (in addition to the standard application fee) and purchase USPS Priority Mail Express for faster turnaround and shipping.

If someone in your immediate family is outside of the U.S. and they have died, is dying, or has a life-threatening illness or injury, and you need to travel to a foreign country within three business days, you can call to make an appointment for life-or-death emergency service. You can also make non-emergency urgent travel appointments at some passport agencies, but these are limited, and your appointment must be within three days of your international trip. We recommend having your new passport in hand before planning an international vacation and only using these urgent appointments as a last resort, as they are not guaranteed. If needed, you can find all the phone numbers, information about required documentation, and passport center locations on the State Department website.

There are courier companies that offer expedited passport services for a (sometimes hefty) fee, but according to the State Department, you wouldn't receive your passport any faster than if you went to a passport agency to apply in person.

Appointments are required for passport application and collection in person at the High Commission. Please book your appointment via the online form here. Walk-ins will not be entertained.

Application for Singapore Passport Overseas

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for a passport, you must be a Singapore citizen.

Methods

There are two ways to apply for a new passport:

If you have Singpass - You can apply online using ICA's e-Service and select 'Canberra' if you are not collecting in Singapore
If you do not have Singpass - You can submit hard-copy application by mail* to the Singapore High Commission in Canberra, with supporting documents and fee payment, to the Singapore High Commission in Canberra

Refer to the instructions and Notes below.

Online Application with Singpass (Recommended)

SINGPASS: Need to apply for a Singpass and Singpass token? Visit the Singpass website here to find out more.

PROCEDURE: Online using your Singpass

1. Check your particulars and enter your Australian contact details (mobile, email address and residential address)

2. Select ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to “Are you collecting in Singapore?”. If you select ‘No’, then select ‘CANBERRA’ as the collection centre

3. Attach a digital copy of your passport photo when prompted

4. Confirm your application details

5. Submit payment when prompted

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED: A digital version of your recent passport-sized colour photograph taken within the last three months and against a white background. Your photo must follow ICA’s photo requirements here failing which your application will be delayed. The digital format should be JPEG, 400px by 514px, max 150kb.

FEES: SGD 70 fee, payable online by Visa/Mastercard Debit/Credit card or American Express card, OR Internet Banking account from DBS/POSB, Citibank, OCBC or UOB.

PROCESSING TIME: Three to four weeks, pending all information submitted duly. You may check your application status here.

Hard-copy Application by Mail

PROCEDURE: Mail* the documents required, and payment, by trackable - registered or express platinum - post or courier service to the address below. At the point of mailing, retain a record of your tracking number to allow you to track the delivery of your postage.

Attn: Consular officer

Singapore High Commission in Canberra

17 Forster Crescent

Yarralumla, ACT 2600

Australia

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED: Attach the following form and supporting documents:

1. Printed and completed overseas application form - downloadable via this link Singapore Passport Application (overseas).

Indicate your name in the same sequence as per current passport name (unless you have changed your name)

Indicate Local Address and Local Telephone as your Australian address and telephone

Ensure that Part II point (c) is declared and selected accurately, failing which your application will be delayed

2. One passport-sized colour photograph taken within the last three months and against a white background. Your photo must follow ICA’s photo guidelines here failing which your application will be delayed.

3. Photocopy of current Singapore passport

4. Your Australian email address, mobile number and residential address indicated on a separate sheet of paper

5. (If male) Copy of valid Exit Permit or Notice of Exemption

6. (If over 16 years old) Photocopy of Identity Card (NRIC)

7. (If below 16 years old) Photocopy of Identity Card (NRIC) of a consenting parent or legal guardian

8. (If below 16 years old or without NRIC card) Photocopy of birth or citizenship certificate

9. (If change of name due to marriage or deed poll) Photocopy of marriage certificate or deed poll. For married name, please specify how you wish your married name to appear in the new passport.

FEES: Payment of AUD 82 for passport application fee, prepared as:

Australian Money Order (purchased at any Auspost branch); OR

Bank cheque (issued at your bank branch). We do not accept personal or handwritten cheques.

Make out your Money Order or Bank cheque to the “Singapore High Commission in Canberra”

For security reasons, please do not send cash by mail

PROCESSING TIME: Four to six weeks, if ICA has all the necessary documents. You may check your application status by emailing us if you have not heard from us after six weeks. You are also advised to check your Spam/Junk Mailbox for the passport collection notification email.

Collection of New Passport

Passport collection and safekeeping is a responsibility of each citizen. Please ensure that you collect your passport using the most secure option possible to reduce the chances of your passport being lost/damaged in transit.

You are strongly encouraged to collect your passport in person from Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) in Singapore or at the High Commission in Canberra. To collect your passport in person, please book an appointment via the online form here. We are not accepting walk-ins at the moment.

If you are not able to travel to Canberra, you can opt to collect your passport by post or courier*, following a face-to-face verification with the High Commission via Skype. Cost of the postage/courier service will be borne by the applicants. Ensure your Australian contact details are updated and you remain accessible by email or phone. The Singapore High Commission will notify you and you will receive instructions on the collection after we have received your new passport from ICA. Once your identity has been verified via Skype, you will need to submit your current passport to us for cancellation. Your old passport will be invalidated and returned to you together with the new passport.

Validity of Singapore Passport

For passport applications for Singapore Citizens aged 16 and above who submit a passport application on or after 1 October 2021, the validity period of the Singapore passport, issued by ICA, will be increased from the current 5 years to 10 years. This will reduce the frequency of passport renewals, and offer greater convenience to Singaporeans. There will be no change to the passport application fee. The validity period of the passport issued to children below 16 years old will remain at five years.

For further information on passport validity, please refer to the list of FAQs on ICA's website here.

Notes

* Risks of postal/courier services: The Singapore High Commission is not responsible for any document lost or damaged in the mail or transmitted through courier services. Please consider the risks involved in sending valuable items by mail, which may be lost or damaged in transit from time to time. If you decide to use a postal or courier service, you should use reputable, trackable services such as Registered post or Express and Express Platinum postal envelopes, or Express courier services, and employ optional services such person-to-person delivery or online tracking of delivery. Using such services reduces the risk of your valuable mail being lost without tracking. If you are very concerned for the security of your valuable items being lost in transit, you may wish to consider applying online and collecting your passport in person in Canberra or in Singapore.
Collection Timeline: You are strongly encouraged to collect your passport within one month. Passports not collected after three months will be cancelled and no refund of the passport fee will be given.

Identity Verification: Passport applicants (including children) are required by ICA to present themselves in person at least once, either during application or collection of their passports, to have their identity verified. Passport applicants who are not able to present themselves will be required to do a face-to-face verification via Skype with us. Instructions on how to do so will be provided in the passport collection notification email.

Travelling with passports with less than 6 months' validity: Generally, the international norm is that a passport must have at least six months' validity at the point of entry. This condition does not apply to Singapore citizens returning or entering Singapore. Notwithstanding the above, Singaporeans travelling overseas to foreign country/place are strongly advised to check with the relevant foreign authorities and ensure that they meet the entry requirements before embarking on their journey.

If you have lost your passport, please refer to the Passport Replacement section of the website.

How long after passport is mailed?

It may take 8 weeks after you receive your new passport for your supporting documents (e.g. birth certificate or previous passport) to arrive. If you have been waiting more than 8 weeks, contact the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 to report that you have not received your documents.

How long are Australian passports taking?

Allow a minimum of six weeks to get a new passport or renew your old one. Where possible, don't book travel without a valid passport. If you're likely to travel in the next six months – for example, during the upcoming Christmas/New Year holiday period – you should apply or renew now.

How long does it take to receive your passport?

It will take about 7-21 working days to process the application and issue the passport. The tourist passport is valid for 10 years. Note: Passports must be valid for at least 30 days after the intended departure date. Passports should also have at least 2 blank pages for entry stamps.

Why are Australian passports taking so long?

A Dfat spokesperson confirmed that first-time adult and child passport applications are most likely to take longer to process. “These applications generally take longer because there are extra security checks, and all supporting documents need to be verified.”