State Department Encourages Travelers To Renew Passports Ahead Of Summer Travel Plans

If you plan on traveling this summer, the State Department says to apply now to renew your passports due to increased wait times.

According to the agency, passports are currently taking eight to 11 weeks for routine service and five to seven weeks for expedited service. The estimated times are for processing and not mailing time, which may add several more weeks, Travel and Leisure reported.

“Apply now if you plan to travel this summer,” the agency tweeted Friday.

It’s not unusual for processing times to vary throughout the year, the Wall Street Journal said, adding that processing times tend to be longer during spring and summer.

Travelers must apply for passports by mail. The State Department launched a pilot that allowed passport holders to renew online if they were 25 years old or older, but that was paused on Feb. 7.

Crystal Gross

Crystal joined BallerAlert in 2020 to renew her passion for writing. She is a Kentucky native who now lives in the heart of Atlanta. She enjoys reading, politics, traveling, and of course writing.

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