How long does a passport take?

These are the times each passport office publishes. They change with demand, and the months before summer are busiest, so apply as early as you can.

Waiting times at a glance

"Allow" is the standard time plus postage, rounded up. The checker uses it to tell you the date to apply by if your passport won't last long enough for your trip.

How long does a US passport take?

Routine processing takes 4 to 6 weeks. Mailing isn't included: your application can take up to 2 weeks to reach the State Department, and your new passport up to 2 weeks to reach you. Current US processing times

Faster options

• Expedited service (2 to 3 weeks, plus mailing, $60 extra). Choose it if you travel in less than 6 weeks. You can expedite at an acceptance facility or when you renew by mail, but not when you renew online. For $26.87 more, your passport reaches you 1 to 3 days after it's mailed. Get your passport fast
• Urgent travel appointment (for travel within 14 days). If you travel abroad within 14 days, or need a foreign visa within 28 days, book an appointment at a passport agency or center. Booking is free, but slots may not be available right away. There's also a life-or-death emergency service if a close family member abroad has died or is seriously ill. Make an appointment

Renewing

Renew online if you're 25 or older, in the US, not changing your name, not travelling for at least 6 weeks, and your last passport was a 10-year one that expires within a year or expired less than 5 years ago. Otherwise renew by mail with form DS-82, as long as your passport was issued in the last 15 years when you were 16 or older. A passport book costs $130. You can't use your old passport once you've applied. Renew a US passport

From abroad

You can't renew online from outside the US. From Canada, you can renew by mail to the US, but if you travel within 8 weeks, go to a US embassy or consulate instead. Anywhere else, contact the nearest US embassy or consulate: how you apply and how long it takes depend on the embassy. Renew from Canada

• The busiest time is late winter to summer. The State Department suggests applying between October and December, when it's quieter.
• Passports for children under 16 can't be renewed. Apply in person, with both parents or guardians. Processing times are the same as for adults. Child passports under 16
• Some countries want your passport to have 6 months left beyond your trip, and some airlines won't let you board without it.

How long does a UK passport take?

You'll usually get your passport within 3 weeks of HM Passport Office receiving your documents. It can take longer if they need more information or an interview, and they'll tell you within 3 weeks. HM Passport Office waiting times

Faster options

• 1 week Fast Track (1 week after your appointment, £192 in total). For renewing, replacing or changing an adult passport, or for a child passport (£156.50). Book online: the earliest appointment at a passport office is the day after you apply, and your passport is delivered a week later. You can't use it for a first adult passport or from abroad. Get a passport urgently
• 1 day Premium (4 hours after your appointment, £239.50 in total). Only for renewing an adult passport issued after 31 December 2001. The earliest appointment is 2 days after you apply. Bring your old passport, and collect the new one from the passport office the same day. You can't use it from abroad. Get a passport urgently

Renewing

Renew online for £102, or with a paper form from a Post Office for £115.50. Paper takes longer. You'll need your old passport. You must be 16 or over, or turning 16 within 3 weeks. Renew a UK passport

From abroad

You can apply from abroad through GOV.UK. In many countries, such as France, you apply online and your passport comes by courier, but it costs more (from France, £116.50 plus a £28.64 courier fee). In some, such as Indonesia, you apply on a paper form in person, and it takes about 4 weeks. There's no single waiting time for overseas applications. You can't use Fast Track or Premium from abroad: if you need to travel urgently, apply for an emergency travel document. Apply from abroad

• First adult passports can't use the faster services, and you may need an identity interview, which adds time.
• Your new passport has a new number, so don't book travel until you have it.
• If you've already applied, paying for an urgent passport won't get it to you sooner, and you'll be charged a £34.50 admin fee.

How long does a Irish passport take?

Online adult renewals take 10 working days on average, or 15 if you send documents or change details. Postage isn't included, and it takes longer from abroad. These are averages, not a guarantee. Current Irish turnaround times

Faster options

• Same-day renewal in Dublin (same day, €245 in total). An appointment at the Passport Office on Mount Street, Dublin, which you can book 3 days ahead. The cost is the €95 passport fee plus a €150 appointment fee. Only for adult renewals: not first passports, name changes or passports issued more than 15 years ago. Book an urgent appointment
• Four-day or five-day renewal (4 days in Dublin or Cork, 5 days in London, €170 in total). An appointment in Dublin, Cork or London, which you can book 3 weeks ahead. The cost is the €95 passport fee plus a €75 appointment fee. Not for first passports or passports issued more than 15 years ago. Slots are limited. Book an urgent appointment

Renewing

Renew online with Passport Online for €75. Most adult renewals need no documents, but if your passport still has more than 12 months left, you must post it to the Passport Service. Paper applications take much longer. Renew an Irish passport

From abroad

Passport Online works from anywhere in the world, and turnaround times are the same wherever you live, but postage takes longer. There's a €15 postal fee if you live outside Ireland. Where the post isn't reliable, documents and passports go through the nearest Irish embassy. For an urgent renewal, the London office offers a 5-day service. Passport Online

• The Passport Service advises applying at least 12 weeks before you travel.
• First-time online applications take 20 working days and can't be sped up. Child renewals take 15 working days, because all guardians must consent.
• Paper applications take about 6 to 8 weeks. Use Passport Online if you're travelling in the next 3 months.
• After a death in the family or for a serious medical emergency, the Passport Service can issue a passport the same day for the normal passport fee. Call 01 671 1633.

How long does a Canadian passport take?

Online, by mail or at a regular Service Canada Centre, the standard is 20 business days. Mailing time isn't included. Canadian passport service standards

Faster options

• Apply at a passport office (10 business days). Apply in person at a passport office (a Service Canada Centre with passport services) and your passport is mailed to you. Service standards
• Express pick-up (2 to 9 business days, extra fee). Ask for it when you apply in person at a passport office, and bring proof that you need to travel, such as a ticket. A few offices take a little longer. You collect the passport yourself. Urgent and express services
• Urgent pick-up (by the end of the next business day, CA$125.75 extra). For urgent travel, at a passport office, with proof that you need the passport. You collect it yourself. Outside Canada, the nearest Government of Canada office decides whether you qualify for urgent service. Urgent and express services

Renewing

You can renew if your adult passport was issued in the last 15 years, when you were 16 or older, and your details haven't changed. Renew online if you live in Canada, your passport expires within 6 months or has expired, and you're not travelling in the next 20 business days. Otherwise renew by mail or in person. A 10-year passport costs CA$163.50. Renew a Canadian passport

From abroad

You can't renew online from outside Canada. From abroad, mail your application or take it to a Government of Canada office; the aim is 20 business days plus mailing, and passports are printed in Canada. From the US, mail it: also 20 business days plus mailing. A 10-year passport costs CA$266.25 if you live outside Canada. Renew from outside Canada

• Since 1 April 2026, if processing takes longer than 30 business days, you get a full refund automatically. Mailing time and waits for more information don't count. Refunds for late passports
• Child passports can't be renewed. Apply for a new one each time.
• Your current passport is cancelled as soon as you renew online, so don't renew online if you're travelling in the next 20 business days.

How long does a Australian passport take?

Allow at least 6 weeks from lodging your application. Once your passport is posted, it should arrive in about a week. Australian passport processing times

Faster options

• Priority processing (2 business days, plus postage, A$308 extra). Processed in 2 business days once your complete application is received. Only for eligible applicants in Australia: not from overseas, not if you've had 2 or more passports lost or stolen in 5 years, and not for a child passport without full parental consent. Urgent travel
• Fast Track (5 business days, plus postage, A$107 extra). The same rules as Priority processing. If you've already applied, you can contact the Passport Office to upgrade. Urgent travel

Renewing

Renew online if you're in Australia, applying for yourself, and your passport was issued when you were 18 or older, shows your current details, and expired less than 3 years ago or expires within 2 years. Otherwise fill in a renewal form and lodge it at a participating Australia Post office. Your current passport is usually cancelled when you apply. Renew an Australian passport

From abroad

Renew through the nearest Australian embassy, high commission or consulate: some take applications by post, others in person. Allow at least 6 weeks, plus postage. Priority processing and Fast Track aren't available overseas. It costs more: A$611 for an adult renewal through the High Commission in London. If you must travel within 3 weeks, ask about an emergency passport. Apply from outside Australia

• When you renew in Australia, your current passport is usually cancelled straight away, so don't plan to travel abroad while you wait.
• Demand rises in peak travel periods, so check your passport before you book.
• Complex child applications, such as those without full parental consent, can take longer than 6 weeks.

How long does a New Zealand passport take?

Allow at least 4 weeks (20 working days) for processing, plus delivery time. Most passports come sooner: in the week before 27 October 2026, 88.5% were issued within 10 working days. The Passport Office updates this figure weekly. Current NZ passport timeframes

Faster options

• Urgent passport (3 working days, NZ$494 in total). Apply online and pay the urgent fee, NZ$247 more than standard. The aim is 3 working days. Have it couriered, or collect it free from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Sydney or London. You can upgrade an application you've already made for NZ$247. If you travel within 2 days, apply and then call the Passport Office. Urgent travel
• After-hours service (evenings, weekends and public holidays, NZ$1,001 in total). For a passport needed urgently from 5pm to 10pm on weekdays, or 8am to 10pm at weekends and on public holidays, in New Zealand. Call the Passport Office. Passport costs

Renewing

Renew online for NZ$247 plus courier (NZ$7 within New Zealand). Online is the fastest way: paper forms take longer. Renew a NZ passport

From abroad

You can apply online from anywhere in the world. Courier delivery costs NZ$7 to NZ$78 depending on the country, and GST isn't charged if you're not a New Zealand tax resident. Paper applications can also be processed in Sydney or London. The urgent service works from abroad too, with collection in Sydney or London. Passport costs

• First-time and child applications need extra checks and can take longer. Demand also rises at busy times such as school holidays.
• If you're abroad and can't get a passport in time, some New Zealand embassies can issue an emergency travel document (NZ$685), but you may be better off applying online for an urgent passport. Emergency travel documents

Before you renew

Check how long your passport needs to last for your trip in our passport validity guide. When your new passport arrives, apply again for any ESTA, ETA or eTA: most travel permits don't move to a new passport.

Related guides

• Passport validity rules
• New passport: do you need a new ESTA or ETA?
• Damaged passport: can you still travel?
• Lost or stolen passport: what to do