Some Americans reported waiting as long as four months to get one replaced due to government understaffing and the rush of demand as many began traveling voraciously post-pandemic.
Others paid the expedited processing fee only to still not have one ready in time for an urgent trip.
The good news is that U.S. State Department processing times are back to normal for passport replacements now or next year.
When faced with unprecedented passport demand in 2023, we set a goal to get back to pre-pandemic processing times before the end of the year.
One can expect to wait six to eight weeks for a regular application and two to three weeks for an expedited service that costs $60 on top of the $130 adult application fee.
On Nov. 6, the State Department reported that typical waiting periods had dropped to seven to 10 weeks from eight to 11 weeks at the end of the summer.
The government advised Americans to "take advantage and apply or renew now so that you're ready for international travel in the new year."
Process times are usually faster in the late fall and winter before people realize they need a new passport for an international trip in the summer.