Regional passport agencies

What regional passport agencies handle

Regional passport agencies are U.S. Department of State offices that process urgent passport applications for travelers who cannot wait for routine or expedited mail processing. They are the fastest in-person option for a traveler with an imminent departure — but they are not a substitute for general passport processing.

What regional agencies do:

• Process passport applications same-day or within days for travelers with urgent travel needs
• Handle life-or-death emergency applications for travelers who must leave immediately due to a family emergency abroad
• Accept new applications (DS-11), renewals (DS-82), and replacement applications for lost or stolen passports

What regional agencies do not do:

• Walk-ins are never accepted — every visit requires a scheduled appointment booked through the State Department's online system
• General passport applications are not handled here — acceptance facilities (post offices, libraries, and government offices nationwide) handle those
• The $35 execution fee charged by acceptance facilities does not apply at regional agencies — you pay the application fee and, if applicable, the $60 expedited fee, but not the facility fee

This is one of the most commonly misunderstood points in the passport process: regional agencies exist specifically for travelers who cannot wait, not as a convenience for those who want faster service without an urgent travel need. If your departure is more than four to six weeks out, the routine or expedited mail process is the correct path.

Who can use a regional passport agency

The State Department limits agency appointments to applicants with a documented, time-sensitive travel need. Three situations qualify:

• International travel within 14 calendar days — for travel to countries that do not require a U.S. visa, you qualify for an agency appointment when your departure date falls within 14 calendar days.
• International travel within 28 calendar days with a foreign visa required — if your destination requires a visa that you have not yet received, and your departure falls within 28 calendar days, you qualify. This extended window accounts for the time needed to obtain the visa before departure.
• Life-or-death emergency — if an immediate family member abroad has died, is in hospice care, or has a life-threatening illness or injury, you may qualify for an emergency appointment regardless of your departure date. Immediate family means parents, legal guardians, children, spouses, siblings, and grandparents. Documentation from a hospital or mortuary is required.

In all cases, proof of imminent travel is required at the appointment. Acceptable proof includes a flight itinerary, an airline ticket, a hotel booking, or cruise documentation showing your name and travel dates. You cannot book an appointment "just in case" — if your documents do not show a qualifying departure date when you arrive, your appointment will be cancelled.

How to book a regional agency appointment

All appointments are booked online at passportappointment.travel.state.gov — there is no other way to schedule. The State Department does not charge a fee to make an appointment. If anyone asks you to pay for appointment access, the State Department explicitly treats that as fraud.

Steps to book:

1. Go to passportappointment.travel.state.gov and enter your travel dates to confirm eligibility.
2. You can book for up to seven people in your household in a single session.
3. Enter your email address — a confirmation code is sent. Check your spam folder if it does not arrive in your inbox.
4. Enter your mobile number and enter the text code to continue.
5. Select your appointment date and time. The system holds the slot for 15 minutes — confirm before the timer expires or you must start over.
6. You will receive a confirmation email. Save it — the agency checks your appointment details at the door. You cannot transfer your appointment to another person.

Appointments open on a rolling basis and fill quickly at most urban locations. Checking early in the morning — typically before 9 a.m. Eastern — gives the best chance of finding an available slot when new appointments are released. Availability varies significantly by location; cities with large international airports tend to fill fastest.

If you have already submitted a passport application and your travel became urgent, you cannot book online — you must call 1-877-487-2778 (Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern, Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern). Representatives can check whether there is still time to expedite your existing application before your departure.

Arrive early for your appointment. Agencies have security screening at the entrance. Missing your check-in time — even by a few minutes — can result in losing your slot with no refund of any fees already paid.

Regional passport agency locations

The State Department operates 26 regional passport agencies. All require appointments booked through passportappointment.travel.state.gov. Hours vary by location — confirm current hours at travel.state.gov before your visit.

All hours are by appointment only. Hours are subject to change — verify at travel.state.gov before traveling to any location. Federal holidays may affect availability.

Charleston Passport Center — counter service

The Charleston Passport Center at 2000 Bainbridge Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405 operates as a counter-service location rather than a standard appointment agency. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. for appointments and 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. for passport pickup. Book through the same appointment system at passportappointment.travel.state.gov.

Upcoming passport agency locations

The State Department has announced plans for additional agency locations. These are not yet open for appointments:

• Kansas City, MO — 6501 Beacon Drive, Third Floor, Kansas City, MO 64133 (projected opening: Fall 2026)
• Cincinnati, OH — John Weld Peck Federal Building, 550 Main Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 (projected opening: Summer 2027)
• Orlando, FL — 5520 Gatlin Avenue, Orlando, FL 32812 (projected opening: Fall 2027)
• Charlotte, NC — 5260 Parkway Plaza Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28217 (projected opening: Fall 2027)
• San Antonio, TX — address to be announced (projected opening: 2027)
• Salt Lake City, UT — Wallace Bennett Federal Building, 125 State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84138 (projected opening: Summer 2028)

Opening dates are projections and may change. Check travel.state.gov for current status before making travel plans based on these locations.

What to bring to your agency appointment

Missing documents result in a cancelled appointment with no refund of fees already paid. Review this list before you travel to your appointment.

• Proof of imminent travel — flight itinerary or booking confirmation showing your name and departure date within 14 calendar days (or 28 days if a foreign visa is required). A printout or phone screenshot is acceptable.
• Completed passport application — DS-11 for new applicants and most minors; DS-82 for eligible adult renewals. Do not sign Form DS-11 in advance — you must sign it in front of the agency officer.
• Proof of U.S. citizenship — original or certified copy of your U.S. birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or previous U.S. passport.
• Government-issued photo ID — valid driver's license, state ID, or military ID. A photocopy of the front and back is also required.
• Passport photo — one 2×2 inch photo taken within the last six months, meeting State Department specifications (white or off-white background, neutral expression, no glasses).
• Application fee — check or money order payable to the U.S. Department of State: $130 for a passport book (adult), $30 for a passport card only. At regional agencies, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and contactless payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay) are also accepted.
• Expedited service fee — $60 included in the check or card payment to the U.S. Department of State. The expedited fee is required for agency appointments.
• Optional: Priority Mail Express return delivery — $22.05 payable to the U.S. Department of State for 1–3 day return delivery. Not available for passport card-only applications.
• Your current or most recent passport — required if renewing or replacing a lost or stolen passport. If your passport was lost or stolen, bring a completed DS-64 (Statement Regarding a Lost or Stolen Passport).

For life-or-death emergency appointments, also bring documentation of the emergency: a death certificate, a hospital letter on official letterhead signed by a physician, or a statement from a mortuary. Non-English documents require a professional translation.