The status lookup asks for personal identifiers. Enter them only on the Department of State service at passportstatus.state.gov, reached from Travel.State.Gov.
1. Allow the application to reach Passport Services
The Department of State says it may take up to two weeks after filing for an application status to become available. Mailing and intake time are separate from published processing time.
2. Gather the lookup details
For a manual check, the official service requests the applicant’s last name, date of birth, and last four digits of the Social Security number. Include a suffix. If a hyphen or apostrophe prevents a match, the agency suggests trying the name with and without punctuation or spaces.
3. Read the status precisely
- In Process: an agency or center is reviewing the application.
- Approved: review is complete and printing is beginning. A return to In Process can mean Passport Services found a final-review issue it is correcting.
- Passport Mailed: the passport is being sent. Tracking is shown for a passport book; a passport card is sent by First Class Mail.
- Supporting Documents Mailed: citizenship evidence or a previous passport is being returned separately by First Class Mail.
4. Follow any request for information
If the status or a Department of State message says more information is needed, follow the letter or email rather than sending documents to a general office. The request identifies what is missing and where and how to respond.
5. Track delivery separately
The passport book and supporting documents can arrive in separate mailings. Use the tracking number shown with the Passport Mailed update for a passport book. The Department of State says supporting documents may arrive up to four weeks after the passport book or card.
6. Escalate an urgent travel need through the official channel
If international travel is within 14 days and an already-filed application has not produced the passport, use the current contact instructions for the National Passport Information Center. An appointment is required to visit a passport agency, and availability is not guaranteed.
Official sources
- Department of State — Check Your Application Status
- Department of State — After You Apply
- Department of State — Contact U.S. Passports