# Travel >> Travel Preparation >> Passports

How to Expedite an Appointment for a Passport

Passports are used by United States citizens as a form of identification when traveling internationally. When applying for a passport you must allow six to eight weeks for your passport to arrive unless you choose to expedite the application process for a fee; expedited passports take two to three weeks to arrive. The U.S. Department of State understands that on occasion you need to obtain a passport for international travel less than two weeks from the date of your travel. In this situation you must make an appointment at one of the U.S. Department of State's regional passport agencies.

Instructions

- 1
  Locate the regional passport agency nearest you from the U.S. Department of State's regional passport agency location page. You can find it online at travel.state.gov. There are only 25 regional passport agencies in the United States, which means you could have a significant amount of travel to do to make your expedited appointment for your passport.
- 2
  Call the expedited appointment phone number provided for the regional passport agency closest to you. Program an expedited appointment that works with your schedule.
- 3
  Go to your appointment. You must present proof of your citizenship and identity. Citizenship is proved with a certified copy of your birth certificate, naturalization certificate, consular report of birth abroad or certificate of citizenship. Identity is proved with a driver's license, state-issued identification card, military identification card or a government identification card.
- 4
  Pay the passport fee using cash, credit card or check. Your passport fee as of 2011 is $135 plus an additional $60 to expedite the processing of your expedited request for a total of $195.