You submitted your passport application. Now you're refreshing your inbox and wondering whether "In Process" means things are actually moving or just sitting in a pile somewhere.
For applications filed through GovPlus, the Radar tracking feature inside your account shows you exactly where your application stands, from kit shipment through passport in hand. For applications filed through other channels, the State Department's online status tool at passportstatus.state.gov lets you check using your last name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. Status labels like "In Process," "Approved," and "Passport Mailed" follow a predictable sequence, and each one means something specific. One thing most applicants don't realize: it can take up to two weeks after you apply for your application to appear in the system at all.
The State Department's tool at passportstatus.state.gov requires three things: your last name (including any suffix like Jr. or III), your date of birth in MM/DD/YYYY format, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. No login required.
One name-entry note: if your last name contains a hyphen or apostrophe, the system doesn't always recognize the exact format. Try it with the punctuation, without it, and without spaces until you get a result. The State Department flags this specifically on their status page because it's one of the most common reasons applicants can't find their file on the first attempt.
If you don't have your SSN handy, you can use your nine-digit application locator number instead. That number appears on the confirmation or receipt from when you submitted. The first two digits of the locator identify which passport agency or center is handling your application, which can be useful if you need to follow up on your case.
For applicants who filed through GovPlus's passport filing service, the Radar feature inside the GOV+ Premium dashboard tracks your application automatically. No SSN lookup, no separate government portal. Your status timeline lives inside your GOV+ account, alongside your other government filings.
The State Department uses six main status labels. The table below shows what each one means and when it typically appears.
One edge case: if your status shows "Approved" and then reverts to "In Process," the State Department caught a problem during their final review and is printing a corrected passport. No action is needed from you -- they're handling it.
Supporting documents travel separately from your new passport via First Class Mail and can arrive up to four weeks after your book or card. If you're waiting on a birth certificate or prior passport you submitted as evidence, that delay is normal.
For a detailed look at how processing windows compare across service tracks, see passport renewal processing times in 2026.
It can take up to two weeks for your application to appear in the system as In Process, and that delay usually does not indicate a problem.
The intake process has three stages. After you apply, your application may pass through mail sorting and intake before it reaches a passport agency or center for review. During that time, USPS may show the package as delivered before the State Department has finished processing it.
If two weeks have passed and your payment has not been processed, your application may not have been received yet. Check your USPS tracking number and contact USPS if the package looks stalled. If two weeks have passed, payment was processed, but you still can't find a status, there may be a data entry error on the application -- call the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) at 877-487-2778 to resolve it.
For current 2026 timelines across each processing track, see how long it takes to get a passport.
This status means your application is on hold. The State Department has sent you a letter or email requesting more information before it can continue. Your application will remain on hold until they receive a response.
The most common triggers include a rejected passport photo, a missing signature, a missing supporting document, or a check that couldn't be processed. Most holds are fixable. You have 90 days from the date on the letter or email to respond -- if 90 days pass without a response, the application may be cancelled.
When you respond, send everything to the full mailing address in Sterling, Virginia listed on the letter. Don't send it to the passport agency's physical address; that's a different location and your materials may not reach the right team. Once the State Department receives what it needs, your status updates to "Information Received, In Process Again." Your overall processing time will likely be longer because the application cannot move forward until the requested information is received.
Most holds trace back to an error that slipped through before the application shipped. The guide on common passport renewal mistakes walks through the specific issues that trigger these notices.
Passport books are mailed with tracking information, which appears in the Passport Mailed status update. Passport cards go via First Class Mail with no tracking.
If two weeks have passed since your status changed to Passport Mailed and your book still hasn’t arrived, call NPIC at 877-487-2778. A representative can explain how to complete Form DS-86, a signed statement that says you did not receive your passport. Form DS-86 must be completed within 120 days of the date your passport was issued. After that deadline, you generally must reapply and pay the applicable fees again.
If your mailing address changes after you submit your application, contact NPIC as soon as possible to update your situation.
For situations where a passport is confirmed lost rather than just delayed, the full process is in the guide on replacing a lost or stolen passport.
The State Department's current stated processing time is 4 to 6 weeks for routine service and 2 to 3 weeks for expedited service -- neither figure includes mailing time. Adding expedited service costs $60 and places your application in the faster processing track. If your application is already in the system without expedited service, you can request it by calling NPIC at 877-487-2778.
If your trip is within 14 calendar days and you need your passport urgently, you may qualify for an in-person appointment at a U.S. passport agency. You'll need documented proof of imminent international travel. If your travel also requires a visa that takes longer to obtain, you may qualify for an appointment within 28 calendar days of travel.
To find which agency is reviewing your application, look at the first two digits of your nine-digit locator number. Each prefix maps to a specific agency or center. For a step-by-step guide on accelerating an application under deadline, see how to get a passport fast.
GOV+ prepares your application package so it goes in complete and accurate, reducing the risk of an "Additional Information Needed" hold or a returned submission.
Ready to submit? Apply for a new passport or renew your passport.
Yes. You can use your nine-digit passport application locator number instead. It appears on the receipt or confirmation you received when you applied. If you applied through GovPlus, your account dashboard shows your application status directly without requiring SSN digits.
Your locator number appears on the confirmation or receipt from when you submitted. If you applied at an acceptance facility, the facility provided a receipt; if you applied online, it's in the confirmation email. The first two digits identify which passport agency or center is reviewing your file -- useful if you need to contact a specific location.
"In Process" is the standard status for most of the review period. The State Department's current stated processing time is 4 to 6 weeks for routine service and 2 to 3 weeks for expedited service, neither of which includes mailing time. Staying at "In Process" for several weeks is expected. If your application has been "In Process" past the stated window for your track, call NPIC at 877-487-2778.
Call NPIC at 877-487-2778 and explain your situation. If you have documented international travel within 14 calendar days, you may qualify for an in-person appointment at a U.S. passport agency. Bring proof of travel, your current identification, and the applicable fees. Appointments fill quickly -- call as early as possible once your deadline is clear.
Yes, if you provided an email address on your application. The State Department may send status updates by email, including when your passport is mailed. The notification for a passport book includes tracking information; cards are sent via First Class Mail without a tracking number. If you didn't provide an email or opted out, check passportstatus.state.gov manually using your last name, date of birth, and last four SSN digits.
After submitting your adult passport application, you can check in on its status using the State Department's online status checker at travel.state.gov. The tool becomes available once your application has been entered into the system, which can take several weeks after submission. If you applied through GOV+, you can also track your application status directly from your account dashboard.
Passport fees for an adult passport currently include a separate application fee and execution fee for first-time applicants, plus an additional charge for expedited processing if you need a faster turnaround. Fees are set by the State Department and are subject to change, so review the current fee schedule at travel.state.gov before submitting your application. Private online services like GOV+ may charge a separate service fee on top of the government fees.
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