As you run down your pre-travel checklist, there is one item you may need that requires some planning: a passport.
Although some destinations do not require US travelers to have a passport, most of the time you’ll need one for international travel. Wait times are down from the levels seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, when travelers could expect to wait about four months for routine service but have recently risen again.
“Our processing times can fluctuate throughout the year with upticks in demand, especially as we approach the busy season for spring and summer travel,” a State Department spokesperson told USA TODAY by email.
Travel demand remains high even as prices are up, and Morning Consult found in a monthly survey of around 2,200 US adults that 28% booked a trip within the last month as of January, up two percentage points from a year earlier.
Here’s what travelers need to know about getting a US passport.
How long does it take to get a US passport?
Travelers can expect to wait eight to 11 weeks for routine service and five to seven weeks for expedited service, according to the State Department. Those processing times do not include mailing times, which may vary across US Travelers might also have to wait as long as two weeks from the day they apply for their application to be “In Process.”
How much is a US passport?
that depends. Travelers 16 and older applying for a passport for the first time must pay both an application fee and an acceptance fee, according to the State Department. Application fees run $130 for a passport book, $30 for a passport card and $160 for both. The acceptance fee is $35 for each option.
How long is a US passport good for?: Here’s what to know – and how to renew it
Where can I travel without a passport?: Check out these 6 destinations
Those 16 and up who are renewing their passports have to pay the same application fees but do not have to pay an acceptance fee. For children under 16, application fees run $100 for a passport book, $15 for a passport card and $115 for both, with a $35 acceptance fee for each option.
For the procrastinators out there, travelers can pay a $60 fee to expedite their passports. They can opt to pay an additional $19.53 for one- to two-day delivery, though that option is not available to applicants for passport cards alone.
The State Department offers a fee calculator on its website, which can help travelers determine how much they will pay.
Where do I go to get a passport?
For routine and expedited services, travelers can apply at an acceptance facility or renew by mail (some must apply in person, including those who have never had a US passport and children under 16). Those with urgent – ​​but non-emergency – international travel plans within 14 calendar days can call 1-877-487-2778 to make an appointment, although some restrictions apply, according to the State Department.
Travelers can also make an appointment if they “have a life-or-death emergency that requires international travel within 72 hours (3 business days).”
Online passport renewal is currently closed to new customers but will reopen in March.
What to know about traveling with a US passport: They are strong, but not the strongest
Planning a cruise? Here are the documents and costs to keep in mind
Applicants can find the forms and photo requirements on the State Department’s website.
Do you need a passport for a cruise?
Not always. US citizens booked on closed-loop cruises, which start and end at the same US port, can enter the country with a government-issued photo ID and birth certificate instead, but the State Department encourages having a passport “in case of an emergency, such as an unexpected medical air evacuation or the ship docking at an alternate port,” according to its website. Cruise lines might also require it.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US passport wait times are slightly up: What they cost, how to get one