More Americans can travel abroad today than at any time in history. In 1990, only five percent of Americans had a passport. Today, that number has risen to 48 percent. In Fiscal Year 2023, the Department of State issued over 24 million passport books and cards, marking a record high.
To better serve the growing number of Americans seeking U.S. passports, the Department is taking steps to establish six new passport agencies. These offices will open in Salt Lake City, UT; Kansas City, MO; Orlando, FL; Charlotte, NC; San Antonio, TX; and Cincinnati, OH. This initiative reflects a commitment to provide prompt customer services closer to where people live.
The six additional facilities will expand the passport network to 35 passport agencies and centers and over 7,400 public passport acceptance facilities nationwide. As existing agencies do daily, these new locations will serve travelers with urgent travel needs. Travelers who do not require urgent services can apply at one of the 7,400 acceptance facilities, which include post offices and other local government buildings. More than 99 percent of Americans already live within 25 miles of an acceptance facility.
While establishing these new agencies, the Department continues to issue more passports than ever before while maintaining pre-pandemic processing times. The Department expressed gratitude towards Congress for its partnership and support and looks forward to collaborating with congressional partners and other stakeholders in opening these new facilities.
The Department of State encourages U.S. citizens to apply for or renew their passports before booking travel plans. Visit travel.state.gov/passport for the latest passport and travel guidance.
