If you recently obtained a passport, you’re certainly not alone.

On Wednesday, the State Department reported that it issued 24.5 million passport books and cards in the fiscal year 2024, reflecting an increase of approximately 500,000 from the previous year. This marks the third consecutive year of record figures.

“More Americans are traveling abroad than ever before, with a high number of passports issued, which is exciting for them and beneficial for our country,” stated Rena Bitter, Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, in an interview with YSL News before the announcement.

The number of passport holders has risen dramatically in recent years.

What percentage of Americans hold US passports?

Now, 51% of Americans possess a passport, a rise from 46% in 2023 and 30% in 2008. The State Department indicates that there are over 171 million active U.S. passports currently.

What is the processing time for a passport application?

After reaching their lowest processing times since before the COVID-19 pandemic in December, wait times have decreased further this month. Travelers can now anticipate routine processing to take between four to six weeks, not including mailing times, while expedited processing is estimated at two to three weeks.

Although wait times surged after the pandemic, Bitter emphasized that the State Department has been actively working to reduce them, especially since last summer. They have achieved this by involving efficiency experts, adopting new technology, and providing clearer information to applicants, encouraging early applications.

“We have remarkably improved our services within just one year,” Bitter remarked.

The State Department has also expanded its workforce by 20% since December 2022 to meet the growing demand. Bitter added that new passport agencies will be established in six U.S. cities “in the near future.”

“The purpose is to cater to those who prefer to renew their passport in person,” she explained. “We aim to bring that personal service closer to where people reside.”

Is online passport renewal an option?

Online passport renewal became widely available last month following successful testing. More than 1 million users have taken advantage of this service, and an estimated 5 million are expected to use it annually moving forward.

This development benefits both travelers and workers. “While we won’t have divergent standards for different services, a significant portion of our operations being online will provide us a lot more flexibility in meeting our service goals,” Bitter indicated.