How Government Shutdowns Affect Expedited Passport Processing
If you have an international trip planned, the last thing you want is a government shutdown throwing your passport plans off track. Many travelers assume expedited processing will run as usual, but that’s not always the case. Reduced staffing, office closures, and slowed approvals can leave even urgent applications stuck in the system.
For busy professionals, parents juggling family travel, or anyone working on a tight schedule, these delays can mean canceled flights and added costs. Knowing what changes during a shutdown, and how to work around them, can help you protect your travel plans. In this blog, you’ll learn what services may be affected, how long delays can last, and practical steps to keep your passport application moving.
Need your passport soon? Call us at (708) 360-7277 to get started today.
Key Takeaways
A government shutdown can still affect expedited passport processing, but delays vary by location and urgency.
Passport agencies may operate on fee-based reserves, but long shutdowns risk service slowdowns or halts.
Non-urgent services, such as routine renewals and outreach events, are often paused first.
Planning early and keeping timelines flexible helps avoid last-minute travel disruptions.
Get My Passports can secure your passport in 72 hours with expert guidance and reliable courier delivery.
How Government Shutdowns Impact Passport Services
When a government shutdown occurs, not all services stop at once. Passport operations are funded through the fees you pay, not annual taxpayer appropriations. This means agencies can keep processing applications for as long as funds and staffing allow. However, the situation isn’t uniform across all locations, and certain services can slow down or pause entirely.
Key points to understand:
Fee-funded operations: The U.S. Department of State relies on application fees to cover most passport-related expenses, enabling it to continue operations during a shutdown.
Staffing challenges: Even if funding is in place, furloughed employees in federal buildings or related offices can cause bottlenecks.
Varying impact: Some passport centers remain fully operational, while others reduce hours or suspend non-urgent services.
Past shutdowns, such as the one in 2018–2019, show that while core services may stay open, delays can mount quickly, especially if the shutdown lasts more than a week.
Why Expedited Applications Face Delays?
Paying for expedited service does not guarantee your passport will arrive on the advertised timeline during a shutdown. Reduced staffing, fewer appointment slots, and facility closures can all cause slowdowns.
Common reasons for delays include:
Limited staff available to review and approve applications.
Shorter working hours at passport agencies.
Increased demand from travelers trying to secure their documents before services slow down further.
If your travel date is near, a government shutdown may still result in expedited passport requests facing backlogs. This can put your trip at risk unless you plan ahead or work with a registered expeditor such as Get My Passports that can get your documents hand-delivered to an open processing center.
Emergency Passports Are Still Issued, But Only in Urgent Cases
During a shutdown, emergency passport issuance continues, but only for specific, urgent situations. These are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and strict proof is required.
Examples of qualifying situations:
A serious illness, injury, or death of an immediate family member abroad.
Urgent, time-sensitive business travel that cannot be postponed.
Humanitarian reasons that require immediate travel.
You’ll need to provide supporting documentation, such as medical records, death certificates, or official business letters, along with confirmed travel itineraries. Even then, availability depends on whether the nearest passport agency remains open during the shutdown.
Also, check our blog, Routine vs Expedited Passport Services to understand the key differences.
Office Closures and Location-Based Impacts
During a shutdown, the impact on passport services depends heavily on your location. If a passport agency operates inside a federal building that closes during a shutdown, that office will shut down too, even if passport services are otherwise fee-funded. This can halt both routine and expedited processing.
Variance between facilities
Passport centers & agencies: Larger facilities with dedicated funding may stay open but could reduce hours or staff.
Acceptance facilities (post offices or courthouses): These often follow the operating status of their host building or local government.
Embassy and consulate services abroad: Usually continue operating but may limit appointment availability.
Your processing speed depends on whether your application is sent to an open, fully staffed location. In some regions, delays are minimal, while others experience significant disruption almost immediately.
Non-Urgent and Special Services Are Put on Hold
During a government shutdown, priority shifts toward urgent cases and time-sensitive travel. Non-urgent requests often move to the back of the line.
Services typically paused or slowed:
Routine passport applications and standard renewals.
First-time passport requests without urgent travel needs.
Name changes, corrections, and limited-validity passport replacements.
Events and outreach cancellations:
Mobile passport fairs.
Pop-up acceptance centers.
Community outreach events are designed to assist applicants.
If your plans are flexible, it’s best to wait until normal operations resume to submit these types of requests, as this prevents your application from sitting in a backlog.
Support and Delivery Services During a Shutdown
Customer assistance and document delivery remain available but can be slower than usual due to reduced support availability
Call centers and email support teams may run with fewer staff, increasing wait times.
In-person appointment slots at passport agencies are more limited.
Delivery services such as USPS and private carriers such as FedEx and UPS continue operating during shutdowns. But bottlenecks can occur if fewer passports are processed each day. Even once your passport is issued, delivery times can stretch by several days due to processing backlogs.
Even if delivery networks face delays, Get My Passports ensures your application reaches the right hands fast. We hand-deliver documents directly to open passport agencies, helping you bypass bottlenecks and keep your travel plans on track.
Fee Funding Has Limits
Passport services aren’t funded entirely by Congress. A large portion of operations runs on the fees you pay for applications. This means that even during a government shutdown, some processing can continue.
However, there’s a catch:
If the shutdown lasts long enough, fee reserves can run out.
Once reserves are depleted, services may slow to a crawl or halt altogether.
Offices may need to prioritize only urgent, life-or-death requests.
In other words, fees buy time, but not an indefinite safety net.
Duration of the Shutdown Matters
The length of a government shutdown plays a big role in how much disruption travelers face:
Short shutdowns: Minor delays, with expedited services often still available.
Long shutdowns: Growing backlogs, more cancellations, and greater limits on expedited applications.
If you’re applying for a government shutdown expedited passport during an extended closure, expect timelines to stretch and fewer appointment slots to be available.
Planning Ahead Is Crucial
If there’s even a hint of a shutdown on the horizon, taking early action can save your trip:
Apply well in advance: Don’t wait until the last minute.
Stay flexible: Build in extra time for potential delays.
Use professional expediting services: These can help you find available appointments and handle urgent requests efficiently.
Planning now means fewer headaches if operations slow down later.
Recommended: Everything You Need to Know About Expedited Passport and Visa Services in Chicago.
Skip Shutdown Delays with Get My Passports
When time is short and uncertainty is high, Get My Passports can simplify the process and protect your travel plans. Our team understands how to tackle the extra hurdles that can arise during a government shutdown, so you get speed, accuracy, and peace of mind.
Our team specializes in handling every step of the process—so you can get your passport within 3–5 business days or even as fast as 72 hours in urgent cases. We guide you from start to finish with precision, ensuring your application is error-free and fully compliant with official requirements.
Here’s how we can help:
Expert Consultations: Personalized guidance to ensure your paperwork is complete, accurate, and meets all requirements.
Error-Free Applications: We triple-check every detail to prevent rejections or delays.
Compliant Photos: On-the-spot, regulation-approved passport photos.
Secure Courier Hand-Delivery: Direct submission to open passport agencies, bypassing mailing delays.
Live Tracking: Real-time updates so you always know where your passport is.
Bilingual Support: English and Spanish assistance for better communication.
Transparent Pricing: No hidden fees, with clear pricing before you commit.
Call (708) 360-7277 today to start your application and get your passport in time, no stress, or guesswork.
Conclusion
When a government shutdown happens, expedited passport services are impacted, making every day count. Backlogs, office closures, and service delays can derail your travel plans if you wait too long. The smartest move is to act early and work with experts who know how to move applications through quickly and correctly.
Get My Passports can help you secure your passport in as little as 3–5 days, or even 72 hours for urgent cases, so you don’t have to risk missed flights or canceled trips.
Call (708) 360-7277 today or book an appointment to start your application and travel without delay.