U.S. passports changing
- The U.S. will move from two passport sizes to a single 38‑page passport book in the next redesign. (federalregister.gov) - State Department officials say more than half of Americans now hold passports amid record demand. (federalnewsnetwork.com) - A member of Congress urged travelers to get passports in order early because summer demand is rising. (cole.house.gov)
The State Department plans to stop offering two passport book sizes and switch to one 38-page book in its next redesign. (govinfo.gov) The change was published in the Federal Register on April 20, 2026, and the department said the new format is tied to a Series B passport redesign expected to roll out in 2028. Today’s Next Generation Passport comes in 26-page and 50-page versions. (govinfo.gov) The department said a 2024 feasibility study found that a single 38-page book would cut waste and improve production and issuance efficiency. It said 92% of customers now request the 26-page book, while 8% receive the 50-page version. (govinfo.gov) Officials said most people who now get the 50-page book do so because of policy for overseas and special-issuance applicants, not because they are frequent travelers filling every page. Emergency passports will stay at 12 pages. (govinfo.gov) The shift lands as passport demand remains near record levels. Matt Pierce, a deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of Consular Affairs, said more than half of Americans now hold passports. (federalnewsnetwork.com) State Department statistics show why the system is under pressure: passports for adults stay valid for 10 years, passports for children under 16 last five years, and some people hold both a book and a card at the same time. The department’s public data page tracks valid passports in circulation through fiscal 2025. (travel.state.gov) The agency is also still pushing people to apply before peak travel season. On April 17, Travel.State.Gov promoted passport acceptance fairs at post offices, courthouses, and libraries and told first-time adult applicants and children to “apply early and avoid the rush.” (travel.state.gov) Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma made the same point in a column published April 20, telling travelers to apply as soon as they can because delays are possible and to pay for expedited service if they need a passport in less than six weeks. He also warned readers to use only State Department sites for passport information. (cole.house.gov) The public can comment on the new passport-book format through June 22, 2026, under docket DOS-2026-0496. Unless the department changes course, the next U.S. passport redesign will arrive with one standard book size instead of two. (govinfo.gov)
