Pop-up passport fairs

The State Department is pushing special passport acceptance fairs this spring to help first-time applicants file in person outside normal office hours. (travel.state.gov) The fairs are hosted by passport acceptance facilities such as post offices, clerks of court, and libraries, and the agency posted a nationwide list on April 17, 2026. The April schedule includes events in New York, Puerto Rico, Texas, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington, Alabama, California, and other states and territories. (travel.state.gov) These events are aimed at people who must use Form DS-11 in person: first-time adult applicants, children, and some people whose old passport was lost, stolen, damaged, or issued more than 15 years ago. The State Department says some passport agency events may also take renewals, but applicants need to check each event’s rules. (travel.state.gov; travel.state.gov) The shift is about access more than a new speed promise. State Department processing times are still listed at four to six weeks for routine service and two to three weeks for expedited service, not counting mailing time that can add roughly two weeks each way. (travel.state.gov) That matters because the hardest part for many first-time applicants is not the printing of the passport but getting in front of an acceptance agent with the right paperwork, photo, and payment. The department’s own guidance says DS-11 applicants must appear in person and sign only when instructed by the agent. (travel.state.gov; travel.state.gov) The fairs also spread appointments into evenings, weekends, and temporary locations. On the current April list, some events run on Saturdays, some after 3 p.m., and some do not require appointments, while others ask applicants to call ahead. (travel.state.gov) For first-time adults applying for a passport book at an acceptance facility, the current fee chart lists a $130 application fee paid to the State Department and a separate $35 execution fee paid to the facility. Expedited service and faster return delivery cost extra. (travel.state.gov; travel.state.gov) The State Department is telling applicants to use the fairs to “apply early and avoid the rush,” not to wait for a last-minute fix. For travelers who still need a first passport before summer trips, the practical change is more places and more hours to start the process. (travel.state.gov; travel.state.gov)