Passport renewals taking 4–6 weeks

U.S. citizens planning summer trips should check their passports now: the U.S. Embassy in Spain and Andorra said renewals are taking four to five weeks. (es.usembassy.gov) The embassy posted the warning on April 17, 2026, and said the timing applies to passport renewals for travelers who may need documents before summer departures. It also told families to check children’s passports, which are valid for five years, not 10. (es.usembassy.gov) The State Department’s main passport site currently lists routine service at four to six weeks, and it says that estimate does not include mailing time. The department says mail can add up to two weeks for an application to arrive and up to two more weeks for the new passport to be delivered. (travel.state.gov) That means a traveler using routine service can face a total wait that stretches well past the posted processing window. The State Department says expedited service is two to three weeks, also excluding mailing time, for people traveling in less than six weeks. (travel.state.gov) Passport timing can block a trip even before the expiration date printed in the book. The State Department says some countries require at least six months of passport validity after travel dates, and its Europe guidance says Schengen-area travel requires a U.S. passport valid for at least three months beyond planned departure from the European Union. (travel.state.gov, travel.state.gov) The renewal options have widened since the pandemic bottlenecks that drove much longer waits in earlier years. The State Department now says eligible U.S. citizens applying for routine service can renew online, and it still offers renewal by mail for applicants who qualify. (travel.state.gov, travel.state.gov) Americans living in Spain or Andorra use the embassy and consulates for passport services, including adult renewals. The embassy’s adult renewal page lists a fee of $130 for a passport book and $30 more for a passport card. (es.usembassy.gov, es.usembassy.gov) For travelers who already applied, the State Department says application updates are available online after intake, and it emails status notices if an address was provided on the form. The practical deadline is earlier than the flight date: it is the day your passport still has enough validity left to board. (travel.state.gov, travel.state.gov)