Update (May 31, 2021): Alas, many hacks change or expire, and given the F rating from the Better Business Bureau, you may want to reconsider our advice here.
While in theory, we all know years in advance when our passport expires, chances are good that the time you actually remember you need that passport renewal is going to be right before a big trip — maybe days before you’re set to leave.
Renewing your passport takes time. Sometimes a lot of time. If you’re in a rush, now you actually have another solution: Go to FedEx.
The Washington Post reported this week that FedEx Office recently partnered with RushMyPassport for a service that allows American travelers to get their passport renewal processed in as little as 24 hours.
To get your passport expedited, you can either visit a FedEx Office location in person or got to a special passport section of its website. Both can handle passport renewals, as well as changing your name on your passport or reporting your passport lost or stolen. Stores can also handle snapping your picture if you’re in need of a passport pic.
If you need your passport quickly, then it’s going to cost you: Just getting your passport processed costs $170. After that, you’ll have to pay an additional charge for how fast you need it. Same-day service is a jarring $449, while 10-day processing runs $119. For there you’ll also have to pay FedEx for the shipping, which can be up to $54.95 for a priority overnight delivery.
Now we’re talking about spending around $700 for a quick replacement. Not exactly cheap.
That said, FedEx says that if you choose the 24-hour option on a Monday, your application will be received and processed on Tuesday, and your passport will be headed back to you by Wednesday morning. In some cases, you might even be able to pick it up or have it delivered on Tuesday instead.
$700 is a lot, but maybe not as much as you would lose if you ended up not being able to go on that trip in the first place.
You’ll also still need to have figured out you need that renewal a few days in advance for this to work, but it can be a great option to know is available should you ever need it.