The Best Passport Services

Monday, October 14th

2024 Passport Service Reviews

Passport Visas Express

• Offers expedited passports of all kinds as a registered service with the US Passport Agency
• Expedited service fees range from $299 (11-15 business days) to $499 (4-6 business days) for both new and renewal passports
• Concierge service offered if you want document prep help
• Help available via phone and live chat from 9A-6P Eastern, M-F
• Over 6,300 5-star reviews
• In business for over 15 years

For many years, Passport Visas Express has been our top pick for expedited passports. The company has been around for the better part of two decades, hand-carrying applications directly to US passport agencies, embassies, and consulates across the USA. This service has been featured by The Washington Post, CNN, and Budget Travel.

Affordable expediting for passports needed within 1-3 weeks

Everything about Passport Visas Express is straightforward. Whether you're renewing a passport or getting a new one (for yourself or for a child), the fees are the same: $299 for 11-15 business days, $349 for 7-10 business days, or $499 for 4-6 business days (not including governmental fees or shipping). You won't see any of the "super saver” options you might see with PVE's rivals - that's because their services are designed "for applications who need their passport within 1-3 weeks”.

Clearly spells out the steps

We also really appreciate that this expedited passport service is extremely clear about the process - especially spelling out, as the very first step in the process, the need to meet in person with a passport acceptance agent when applying for a new passport (which includes child passports, lost passports, and stolen passports). You'll also see a step-by-step numbered list describing each and every to-do you'll need to follow, so that there are no unpleasant surprises with your passport application.

$200 for optional concierge services

Feeling a little nervous? You can pay $200 extra for concierge service here: you'll have to sign up over the phone for an appointment, but at the end you'll get professional preparation of all of your documents, upgraded overnight priority shipping, and a personal account manager who guides the entire process.

The decisions are yours

As you work your way through the process at PVE, you'll be given as many options as possible along the way. Maybe you don't want full concierge services but you would like help filling out your application? That's offered for $65. How would you like your documents to go to and from PVE? You get to choose on each end: maybe you want to take care of the shipping there on your own, but you want FedEx Saturday delivery on the return? No problem. Ditto that for photos (you can choose PVE's digital photo service for $20 per traveler or send in your own).

Regular business hours only

One slight downside with using Passport Visas Express is their business hours: Monday through Friday, 9A-6P Eastern. In other words, if you realize on Friday night that you need a passport for a trip next Thursday, you'll have to wait until Monday to find out if PVE can help you (and that's assuming they're not closed for a holiday on Monday). But, they want to make sure that there will be availability with their passport agency contacts if you need emergency processing, without making any false promises. (And there ARE rival services who let you go ahead and pay for services they can't deliver, so we'll take PVE's weekend closures as a net positive.)

5-star ratings from more than 6,000 clients

Although for some reason we couldn't find Passport Visas Express' listing with the Better Business Bureau this time around, we're not worried: we found over 6,300 5-star reviews on Trustpilot alone, almost always from verified clients, and many glowing compliments left within a few weeks of our review. People are especially pleased with the support they get over the phone, especially when they don't understand some aspect of the PVE website. It's obvious that customers come here more for visas than passports, but time and again they say that this service comes through consistently and with friendly help available.

Still #1 for expedited passports

For yet another year, Passport Visas Express earns our highest rating and our top recommendation among companies offering expedited passport applications. You'll get affordable, knowledgeable service, trustworthy delivery of your documents, and everything right on schedule. When you need a passport and time is of the essence, Passport Visas Express is the name to know.

Travel Visa Pro

• Can help with all passport types
• Fees range from $59 for 4-week passport renewals to $249 for 2-day service on new and renewal passports
• 9 full-service locations and over 50 "strategically-placed” pickup and dropoff locations in major US cities, Ottawa, and London
• Provides support on nights and weekends in addition to regular business hours
• "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB
• Thousands of 5-star reviews
• In business for over 15 years

Travel Visa Pro should be one of the first places you turn when you're in a rush to get a passport. They've got 9 full-service locations and 50 "strategically placed” pickup and dropoff points in major US cities, London, and Ottawa. And, if you find yourself in a panic on the weekend or at night, trying to figure out if there's any chance you'll have a passport in time for something last-minute, this is one of the only companies we know of that provides support during nights and weekends, and not just during regular business hours.

Detailed explanation of the process

Travel Visa Pro makes it crystal clear what to expect with any of their expedited passport services. Be sure to click through all of the numbered items, from Process Overview to all of the documentation you'll need to provide. Some of their rivals don't spell that out until after you've paid, so getting it all put out there upfront is a breath of fresh air. Be aware that most of the services here do require proof of immediate travel, but even if you don't have that, you'll still have options (and those are explained in that section of the process on the website).

Most affordable service out there

You're going to be super-impressed by the pricing at Travel Visa Pro. You can get 2-day service on a passport renewal for a service fee of just $249. Or, if you've got some time and just want to know that someone is turning in your passport renewal application directly and in a timely way, you could opt for the 4-week service for $59. That's amazing. It's just as good for new passport applications: 2-day service is $249, and 3-week service is $99. For both services, there are several other tiers in between, if you don't need the fastest or the slowest option.

Be sure to consider the add-on packages

There's an extensive list of add-on services you can consider for your experience with Travel Visa Pro. The different tiers may bundle in things that you need anyway, so don't just dismiss them as unnecessary money grabs. Here's what was in each package at the time of our review:

• VIP Lite ($79): this package includes document pre-check and filling out of forms, passport photo service, free resubmissions
• VIP Concierge ($199): all the benefits of Lite plus no immediate proof of travel required for US passport renewals, help with making the acceptance agent appointment (when needed), consular appointment booking (when needed), dedicated VIP service team, and upgrade 2-day inbound and return shipping
• Executive Choice ($499): all the benefits of Concierge plus a dedicated single point of contact, free overnight inbound/return shipping, passport replacement coverage, and more

Glowing reviews from thankful clients

Reputation-wise, Travel Visa Pro is a star. The company has the BBB's highest rating and accreditation, and there was only one complaint filed against them in the last three years. The love for Travel Visa Pro continues on Trustpilot, where more than 2,300 people have left 5-star reviews and the company averages a near-perfect 4.8 stars. Here are some of our favorite raves there: "I purchased 4-day and it was done in 2”, "Started on Monday, got my passport in hand Thursday”, and "Best thing was that the new passport arrived earlier than promised and was 100% accurate”. It's worth mentioning that those are just a selection of the glowing reviews written about Travel Visa Pro…in a one-month period.

Top notch service

We're so impressed by everything we found at Travel Visa Pro, we've given them an excellent rating. When time is of the essence and you need your passport application expedited accurately, you can count on the team at Travel Visa Pro to deliver world-class service without charging you an arm and a leg to do it.

Fast Passport Center

• Can help with all kinds of passports (new, renewal, lost/stolen, child)
• Prices start at $135 for 5-7 week processing and go to $385 for 2-4 business day processing
• Affordable shipping
• Real-time order tracking
• Toll-free number for customer service
• Offices in DC, Dallas, LA, NYC, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, Salt Lake City
• 100% Best Price Guarantee
• 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
• "A” rated and accredited by the BBB
• Over two decades of experience serving 350,000+ clients

We're all about the mission behind Fast Passport Center: "taking the stress out of obtaining your travel documents at the lowest price possible”. Featured on Condé Nast Traveler, CNN, USA Today and more, this passport service has served more than 350,000 clients over nearly three decades. Whether you're renewing your passport or applying for the first time, you'll get top-notch service here - even (and especially) if you're in a big hurry.

Competitively priced for expedited passports

Let's jump into the services you can access through Fast Passport Center in terms of costs and timeframes. This is what we found during our most recent visit to the site:

• New Passports (including lost/stolen, children's passports): You've only got two options for a new passport here: 2-4 business day processing (for $385) or 7-9 business day processing (for $285). Just be aware that, even though it doesn't spell it out in the New Passports section of the website, you'll still have to visit a passport acceptance location to verify your identity - but as part of its service, Fast Passport Center will find a location you can visit that won't require an appointment.
• Renewal Passports: Pricing starts at $135 for 5-7 week processing (which is cheaper than most services on our list, but might not be faster than going directly through the passport acceptance facility). You can cut your time down to 4-5 weeks for $185, 5-9 business days for $285, or 2-4 business days for $385.

Additional costs for shipping and insurance

On any passport service you choose, you can opt to pay $29 for "Lost & Stolen Insurance” (valid within 5 years of the issuance date). Also, those fees quoted above don't include the shipping costs. But, we were very pleasantly surprised to see that even on a 2-4 business day "emergency” service, we were only charged $30 each way for FedEx. Fast Passport Center didn't specify which FedEx speed that was, so you'll have to trust that what you're paying for will allow them to fulfill the promised timeframe for expediting your passport.

Low prices, guaranteed

If you find the passport service you need at a lower price somewhere else, Fast Passport Center guarantees that they'll match it. There are a few stipulations, like the rival needing to be a registered State Department passport courier and it can't be a sale price offered by the competitor. But, if you like what you see here and want to use their service, it's nice knowing you don't have to go with a less-reliable service just to get a lower cost.

Excellent reputation for customer service

Fast Passport Center has a reputation we love to see: an "A” rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, only 4 complaints filed with the BBB in the last 3 years, and 19 customer reviews left with the BBB that average an impressive 4.47 out of 5 stars. Most clients taking the time to leave feedback via Trustpilot would agree: there, the average is even higher at 4.6 stars across 100+ reviews, and comments left within just a few months of our review said more than once that David from Fast Passport Center saved the day. Clients describe receiving super-clear instructions, help over the phone whenever they wanted it, and passports in hand within 4-6 days when needed. Feedback left on Yelp is slightly less enthusiastic, but aside from a handful of complaints there, the overall picture painted by Fast Passport Center clients is that this service can almost perform miracles when you need an expedited passport.

Great choice when you need an expedited passport

Fast Passport Center delivers what its name suggests. You'll be able to get your passport application submitted quickly and have it in hand when you need it, and at prices that are often more affordable than competitors'. This is one of our top picks among expedited passport services.

Passports and Visas

• Offers expedited and regular passport services for first-time applications, renewals, lost/stolen passports, name changes, and children's passports
• Applications can be done in as little as 3 business days
• Prices range from $149 to $399 (plus government fees and shipping costs)
• Offices in DC, Miami, LA, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Denver
• In business since 1992
• Over 9,000 5-star reviews
• Over 2 million clients

Passports and Visas got its start in Atlanta in 1992 and has since grown to have over 5,400 employees worldwide, serving clients in 160 countries. Not only does this company help individual clients like you, but they've worked with big names like the LPGA and Make-A-Wish with their passport and visa needs. Makes you wonder who some of the big names might be among their more than 2 million clients, right?

Personal touch

No matter which passport service you need, from a first-time application to getting one for your child, you'll be able to do that here. Passports and Visas assign a "Personal Concierge Passport Account Manager” to every client, and they're happy to say that your application could be done in as little as three business days.

Competitive prices on services

You're also going to be pleasantly surprised at how affordable Passports and Visas services are. Take a look:

• New Passports: keep in mind that these timeframes are from the day that your passport application paperwork is received by Passports and Visas, after you've visited with a passport acceptance facility or agency in person (and you'll pay separate governmental fees at that time)
• Passport Renewals: we were a little confused, because the pricing chart looked exactly like the one for New Passports, but the description said that prices started at $179. But, everything is clearly spelled out when you click on the turnaround time you'd like: for the slowest speed, our total came to $229.90, with $149 for the service fee, $7.95 for the digital photo service, $14.95 for passport service protection, and a shipping fee of $58 (for sending the paperwork to them and sending the passport back to us). That doesn't include the State Department fees that you'll need to pay too.

Pay attention to the add-on services

Some services that you might see added on are mandatory (like the shipping costs), but others are optional. You may need to uncheck a box or two before you enter payment information; maybe you don't need the digital photo service (because you already got photos taken at the drugstore) or you're not worried about having expedited processing in the future if your passport gets lost, stolen, or damaged. No problem. You also have the option to add a document pre-check service for $49 (if you're worried about getting the details right), or the VIP Passport Concierge Service for $99. We'd like to tell you more about that last bit, but the link to the details was broken during our visit to Passports and Visas.

Great reputation overall

How about reputation? Passports and Visas has a disappointing "F” grade from the Better Business Bureau, for not responding to 35 of the 37 complaints filed there in the last three years. On the other hand, only four of those were from the last 12-month period, and reviews left on Trustpilot within the past year are almost all five stars. On that platform, Passports and Visas has earned over 9,000 five-star ratings and an average of 4.1 stars. That's pretty impressive. Most people get excellent service here, going so far as to name specific reps who handled their passport renewal or first-time application with promptness and speed. You'll find a few Passports and Visas clients who had the opposite experience, but overall this service is doing a fantastic job.

Big jump in our rankings due to improvements

All of this combines to earn Passports and Visas a higher rating than in our previous evaluation, moving up to a high score from us now. While we're not thrilled about the lack of responses to BBB complaints, we feel comfortable taking the word of over 9,000 happy clients who had nothing but love for this company when getting a passport.

Fast Passports and Visas

• Can help with new passports for adults and children, replacement of lost and stolen passports, passports for name changes, passport renewals, and more
• Prices range from $299 to $499 (shipping extra)
• No hidden fees
• Fastest turnaround time once they receive paperwork: 5-7 business days
• Personalized attention
• "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB
• Over 30 years of experience

Fast Passports and Visas is based in Texas and has over 30 years of experience helping world travelers get the visas and passports they need to travel quickly and legally. Their team members are committed to processing your passport application as accurately and fast as possible, so if you need expedited services, you're in good hands here.

Costs from $299 to $499 plus shipping

Using the Fast Passports and Visas site is super-easy. Just click on the tab on the main page that says "Passports” and then choose the dropdowns to indicate what you'll need and in what turnaround timeframe. This is what the company has to offer:

• New Passport: costs range from $299 (11-15 business days) to $499 (5-7 business days). This doesn't take into account any time it takes you to meet with an acceptance agent and get your documents to Fast Passports and Visas. Shipping fees range from $35 (for one-way shipping from FP&V to you) to $120 for FedEx First Overnight both ways. That price applies to all "new” passport applications - including for adults, children, and lost/stolen/damaged passports.
• Renewal Passport: you've got the same fees as New Passports if you want turnaround times from 5-7 business days up to 11-15 business days. If you can wait a little longer, Fast Passports and Visas also has a tier for 20-25 business days at $199, but we're not sure that's going to give you a turnaround time that's much shorter than going directly through the passport acceptance facility. The good news, though, is that renewals don't require an in-person appointment anywhere, so you could just send your paperwork off to Fast Passports and Visas and let them handle everything for you.

Website might be outdated in spots

One glitchy thing that we noticed: when we visited the New Passport pages, it was all systems go - but on the Passport Renewals page, it said that Fast Passports and Visas were "unable to process New and Minor passports due to the Covid-19 pandemic”. We're pretty sure that was just a line that got missed once everything had settled down, because we had no trouble applying for all kinds of new passports here. But, we figured we'd point it out so that you wouldn't panic if you came across that bit as well.

No hidden fees

We were happy to see that there were no sneaky additional fees during checkout: you simply choose the service you need and what shipping methods and speeds you prefer, and that's it. You've even got the option to make monthly payments via PayPal (which could be needed if you're paying $499 for an expedited passport and the fastest FedEx shipping both ways).

Feedback says this company is small but mighty

Let's all shout "Hooray” for a passport service that has an "A+” rating” AND accreditation AND no complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau. You won't find too many services that check all three of those boxes, on our list or anywhere else. This passport service doesn't have hundreds and hundreds of client reviews, but what we were able to find on Yelp, Trustpilot, and elsewhere is almost always a 4- or 5-star rating. We get the impression that while this may not be the biggest expedited passport option out there, it does maintain that small business feel with respect to customer service and attention to detail. Reviews frequently refer to "Sam” (who we're guessing is the owner) taking concierge-level care of them during high-stress, last-minute application processes for visas and passports, so we're sure you'd be in good hands as well.

Passport expediting you can rely on

Although we'd love to see a lot more feedback from Fast Passports and Visas' clientele, we've seen enough to know that this is a service you can trust if you need to expedite your passport process. The customer service is attentive and accurate, and the pricing here is transparent and fair. If you like the idea of working with a smaller service and getting personalized attention, Fast Passports and Visas will be one of your best choices.

Visa HQ

• Full range of passport services (first-time, renewed, child, name change, lost/stolen/damaged)
• Prices from $149 to $699
• 25 offices in 13 countries
• 20+ years of experience
• Has served over 1 million clients
• 24/7 support with online tracking and real-time updates

VisaHQ is an expert when it comes to passports. They've got two decades of experience and serve clients from 25 offices in over a dozen countries. Over the years, this company has helped more than a million people worldwide.

Prices are a bit high

In order to find out what it'll cost to get your passport through VisaHQ and in what timeframe, you'll have to walk through the "start an application” process online. (Although, for what it's worth, Visa HQ offers 24/7 customer support, so you could always try the online chat or toll-free number if you prefer.) Of course, we've done the legwork for you, so here's what VisaHQ was offering at the time of our evaluation:

• New Passports: starting at $499 for 8-10 business days and $699 for 4-7 business days. That doesn't include the shipping fee/speed to VisaHQ (which ranges from $36 for FedEx 2-day to $134 for FedEx First Overnight, or you can ship it yourself with the carrier of your choice). Keep in mind that this timeframe doesn't include the time it will take for you to make an appointment with a Passport Acceptance Location near you; that has to be done in person, so that you can get a sealed envelope with your paperwork and then send that to VisaHQ.
• Child's Passport, Lost/Stolen Passport, Name Change Passport: VisaHQ is happy to offer these services. The pricing and timeframes are the same as for New Passports.
• Passport Renewals: starting at $149 for 3-5 weeks and $699 for 4-7 business days. This fee doesn't include the $211.36 charged by the State Department, but VisaHQ can pay it on your behalf. Again, you can opt for FedEx shipping (with fees from $36 to $134) or take care of the shipping to VisaHQ however you choose (USPS Priority Mail).
• Government fees and inbound shipping not included

"F” from the BBB

We're disappointed to report that VisaHQ still has an "F” rating from the Better Business Bureau. Although there were no complaints filed in the last year and only four over a total of three years, the BBB (rightly) takes issue with the fact that VisaHQ never responded to any of them.

Still gets good feedback from clients overall

On the bright side, we found thousands of verified reviews for VisaHQ, and 86% of them were from people who would recommend the service. It was encouraging to read comments from clients who have used this company multiple times, specifically for passport renewals, and have never had an issue. We also found specific agents praised repeatedly for offering timely, friendly support on both passport and visa applications.

Many reviews from recent months

Your experience may vary, depending on who your assigned rep is and which process you're paying for, but most US-based clients seem to avoid the problems that overseas customers sometimes encounter (with partner agencies of VisaHQ). It's also a great sign that there are so many reviews from recent months - that's not true for many of VisaHQ's rivals on our list.

Above average option for passport services

We're happy to move VisaHQ back up in our rankings. Maybe the company had some struggles managing expectations during the pandemic (didn't we all?), but it looks like they're back to providing excellent customer service consistently. We love that their support team is available seven days a week to answer any passport-related questions you might have, and we're confident that you can get your passport here without any major issues.

Rush My Passport

• Offers expedited passport courier services for new and renewal passports, lost/stolen/damaged passports, children's passports, and more
• 11 locations nationwide (offices located in FL, GA, IL, TX, CA, NY, PA, DC)
• Costs range from $119 for 8-week "smart service” to $599 for "emergency service” in 2-4 business days (once documents are received)
• Partnered with AAA, AARP, and more
• Customer service available Monday-Saturday
• Over 9,000 5-star reviews

Rush My Passport is a service offered by Expedited Travel Holdings. If you're a member of AARP or AAA, you might have gotten promotions featuring Rush My Passport as their premium partner for passports and travel visas. But, their services are available to anyone, regardless of whether or not they have a membership with a partner company. This passport courier service has 11 offices nationwide, with locations in eight states plus Washington DC.

Priced from $119 to $599

You'll start the process by selecting the service you need in the dropdown box. Those include passport renewal, new passports, lost or stolen passports, child passports, and more. Here's what you can expect from Rush My Passport, keeping in mind that the pricing and timeframes are the same for both renewals and new passports (unlike many rival services that make a distinction between the two):

• $119 for 8-week Smart Service
• $209 for 3-week Expedited Service
• $364.65 for 7-9 business days Priority Service
• $599 for 2-4 business days Emergency Service

Not the clearest explanations of the process

The timeframes for each of those begin once Rush My Passport has received your paperwork. Keep in mind that wherever you go for your expedited passport help, the "emergency” option usually requires that you have proof of international travel plans within 14 days. Rush My Passport doesn't spell that out unless you read through the "Required Documents” list elsewhere on the website, so we did it for you. They also don't make it very clear at any point during the ordering process that you still have to visit a passport acceptance facility to verify your identity, then ship the sealed envelope the agent gives you to Rush My Passport. We can see how customers would get the wrong idea and not understand these steps; it would be helpful if the website made that clearer during the purchasing process. (We only knew to look for it because we're experts on expedited passport services.)

Shipping fees added later

Those fees we mentioned also don't include the inbound and outbound shipping that are automatically added during checkout. On the Emergency Service we selected, we were charged $69.90 total for shipping both ways.

Mediocre reputation with the BBB

We have some mixed feelings about Rush My Passport's reputation. On the one hand, under its parent company's Better Business Bureau profile, this passport service only gets a "C” rating for having 136 complaints filed in the last three years (and for not responding to two of them). While reading through those frustrated BBB reports, we were left feeling a little leery of Rush My Passport: it's true that most complaints get a response, but it's unfortunate that those clients had to endure the stress of not getting their passports when they were promised, or chasing down refunds.

Mixed feedback elsewhere

On the other hand, comments left on Trustpilot are more positive overall, with over 9,000 clients taking the time to leave a 5-star review. It seems like you'll either be eternally grateful to Rush My Passport for saving your trip (78% 5-star reviews) or so aggravated that you'll call the service a scam (15% 1-star reviews). Take a look at these two comments left within just days of each other: "Our documents were sent on the 13th and delivered perfectly on the 20th” vs. "My application was never sent, and nobody bothered to let me know. I've never felt so demeaned knowingly paying more money to the company that was scamming me.” Yikes!

Save this passport service as a backup

Overall, we'd give Rush My Passport a just-average rating. You could wind up with really exceptional service here…or you could wind up without a passport in time for your trip. More customers get the former than the latter, but the frustrated clients' experiences are enough for us to recommend that you look at the higher-ranked passport services on our list first, and maybe save Rush My Passport as a backup plan.

Travisa

• $432 for passport renewal, 2- to 3-week timeframe
• $592 to $692 for expedited service (doesn't include government fees)
• Can pay extra for premium service (to help fill out your paperwork)
• 60+ offices in 29 countries
• In business for 30+ years

Travisa is part of the CIBT group of companies, with offices in nearly 30 countries. Known for its travel visa and passport services, Travisa helps both individuals and corporate clients to get the documents they need for their journeys.

Improved (but still expensive)

Travisa has made some big improvements compared with our previous evaluations over the years. Gone are the days of filling in a PDF or an online form and submitting credit card info without knowing what you're paying. (Good riddance.) Now, right on the Passports page, you can see exactly how much it'll cost you to get a passport in the timeframe you need. Here were the prices at the time of this review:

• Passport Renewal
• $432 for 2-3 weeks ($199 service fee, $190 government agency fee, $43 passport replacement coverage fee)
• No expedited options available
• First-Time or Lost/Stolen Passport
• $692 for 3-5 days ($649 service fee, $43 passport replacement coverage fee)
• $592 for 5-7 days ($549 service fee, $43 passport replacement coverage fee)

Be aware that you'll need an in-person appointment first

However, there's a not-minor detail you need to be aware of: those timeframes for 3-7 days are based on when Travisa receives your paperwork. And, for them to receive your paperwork on first-time or lost/stolen passport processes, you have to schedule an appointment at a passport acceptance location near you. Then, you have to bring all of your paperwork (provided by Travisa) to the appointment, get it returned to you in a sealed envelope from the Passport Acceptance Officer at that appointment, and then send it along to Travisa. Once they receive that envelope, their promised timeframe starts. So don't be thinking that you're going to get a passport in 3 days total here.

Limited feedback (and it's not all positive)

And, unfortunately, Travisa still has pretty mixed reviews. That starts with a "B-” from the Better Business Bureau, though we're glad to point out that the company hasn't received any complaints in the last 12 months and only two in the last three years. However, that may be because not many people are using Travisa to get their passports. We looked at several other places where clients have left feedback for the company, and only found a handful of reviews from within the last year (and, spoiler alert, they weren't positive).

Still room to improve

We're willing to move Travisa's rating up a notch since our last review, since they're actually making the effort to disclose their fees in advance now. That alone is an improvement. Unfortunately, though, we're still not seeing any indication that this is a passport service that's going to be a trustworthy partner if you need help in a hurry.

Fastport Passport

• Can help with all passport types (new, renewal, lost/stolen, child)
• Passport expediting fees starting at $119 for 8-week processing, $209 for 3-week processing, $429 for 7-9 business days, and $599 for 2-4 business days
• "A” rated and accredited by the BBB
• Over 1.2 million customers since 2003

Based in Brooklyn, Fastport Passport has been expediting passport applications and helping with visas since 2003. They're proud to tell you that they've helped over 1.2 million clients since then, in all 50 states.

Higher-than-average fees

Fastport Passport charges the same fees whether you're getting a new or renewed passport: $119 for 8-week "smart” processing, $209 for 3-week "expedited” processing, $429 for 7-9 business day "priority” processing, and $599 for 2-4 business day "emergency” processing. You'll also be charged $69.90 for shipping to and from the company; that will get added on during checkout.

Doesn't spell out important details upfront

Unfortunately, Fastport Passport doesn't make several critical details clear when you're signing up for their expedited passport service. First of all, new passports require a visit to a local passport acceptance agent: yes, there are over 8,000 of them (like post offices and many city halls), but if you're thinking that your first step is to send in your paperwork to Fastport Passport, you'd be wrong. And you wouldn't know about that part until after you'd paid for your processing (unless you dug into the FAQ like we did).

May not be eligible for what you pay for

You also won't be told until after you've paid that, in order to be eligible for "emergency” processing, you have to have proof of international travel within 14 days. This could include a copy of your plane ticket receipt or cruise line documentation. And, from what we can tell, if you already paid for that top-speed processing but you're not eligible, Fastport Passport isn't going to refund you the difference between "emergency” and "priority” processing.

Recent feedback is pretty dismal

The Better Business Bureau thinks highly of this passport service, giving Fastport Passport an "A” rating and accreditation for only having three complaints filed there in the last 3-year period. But, more recent feedback for the company in other places (like Trustpilot and Yelp) have led to a pretty big drop in our rating. People said that the communication from Fastport Passport reps was either "nonexistent” or with "someone whose proficiency in the English language prevented us from being able to properly communicate”. It seems that most of the 5-star reviews on Trustpilot were prior to 2023; most of the ones since then are from unhappy clients. One client there flat out says "don't do it” (use Fastport Passport), another said they paid for the service online and filled out the paperwork, but no one answered at the phone number they were given to continue the process.

Big drop in our rating

Sorry, Fastport Passport: we have to drop you almost down to the bottom of our rankings. Maybe your failings haven't reached the "ears” of the Better Business Bureau yet, but they're definitely being made known elsewhere. We can't confidently say that clients will get good service here, and Fastport Passport definitely can't be counted on to deliver passports in any kind of expedited way. This is the most we can offer this company until major improvements are made.

TDS

• New passports: $499 for a 10 business day timeframe
• Passport renewals: $169 for a turnaround time of 4-8 weeks
• In business for over 30 years
• "A+” rated by the BBB

Travel Document Systems, or TDS for short, has served clients for over 30 years. As a registered passport expediting service with the US State Department, the company has historically been in the business of helping with first-time passport applications and renewals.

Services are still limited

When we visited the TDS site recently, it said that they were only offering two tracks of processing for US passport applications - "due to ongoing constraints associated with the coronavirus pandemic”. Um, y'all…other sites are back up and running, so what's the problem? At any rate, if what they're saying holds, you should only plan on being able to get 4- to 8-week processing on adult renewals through the offices in DC, San Francisco, Houston, and Seattle; emergency 10-day processing may be offered through those same locations (minus Houston). Only the Seattle and San Francisco offices were able to do new first-time passports, renewal of children's passports, and replacement of lost/stolen/mutilated passports, and even that was on a very limited basis.

Not a cutting-edge website

You'll soon see that TDS doesn't really give the impression of being an on-the-ball company providing passport services. The site copyright was a couple of years out of date when we visited, and the most "recent” blog post was almost a year old. The company's Facebook page didn't have any updates that were relevant to their services; it was mostly links to a partner company, and posts had quite a few typos. Finally, when we tried calling several of the office locations listed on the website, it felt like we reached the voicemail of an individual each time instead of any kind of corporate office.

Online experience isn't smooth

But, just so you'd know what to expect, we walked through the process of a first-time passport application with TDS. We had to choose an office to work with (DC, NY, SanFran, Seattle, Houston). Then, we were taken to a whole bunch of text explaining the process of going to a local passport acceptance facility (like the post office or courthouse), info about return shipping fees, and so on. It was easy to miss the button for "Start My Passport Order” when we were on a smaller screen - it wasn't even visible until we opened the browser up to a full page.

Missing some passport options

Sure enough, that's where we were told that we could only choose Seattle or San Francisco for our processing location, and with a 10-business-day timeframe. The price for the service is $499. For passport renewals, the fee dropped to $169 - but so did the turnaround time (4-8 weeks). On that one, we're not even sure why anyone would choose to go with TDS: most people we know have been easily getting their passports processed in that timeframe while submitting it through the acceptance agency (like the post office), so paying $169 doesn't seem like a bargain. And, we didn't find any options for children's passports here.

No recent feedback, older feedback is bad

The Better Business Bureau gives TDS an "A+” rating because there were no complaints filed there in the last three years. However, the two people who went to the BBB and left reviews (instead of complaints) gave TDS a single star; one said that no one from TDS had responded to her messages over the course of a month, and the other said they didn't give him a refund when he thought one was warranted. Looking everywhere else we could, the results were the same: no feedback in the current year, poor feedback in the year prior. That's really too bad, because TDS used to get thousands of 5-star reviews.

Last choice for passport services

We're not sure what's going on over at TDS, but whatever it is, it's likely not a good thing for your hopes of getting a passport. The good news is that TDS has lots of competitors who are actively processing hundreds of passport applications weekly, and we'd recommend you choose one from the top of our list instead.