You’re rushing to make a last-minute work trip or a family event abroad you can’t miss. You grab your passport and realise that it expired a few months ago. (Or that it’s going to expire soon and won’t meet the 6-month validity rule.)
You go online. You see that the government’s routine passport renewal service takes 4-6 weeks. Even their expedited options take 2-3 weeks.
What can you do? Do you take time off of work, travel thousands of miles to a Passport Agency and apply for your passport there?
Thankfully, there’s another option: passport expeditors. (Licensed couriers who can hand-deliver your application to the passport agency offices to get them back in days, not weeks.)
However, the trick is finding an expeditor you trust with your application.
When you look up your options, you’ll see page after page of companies promising to “rush” your passport application.
Some are legitimate. Some aren’t.
Pick the wrong one, and instead of saving time, you could end up losing weeks. Or worse, handing over your private information to the wrong place.
At HelloGov, we help thousands of people every month get their passports in time for their trips by helping them complete their applications and helping them choose an expeditor they can trust from our marketplace of vetted expeditors.
In this guide, we’ll share the checks you should make before handing over your application and how HelloGov makes the process simpler by connecting you directly with trusted, State-Department–registered couriers.
What is a passport expeditor?
A passport expeditor is a private courier company registered with the U.S. Department of State. Their role is to hand-deliver your application to a passport agency and pick up the finished passport once it’s ready. That direct hand-off cuts out the delays of mailing your application in and waiting for your passport to come back by post.
But it’s important to know what expeditors can’t do:
They don’t process passports themselves. Only passport agencies can do that.
They can’t work faster than the agency’s timelines.
They can’t cut out the trip to an acceptance agency for first-time applicants and children (however, they can then carry your sealed packet to an agency for processing to speed it up.)
Legitimate expeditors are a real solution when you need a passport fast. The key is making sure the one you choose is actually registered, transparent, and trustworthy.
1. Start with the State Department’s registered list
The very first check is also the simplest: is the company on the U.S. State Department’s list of registered passport courier services? If it isn’t, don’t use them.
The State Department keeps an up-to-date directory of companies that are officially registered to submit applications at passport agencies (travel.state.gov).
If a company doesn’t appear there, it means they don’t have the legal authority to hand-deliver applications. Any promises they make beyond that point are meaningless.
When you check the list, make sure the company’s exact legal name matches what’s on the website you’re considering.
Scam sites sometimes use lookalike names or branding designed to trick travellers into thinking they’re working with a legitimate service. It’s also worth checking where the courier is registered. Many are authorised at specific regional agencies, not nationwide and you need a courier with a registration should match your needs.
As a final step, you can search the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for the company to see if there are patterns of complaints. No company is perfect, but repeated complaints about lost documents, hidden fees, or failure to deliver are definitely a warning sign.
2. Know the rules a legitimate expeditor will never break
A real expeditor works within the State Department’s system. If a company is promising anything outside those rules, that’s your signal to walk away.
Here are three things a legitimate expeditor will never do:
Sell you a government appointment. Passport agencies don’t let third parties book appointments for a fee. If you see “appointment slots” for sale, it’s a scam (FTC).
Guarantee a faster turnaround than the agency itself. Couriers can hand-deliver your application, but they can’t make it move through processing faster than someone who went directly to a passport agency. (travel.state.gov).
Skip the acceptance facility for first-time applicants. If you’re applying on a DS-11 form (first-time, children, damaged passports, or renewals over 15 years old), you must appear in person at an acceptance facility. No legitimate company can do that step for you (travel.state.gov).
If a website suggests otherwise—claims of “same-day passports guaranteed” or “priority appointments for a fee”, you’re not looking at a real expeditor. You’re looking at a scam.
3. Demand transparent timelines and fees
When you’re under pressure to get a passport fast, vague promises are the last thing you need. A trustworthy expeditor should show you exactly how long each service takes and what it costs, before you hand over any details.
Start with the timelines. The State Department’s own guidance says routine service takes 4–6 weeks, and expedited service by mail takes 2–3 weeks plus mailing time (travel.state.gov).
Expeditors can shorten that by hand-delivering your application, but their speed tiers should still align with agency limits. For example:
Smart: 3–4 weeks
Rush: 6–10 business days
Express: 4–6 business days
Emergency: 3–4 business days
If you see a company advertising “24-hour passports” without context, that’s a red flag. In reality, same-day processing is only possible for travellers with imminent travel who can prove it, and even then it’s subject to agency availability.
And costs should be just as clear. Legitimate expeditors charge a service fee separately from the mandatory government fees (currently $130 for a standard adult passport book plus $60 if you’re requesting expedited service).
Beware of surprise “form fees” or add-ons at checkout. Transparency is a good sign you’re dealing with a professional, not a scam.
4. Protect your identity with secure handling
Applying for a passport means handing over some of your most sensitive information. Your Social Security number, birth certificate, driver’s licence, even proof of citizenship. A trustworthy expeditor treats that information with the same care you would.
Before you share anything, check for the basics:
Secure website connection (HTTPS) — no padlock in the browser bar, no deal.
Clear privacy policy — explains how your data is stored, who sees it, and how long it’s kept.
Document handling process — legitimate expeditors should explain how your physical documents travel to the agency and back, and how they’re returned to you.
If a site can’t clearly explain how it protects your data, it isn’t one you should trust with your identity.
A reliable expeditor also gives you ways to check progress, so you’re never left wondering where your passport is. Real-time tracking and proactive updates are more than conveniences, they’re proof your application is in safe hands.
5. Make sure they screen your case correctly
Not every passport application follows the same path.
A legitimate expeditor should make it clear from the start whether you qualify for a mail-in renewal (DS-82) or need to apply in person with a DS-11 form. Getting this wrong is one of the fastest ways to waste time.
To renew by mail using a DS-82, you must meet all of these conditions (travel.state.gov):
Your passport is undamaged and can be submitted with your application
It was issued when you were 16 or older
It was issued in the last 15 years
It’s in your current name (or you can show legal proof of a name change)
If any of those don’t apply, you need a DS-11. That means showing up in person at an acceptance facility, bringing proof of citizenship and ID, and having the application sealed before a courier can hand-deliver it to an agency (travel.state.gov).
An expeditor who doesn’t explain this distinction—or worse, says they can “do it all online” for first-time applicants—isn’t playing by the rules.
A good one will route you to the right form, help with acceptance-agent scheduling if needed, and make sure your application packet ends up at the correct agency the first time.
6. Expect real support and updates
When you’re cutting it close to a departure date, radio silence is the last thing you want. A trustworthy expeditor won’t just take your documents and disappear, they should give you tools to follow your application every step of the way.
At a minimum, you should get:
Real-time tracking via a dashboard or portal
Proactive updates by email or text when your status changes
Clear contact options if you need help or something goes wrong
This matters because passport processing isn’t instant.
Even with expedited service, it can take time for your application to show as “In Process” on the State Department’s system (travel.state.gov). And if your expeditor isn’t communicating during those gaps, you’re left in the dark.
The best expeditors act as partners. They don’t just track your passport, they chase the agency for updates, flag issues early, and make sure you don’t miss key deadlines. If a company can’t promise that level of support, it’s worth finding one that does.
How HelloGov takes the risk out of expediting your passport
The hardest part of using an expeditor is knowing which ones you can actually trust. HelloGov solves that by connecting you directly with State-Department–registered couriers through our marketplace. That means no guesswork, no shady websites, and no risk of choosing a provider who isn’t authorised to handle your application.
From there, we make the process simple:
Guided application in minutes: Start online and finish in about 10 minutes. Our system routes you to the right form (DS-82 vs. DS-11) and asks only the questions that apply to your case.
Two layers of checks: Your documents and photos are scanned with AI to catch the most common mistakes, then reviewed by our expert team before submission. Issues like bad photos, missing signatures, or wrong forms are caught before you ship, not by the Passport Agency.
Smarter logistics: For DS-11 applicants, we help schedule the earliest available acceptance-agent appointment, generate pre-filled shipping labels, and make sure your packet goes to the correct agency.
Real-time tracking and support: You can follow your application on your dashboard, get proactive email and text updates, and contact our team anytime. Behind the scenes, we chase the government daily to keep your case moving.
Paired with couriers you can trust: at HelloGov, we run enhanced background checks and check the reputation of every courier that appears on our platform. That means that when you choose a courier through us, you know your application is in safe hands.
With HelloGov, you don’t have to wonder whether an expeditor is legitimate or worry about small errors derailing your trip. You book and track a trusted courier through our marketplace, and we’ll make sure your application gets approved the first time.
Need your passport fast? Start your application with HelloGov today and get matched with a trusted, State-Department–registered courier. We’ll guide you through every step and make sure your passport is ready in time for your trip.
