U.S. citizens seeking to obtain or renew a passport during the government shutdown can remain calm, as passport processing is still expected to proceed as usual.

The government shut down Wednesday after lawmakers failed to pass a funding bill, but that should not significantly impact passport operations.

The State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs/Passport Services, tasked with passport issuance, is considered an essential service provider and is funded through passport fees. This ensures that all passport services should remain operational amidst the shutdown.

The State Department’s contingency plans for the shutdown state, “consular operations domestically and abroad will remain 100% operational as long as there are sufficient fees to support operations.”

Nonetheless, the shutdown might affect processing times, so travelers should allow ample time for processing before any planned trips. You can view current processing times here.

Will USPS passport appointments be affected by shutdown?

Passport appointments with the U.S. Postal Service will remain unaffected by the shutdown since the agency is independently financed by the sale of its products.

The Postal Service is vital in the passport application process, handling application acceptance at designated facilities, verifying their accuracy, and forwarding documents to the State Department.