Everyday, our travelers ask us if proof of travel is really necessary in order for Swift to expedite a passport. Many travelers do not want to book a ticket unless they have a passport in hand. After all, if there is a problem getting the passport, then they have to go through the trouble of changing their flight. Other travelers are flying privately, or they are driving to Mexico or Canada, and do not have anything to prove this. Regardless of the reason, it seems to be a common problem for our travelers to have difficulty meeting this requirement. Please read on if this sounds like you, so we can help you understand and meet the “proof of travel” requirement.
If You Are Applying for a NEW, LOST, or CHILD Passport
Ideally you should have a flight itinerary showing proof of travel in 2 weeks or less. If you do not meet this requirement, call the passport acceptance agent that you plan to visit to what else they may accept. You may have to call more than 1 acceptance facility. Frequently, acceptance agents will accept one of the following:
- A copy of your airline ticket or flight itinerary from your travel agent, airline, or online booking company. A printout of the confirmation email that you are emailed after booking a flight is ideal.
- A signed letter on company letterhead detailing your business travel. Must include your next international destination, where you will depart from, expected flight number, and the date and times you plan to travel. It should state that you need a passport expedited, and be signed by a supervisor, or somebody else in your company.
Keep in mind that the acceptance agent has instructions in their manual that indicate that they should REQUIRE YOU to have proof of travel in 2 weeks or less. Many of them will look outside the box and accept one of the items listed above since they prove immediate need for travel in an alternative format, but some will not budge from requiring proof of a flight in 2 weeks or less. If you plan to provide one of the items listed above as proof of travel, call your passport acceptance agent to confirm it will be OK with them. You should also confirm their hours since the website is not always accurate. ANY of the items above will be accepted by Swift and the Passport Agency, so getting the acceptance agent to allow it is the only challenge.
If You are Applying for a Passport Renewal
If you are applying for a US Passport Renewal or Adding Pages to your Passport, proof of departure can be any of the following:
- A copy of your airline ticket or flight itinerary from your travel agent, airline, or online booking company. A printout of the confirmation email that you are emailed after booking a flight is ideal.
- A signed letter on company letterhead detailing your business travel. Must include your next international destination, where you will depart from, expected flight number, and the date and times you plan to travel. It should state that you need a passport expedited, and be signed by a supervisor, or somebody else in your company.If you cannot provide any of the items listed above, we invite you to find an alternate creative way to prove you have upcoming travel, however sticking to one of these options above is your best bet.
Hopefully this answers any questions that you have about the proof of travel requirement, and you can use your resources to produce something acceptable. Please contact us if you are unclear on what is needed to meet this requirement.
