How many US passports are issued each year?
The US issued 27.3 million passports during fiscal year (FY) 2025, 11.6% more than the previous year. The total includes passport books and passport cards.
27.3M
11.6%
Passport issuances decreased by 43.4% from 2019 to 2020 but have since surpassed pre-pandemic annual totals. The 27.3 million passports the State Department issued in FY 2025 are the most in one year since data collection began in FY 1996, a 393.0% increase.
The US issued 393% more passports in FY 2025 than in FY 1996.
Number of US passports issued by fiscal year, FY 1996–2025
The State Department has issued passports to Americans traveling abroad since 1789. In 2008, it introduced passport cards, a smaller and more affordable alternative that allows American citizens to travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and some Caribbean countries by land or sea. A passport card can’t be used for air travel over international borders.
Get weekly insights
Subscribe for data-driven insights. No spin, just the facts.
How many valid US passports are in circulation?
As of FY 2025, there were 183.2 million valid US passports in circulation, up 7.8% from FY 2024. Since data collection began in FY 1989, the number of US passports in circulation has increased more than 25-fold.
US citizens may possess more than one valid passport. For example, a passport book and a passport card count as two valid passports.
They may also possess more than one valid passport book if they meet certain requirements. Reasons for obtaining a second passport book may include:
- A destination country may deny entry because the passport contains stamps from certain countries.
- Frequent international travelers may need to regularly apply for visas from multiple countries.
- A foreign embassy may not return a passport submitted with a visa application in time for an upcoming trip.
US adult passports are valid for 10 years, while passports issued to children younger than 16 are valid for five years. When an individual holds multiple passport books, the second book is valid for four years or less.
Valid passports in circulation in the US have increased 45.5% in the last decade.
Valid US passports in circulation, FY 1989–2025
How many passport applications are received each year?
In FY 2025, the State Department received 23.3 million US passport applications, a 14.1% increase from the previous year. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, applications fell to their lowest level since 2005, but they have generally increased since then.
Americans use the same application for both passport books and passport cards, and many apply for both at the same time. As a result, the number of passports issued exceeds the number of applications received.
The federal government's fiscal year begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. Depending on when an application is received, it may not be approved until the following fiscal year.
Passport applications have increased 14.1% since FY 2024.
Number of US passport applications received by fiscal year, FY 1986–2025
Keep exploring
- How many US passports are in circulation? - There were 160.7 million valid US passports in circulation in 2023, up 36.8% from 2013.
- What is a BBBCV visa?
- What is a BBBCC visa?
- What types of work visas and green cards does the US issue? - More than a quarter of authorized immigrants coming to the US for work come on visas for temporary agricultural workers.
Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
