How to Get a Same-Day Passport in New Orleans

To get a same-day passport in New Orleans, you need an appointment at the New Orleans Passport Center and proof of confirmed international travel within the next 14 calendar days. Walk-ins are not accepted, and the center handles both first-time applications and renewals on this expedited basis. You can also qualify if you need a foreign visa stamped in your passport and are traveling within 28 calendar days.¹

Who Qualifies

Passport agencies serve two groups. The first is travelers with confirmed international travel within 14 calendar days, shown with a printed flight itinerary or ticket confirmation.² The second is travelers who need a foreign visa in their passport and have travel within 28 calendar days.¹

Life-or-Death Emergencies

A separate track exists if an immediate family member outside the United States is critically ill, injured, or has died. Immediate family here means a parent, legal guardian, child, spouse, sibling, or grandparent.³ You will need documentation: a death certificate, a mortuary statement, or a letter on hospital letterhead signed by a doctor. Call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 to arrange an emergency appointment, since these cases follow a different scheduling path.⁴

Book the Appointment First

Nothing happens without an appointment. Book online through the State Department’s appointment portal or by calling 1-877-487-2778.⁴ Slots fill fast, especially in peak travel season, so try to book the moment your travel is confirmed. Scheduling itself is free, and the State Department warns against booking duplicate appointments.²

Where to Go

The New Orleans Passport Center is at One Canal Place, 365 Canal Street, Suite 1300, New Orleans, LA 70130. It is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and closed on federal holidays. Take the elevator to the 13th floor and check in at the information window with your appointment confirmation number.²

Arrive about 15 minutes early for security screening. Weapons and sharp objects are prohibited. Food and drinks are not allowed inside, though water in a sealable bottle is fine.²

What to Bring

Come with everything ready. A missing document can waste the appointment, and rebooking on a short timeline is not guaranteed.

Printed appointment confirmation with your confirmation number.
Proof of U.S. citizenship: an original certified birth certificate, a previous undamaged U.S. passport, or a Certificate of Naturalization.
Valid photo ID such as a driver’s license or state-issued ID.
Photocopies of both the citizenship document and the photo ID.
Printed proof of international travel within 14 calendar days, such as a flight itinerary, airline ticket, or hotel confirmation.
One passport photo, 2×2 inches, in color, taken within the last six months against a white or off-white background, with a neutral expression, both eyes open, and mouth closed. Remove eyeglasses unless you have a signed doctor’s note explaining a medical need.⁵
A completed but unsigned application form. Use Form DS-11 if you are applying for the first time, if your previous passport was issued before you turned 16, if your last passport was lost or stolen, or if your most recent passport expired more than five years ago. Sign only when the agent tells you to.⁶

If You’re Renewing

If you already have an unexpired or recently expired passport and qualify to renew, use Form DS-82 instead. Renewals filed this way skip the $35 execution fee. The appointment still has to fall within 14 calendar days of your international travel.⁷

Fees and Payment

You pay everything in one transaction at the agency. Current fees as of February 2026:⁸

Adult passport book (first-time or renewal): $130
Adult passport card (first-time or renewal): $30
Adult book and card together: $160
Child passport book (under 16): $100
Child passport card (under 16): $15
Execution fee: $35, only for DS-11 applications
Expedite fee: $60 per application, required for agency processing

The agency accepts credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover), debit cards (Visa or Mastercard), and contactless payments like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. It does not take checks, money orders, or cash, which surprises applicants used to acceptance facilities like post offices. All fees are non-refundable, even if a passport is not issued.⁸ If the passport ends up being mailed rather than picked up, you can add 1-3 day delivery for $22.05.

Applying for a Child Under 16

Both parents or legal guardians must appear in person with the child. This is a strict requirement at passport agencies. If one parent cannot attend but both share custody, the absent parent must sign a notarized Statement of Consent (Form DS-3053) and include a photocopy of the ID shown to the notary. The notarized form must be submitted within three months of signing. If the absent parent is overseas, the DS-3053 may need to be notarized at a U.S. embassy or consulate.⁹

Children’s applications always use Form DS-11, and the $35 execution fee applies to each child’s application.

Same-Day Pickup vs. Mailing

After security and check-in, a passport specialist will call you to a window, review every document, verify your identity, and have you sign the form in front of them. Bring originals, not just copies. The specialist will tell you whether your passport is ready for same-day pickup or needs to be mailed. If your flight leaves the next morning, say so at check-in so staff can prioritize the case. For travelers with confirmed appointments at a passport agency, same-day pickup is the usual outcome in straightforward applications.

1
U.S. Department of State. Make an Appointment at a Passport Agency or Center
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Travel.State.Gov. Apply at the New Orleans Passport Center
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U.S. Department of State. Get a Passport if you Have a Life-or-Death Emergency
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U.S. Department of State. Contact U.S. Passports
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U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passport Photos
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U.S. Department of State. Application for a U.S. Passport (DS-11)
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U.S. Department of State. Renew Your Passport by Mail
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U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
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U.S. Department of State. Apply for a Child’s Passport Under 16