A rare event near Raleigh can help you get a passport fast. Here’s where & when
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- The U.S. State Department will hold a passport fair Aug. 12 in Franklinton, NC.
- Event serves first-time applicants only; appointments must be made online.
- Passports not issued onsite; processing takes 2–6 weeks depending on service.
If you’re in a hurry to get a passport, you’re in luck. Another special event to apply for one in person will be held in North Carolina soon.
The U.S. Department of State announced that a special passport acceptance fair will be held Tuesday, Aug. 12 in Franklinton, about 26 miles outside of Raleigh.
These events are designed for first-time passport holders to get a passport book and/or a passport card — which are both REAL ID compliant.
Where to get a passport
The upcoming passport fair just north of the state capital will be at Franklinton Elementary School Gymnasium (431 S. Hillsborough St.) from 12-4 p.m.
Do I need an appointment?
Appointments are required and can be made online at travel.state.gov.
The fairs are only for those who have never had a passport, according to the department’s website. Those who need to renew or replace one can do so online or by mail.
How to apply for a passport
First-time passport holders can use the same application to get a passport book and passport card, which can save you $35.
These materials are needed:
- A passport application form.
- Evidence of U.S. citizenship (with the original, official seal or stamp of the government office which issued it) and a photocopy.
- Physical photo ID with a photocopy on white, 8.5 inch x 11 inch standard paper, in black and white, and on one side of the paper.
- Passport photo (color photo taken in the last 6 months).
- $130 application fee for passport books, $30 for passport cards and a $35 execution fee. Application fees for children 16 and under are $100 for passport books and $15 for passport cards.
You can find the full breakdown of acceptable documents and additional materials online at travel.state.gov.
How fast can I get a passport?
Passports are not issued at the special acceptance fair. At these events, facilities offer routine and expedited service before mailing off applications to the U.S. Department of State.
According to the department’s website, the processing time routine service can take four to six weeks and between two and three for expedited service — which costs an additional $60. That does not include mailing times when sending off applications and receiving a passport.
If you need a passport sooner, you can find more information about the qualifications for urgent travel on the department’s website.
More passport events in NC
New dates for passport acceptance fairs, which are held across the country, are added each week. As of publication , the Franklinton event is the only one scheduled in North Carolina for the next two months.
Recent events were held in Stanfield (near Charlotte) in May, just ahead of the REAL ID deadline, and in Durham in February, The News & Observer previously reported.
You can find the latest list of upcoming fairs and more information about the passport application process online at travel.state.gov.