How to Cancel Your Passport Appointment

How to cancel your passport appointment

You can cancel a passport appointment through the same system where you booked it. If you scheduled through the State Department's online appointment system, log back in with your confirmation number and cancel directly — the slot opens up for someone else within hours. If you booked by phone through the National Passport Information Center, call them back at 1-877-487-2778 to cancel. Walk-in appointments at passport acceptance facilities cannot be cancelled in advance because they do not require booking.

The time to cancel matters. If you cancel more than 24 hours before your appointment, you free up the slot immediately and avoid any fees. If you cancel within 24 hours, some passport agencies charge a cancellation fee, though this varies by location. If you simply do not show up, you lose your appointment fee and may have to wait longer to reschedule.

Key Takeaways

• Log into the State Department's appointment system with your confirmation number to cancel online, or call 1-877-487-2778 to cancel a phone-booked appointment.
• Cancelling more than 24 hours in advance means you keep your fee and free up the slot for others.
• Cancelling within 24 hours of your appointment may result in a fee, depending on your passport agency location.
• If you need a new appointment after cancelling, you can rebook through the same system immediately.

Cancelling through the State Department website

Go to the State Department's passport appointment portal at passports.state.gov. Enter your confirmation number (a 10-digit code sent to you when you booked) and your last name. The system will show your scheduled appointment date, time, and location.

Click the option to cancel. The system will ask you to confirm the cancellation and may ask why you are cancelling — this is optional information. Once you confirm, you will see a cancellation confirmation number on screen. Write it down or take a screenshot. The appointment slot becomes available to other people within a few hours.

Cancelling by phone

Call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778. Have your confirmation number ready. The wait time is often 15 to 45 minutes, depending on the time of day and day of the week. Early morning calls (before 10 a.m. Eastern time) tend to have shorter waits.

Tell the representative you want to cancel your appointment. They will verify your identity using your confirmation number and last name, then process the cancellation. Ask them to provide a cancellation confirmation number and note the date and time you called. If you are calling within 24 hours of your appointment, ask whether a cancellation fee applies at your location.

What happens to your fee

The fee you paid to book the appointment is non-refundable in most cases, but the timing of your cancellation matters. If you cancel more than 24 hours before your appointment, you can reschedule at no additional cost — the system treats it as a rebooking rather than a new appointment. If you cancel within 24 hours, some passport agencies charge a rescheduling or cancellation fee of $35 to $50, though this is not universal.

The safest approach is to check your confirmation email or the passport agency's website for your specific location to see what their cancellation policy states. If you are unsure, call 1-877-487-2778 and ask before you cancel.

Rescheduling after you cancel

Once your cancellation is processed, you can book a new appointment immediately through the same portal or by phone. You do not have to wait for a confirmation email or any other notification — the system updates within minutes. If you cancelled more than 24 hours in advance, your original fee covers the new appointment. If you cancelled within 24 hours and a fee was charged, you will need to pay it when you rebook.

When you rebook, you may see different available dates and times than before. Passport appointment availability changes constantly as slots open and close. If the new dates do not work for you, you can cancel again and try booking at a different time of day or on a different day of the week.

If you miss your appointment without cancelling

If you do not show up and do not cancel in advance, you lose your appointment fee. You will need to book a new appointment and pay the full fee again. Some passport agencies flag no-shows in their system, which may affect how quickly you can rebook, though this is not consistent across all locations.

If you missed your appointment by accident, contact the passport agency directly to ask whether they can reinstate your original slot or waive the rebooking fee. Some agencies will do this once if you have a legitimate reason, but there is no may provide. It is faster to simply rebook and pay the fee than to wait for a response to a waiver request.

Cancelling a walk-in appointment

Walk-in appointments at passport acceptance facilities (post offices, libraries, and some government offices) cannot be cancelled because they do not require advance booking. You simply show up during the facility's posted hours. If you no longer need your passport appointment, you do not need to do anything — just do not go.

If you booked a timed slot at a passport agency (not a walk-in facility), follow the online or phone cancellation process described above. The difference matters because passport agencies require appointments, while acceptance facilities do not.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel my appointment less than 24 hours before it is scheduled?

Yes, but you may be charged a fee. Call 1-877-487-2778 immediately to cancel. The representative can tell you whether your specific passport agency charges a cancellation fee for last-minute cancellations. Some locations do, some do not.

What if I lost my confirmation number?

Check your email for the confirmation message sent when you booked. If you cannot find it, call 1-877-487-2778 with your name and date of birth, and the representative can look up your appointment. They can then process the cancellation without the confirmation number.

Do I get my money back if I cancel?

The appointment fee itself is not refunded, but if you cancel more than 24 hours in advance, you can reschedule at no additional cost. If you cancel within 24 hours, some agencies charge a rescheduling fee on top of your original fee.

Can I cancel and rebook on the same day?

Yes. Cancel through the portal or by phone, then immediately rebook a different time or date. The system updates within minutes, so you can often find a new slot the same day if availability exists in your area.

What if the passport agency website is down?

Call 1-877-487-2778 to cancel by phone. The phone line operates even when the website is temporarily unavailable. Have your confirmation number ready.