Global passport comparison
Passport processing times by country
Written and checked by the QueueCheck editorial team. Last checked July 23, 2026. How we verify information
This page compares how long a standard passport takes in 16 countries, using the figure each government publishes for its own citizens. China commits to 7 working days and the United States to 4 to 6 weeks, and between those sit most of the world's big issuers. Two countries here work differently enough that a number would mislead: India's total depends on police verification, and Mexico issues the passport at the appointment itself.
Countries are grouped into bands rather than ranked 1 to 16, because the published figures measure different things: some exclude mailing, some depend on the channel, and some are service expectations rather than averages. Each row states what its figure covers and the date QueueCheck checked the source.
The bands at a glance
Under 2 weeks
2 to 4 weeks
4 to 8 weeks
A different model
Figures labeled reported come from consistent public reporting where the government publishes no standing number; every other figure is the official published standard.
The same countries, by region
Africa
Americas
Asia
Europe
Oceania
Every figure, with what it actually measures
Under 2 weeks
China
7 working daysIssuance of an ordinary passport by the National Immigration Administration; the Passport Law allows up to 15 days.
Official published figure · source: National Immigration Administration policy pages · checked 2026-07-23
Vietnam
8 working daysProcessing at the Immigration Office inside Vietnam.
Official published figure · source: Vietnam Immigration Department guidance · checked 2026-07-23
Kenya
10 working daysFrom biometric capture, per eCitizen; express service at Nyayo House runs 2 to 3 working days, and embassy applications take 4 to 8 weeks.
Official published figure · source: eCitizen and Directorate of Immigration Services · checked 2026-07-23
Ireland
10 working daysSimple adult online renewals, per the Passport Service turnaround page; complex renewals run about 15 working days and first-time applications take longer.
Official published figure · source: Department of Foreign Affairs turnaround times · checked 2026-07-23
2 to 4 weeks
Nepal
7 to 14 working daysAt the Department of Passports headquarters in Kathmandu; district offices reportedly take 10 to 30 days, and a paid fast track runs 1 to 3 days.
Reported; no standing official figure · source: Department of Passports, Nepal · checked 2026-07-23
Pakistan
10 to 15 working daysNormal processing per DGIP delivery guidance; urgent runs about 5 working days and fast track about 2 in selected cities.
Official published figure · source: Directorate General of Immigration and Passports · checked 2026-07-23
Philippines
12 working daysRegular processing at DFA offices; expedited runs 6 working days in Metro Manila and 7 elsewhere.
Official published figure · source: Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippines · checked 2026-07-23
United Kingdom
Within 3 weeksStandard online applications, per HM Passport Office guidance; paper routes and first passports can take longer.
Official published figure · source: GOV.UK passport guidance · checked 2026-07-23 · full QueueCheck tracker
Bangladesh
15 to 21 working daysRegular e-passport delivery inside Bangladesh, per DIP; express runs 7 to 10 working days and super express about 2 at selected offices.
Official published figure · source: Department of Immigration and Passports, Bangladesh · checked 2026-07-23
Canada
10 or 20 business days10 business days at passport offices, 20 by mail or online, per the published service standards; the channel you can use decides your timeline.
Official published figure · source: Government of Canada passport processing times · checked 2026-07-23 · full QueueCheck tracker
New Zealand
Allow 4 weeksThe official planning figure; the passports office reports most complete applications currently finish within about 10 working days, with a 3 working day urgent service.
Official published figure · source: New Zealand Passports timeframes · checked 2026-07-23
4 to 8 weeks
United States
4 to 6 weeksRoutine processing per the State Department, excluding mailing time on both ends; expedited runs 2 to 3 weeks for an extra fee.
Official published figure · source: US Department of State processing times · checked 2026-07-23 · full QueueCheck tracker
Australia
Up to 6 weeksRoutine service per the Australian Passport Office, with a paid priority service for urgent travel.
Official published figure · source: Australian Passport Office · checked 2026-07-23 · full QueueCheck tracker
Nigeria
About 4 to 6 weeksStandard processing inside Nigeria after biometric capture, per current reporting; renewals at missions abroad reportedly run 6 to 12 weeks. The Immigration Service does not publish one standing figure.
Reported; no standing official figure · source: Nigeria Immigration Service · checked 2026-07-23
A different model
India
No single national figureIssuance is commonly reported at 7 to 14 working days, but police verification, where required, adds a district-dependent wait that averages around two weeks and varies widely. Tatkal service compresses issuance to a few days.
Reported; no standing official figure · source: Passport Seva, Ministry of External Affairs · checked 2026-07-23
Mexico
Same day at your appointmentSRE offices inside Mexico generally issue the passport at the appointment itself when documents are in order, so the real wait is for an appointment slot. Consulates abroad reportedly take 4 to 6 weeks.
Reported; no standing official figure · source: Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores · checked 2026-07-23
How this comparison works
- Each figure is the issuing government's published standard for its own citizens applying domestically, recorded as stated. Where no standing figure exists, the row says so and carries the consistently reported range instead, labeled as reported.
- Bands compare like with like at the resolution the sources support. A country near a band boundary, such as Canada's channel-dependent 10 or 20 business days, is placed by its most common route.
- Expedited, urgent, and premium routes exist in most countries here and are noted in the row where the government publishes them.
- Rows age visibly: each shows its own checked date, and the page is reviewed monthly. A figure checked more than five weeks ago should be confirmed on the linked official page before you plan around it.
Passport comparison questions, answered
Which country issues passports fastest?
Among the countries compared here, China (7 working days), Vietnam (8 working days), Kenya (10 working days from biometrics), and Ireland (10 working days for simple online renewals) publish the shortest standard figures. Mexico issues at the appointment itself inside the country, which is faster still once you have a slot; getting the slot is the wait.
Why group countries into bands instead of ranking 1 to 16?
Because the official figures measure different things. The US figure excludes mailing time, Canada's depends on the channel, the UK publishes a service expectation rather than an average, and India's total depends on police verification. Sorting those into a day-by-day ranking would manufacture precision the sources do not contain. Bands preserve the comparison honestly.
Are these the times I should personally expect?
They are each government's published standard for a straightforward application, checked on the date shown. First passports, name changes, document problems, and peak season all push individual cases past the standard, and expedited routes run faster for a fee in most countries here.
Why is my country not listed?
This comparison launched with the countries QueueCheck tracks in depth plus the highest-demand passport-issuing countries among our readers. Rows are added as figures are verified against official sources; a country with no published official figure gets described that way rather than given an invented number.
How current is this page?
Every row shows the date QueueCheck last checked its source, and the page is reviewed monthly. Official figures change, especially around peak seasons, so treat the linked government page as the final word before you plan around a number.