Cancellation

Am I covered to cancel my trip if my passport doesn’t arrive in time?

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Your passport is the most important document you’ll need when planning international travel. If your passport is lost or expired, it’s important to get a replacement as soon as possible so there’s no issues on your departure date.

If your passport is delayed in the mail, or the U.S. Department of State is taking longer than usual to process new passports, you may be forced to cancel or postpone your trip.

While travel insurance covers some passport related complications, the majority of policies do not provide trip cancellation coverage to travelers that are unable to travel due to travel document processing delays or loss before a trip.

Travel Insurance Coverage for Pre-Departure Passport Delays

Lost passports and passport delays are typically not a covered reason to cancel a trip under most travel insurance plans. In other words, if you need to cancel your vacation because your passport has yet to arrive, your travel insurance company will not reimburse your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs.

For the most cancellation flexibility for international travel, we recommend policies that include the Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) insurance benefit. This add-on provides partial reimbursement for prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses if you need to cancel for a reason not already covered by Trip Cancellation. This includes lost or delayed passports.

With that said, the best travel insurance providers offer 24 Hour Emergency Assistance services to offer support in situations like this. If you have concerns about your passport not arriving in time, we recommend calling your provider directly to discuss your options.

Coverage for Stolen Passports

While most travel insurance policies don’t cover lost or delayed passports, some plans provide travel protection if your passport was stolen prior to departing for your trip.

When filing a travel insurance claim relating to a stolen passport, you may be required to provide evidence such as a police report, a passport copy, witness statements, an itinerary that includes your travel dates, and other documents that support your claim.

How Long Does it Take to Process a New Passport?

In the United States, routine passport processing can take anywhere between 8-12 weeks. Travelers can elect to pay an additional $60 to expedite the process, reducing wait times to 5-7 weeks.

With that in mind, if you need a new passport before your trip, it’s important to start the process at least five months before your scheduled departure date to account for any backlogs or processing delays, or two months if you plan on paying for an expedited process.

Tips to Speed Up the Passport Replacement Process

If your departure date is approaching and you are in need of a new passport, there are a few actions you can take to resolve the issues faster and travel with peace of mind.

  1. Book an Appointment: If you are traveling outside the USA within the next two weeks, try to schedule an appointment with one of the 26 passport agencies across the country. These offices can provide same-day passport services to American citizens and residents traveling abroad in the next 14 days.
  2. Pay for an Expedited Process: For faster service, you can pay an extra $60 for an expedited processing time. Keep in mind that this fee can not be paid retroactively, and must be paid at the time you apply for a new passport.
  3. Use Priority Shipping: When getting a new passport, you may be required to mail in documents such as a completed Form DS-11, photo ID, passport photo, and check. Sending this using overnight shipping can get the paperwork in the right hands faster. It’s also possible to pay extra for priority shipping when your new passport is complete and ready for delivery.

Emergency Circumstance: If a family member outside of the United States has died, is dying, or has a life-threatening illness or injury, you may qualify for a life-or-death emergency passport. You will need to show proof of emergency, fill out standard passport documents, and a travel itinerary with a departure date no later than three business days away.

This information can vary based on the travel insurance policy. Please review the policy certificate to verify coverage. If you have questions about a specific policy, please contact us directly at 800-240-0369. Our customer service representatives are available from 8am to 10pm ET seven days a week and are delighted to help!