Des Moines Main Post Office
USPS Passport Acceptance1165 2nd Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50314
Mon–Fri 9am–5pm, Sat 9am–12pm
Downtown Des Moines
Appointment Required
Appointment required. Confirm photo services when booking.
Emergency & Expedited Passport Services in Des Moines, IA
Passport expired before your trip? Need an emergency passport fast? We help Des Moines and central Iowa travelers get their expedited passports as quickly as 24 hours. A+ BBB rated. No office visit required.
Start My Expedited Passport4.9 / 5
A+ BBB Rating
20+ Years
Registered State Dept. Courier
Processing Options
How Fast Can You Get a Passport in Des Moines?
Three options for Des Moines and central Iowa travelers. Choose based on your travel timeline and urgency.
Emergency
24–72 Hours
For Des Moines travelers with life-or-death emergencies or travel within 72 hours. Our fastest courier submission with reserved agency access.
Get Emergency ServiceMost Popular
Expedited
3–9 Business Days
The best balance of speed and value for Des Moines travelers. Perfect for trips 2–3 weeks out. Courier submission with full tracking.
Start ExpeditedStandard
6–13 Weeks
Through the post office or acceptance clerk in Des Moines. Budget-friendly but slow. Best if your trip is at least 4 months away.
Find LocationsOur Services
Expedited Passport Services in Des Moines
Every passport service you need — available remotely for Des Moines and central Iowa travelers. No office visit required.
Emergency Passport
24–72 hour processing for life-or-death emergencies and urgent travel from Des Moines.
Get Emergency HelpPassport Renewal
Fast renewal for adult passports issued within the last 15 years. Start online from Des Moines.
Renew My PassportNew Passport
First-time application guidance with step-by-step support for Des Moines first-time applicants.
Apply for New PassportLost or Stolen
Replace a lost or stolen passport quickly. DS-64 form guidance included for Des Moines travelers.
Replace Lost PassportChild Passport
Passport services for minors under 16. Parental consent guidance for Des Moines families.
Child Passport HelpName Change
Update your passport after marriage, divorce, or legal name change. Fast processing from Des Moines.
Update NameService Area
Expedited Passport Services for Des Moines & Central Iowa
Whether you are in Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, or anywhere in Polk, Dallas, or Warren counties, Fast Passport Center makes emergency and expedited passport processing simple.
Fast Passport Center — Serving Des Moines & Central Iowa
Remote expedited passport services for Polk, Dallas, and Warren counties
Serving all of Polk, Dallas, Warren, and Jasper counties
Courier pickup available throughout central Iowa
After signing up online, choose what works best for you: courier pickup from your home or office, ship with our prepaid label from any UPS/FedEx location in Des Moines, or schedule a drop-off.
Start My Expedited PassportStart 100% Online
No office visit required to begin. Complete your expedited passport order from home or work in Des Moines in minutes.
Ship Your Documents
Use overnight shipping to send your documents directly to us — we handle the emergency passport submission.
Expert Document Review
Every expedited passport application is reviewed by our team before submission to reduce errors and delays.
Reserved Agency Access
We hold reserved submission slots at the regional passport agency — no public appointment needed for your emergency passport.
Cities & Communities We Serve Near Des Moines
Des Moines
50301–50340West Des Moines
50265–50266Ankeny
50021–50023Urbandale
50322–50323Johnston
50131Clive
50325Waukee
50263Altoona
50009Pleasant Hill
50327Norwalk
50211Indianola
50125Grimes
50111Bondurant
50035Polk City
50226Carlisle
50047Runnells
50237Anywhere in central Iowa — start online, ship overnight from Des Moines, and we handle the rest. No need to drive to the Chicago Passport Agency.
Nearby Cities With Expedited Passport Service
Why Travelers Choose Fast Passport Center
Real Reviews
What Des Moines Travelers Say
Iowa travelers trust Fast Passport Center for their most urgent passport needs.
"I found out my passport was expired three weeks before a work trip to Germany. Fast Passport Center got me sorted in 5 days. I shipped from the Des Moines UPS Store and had my passport back before I knew it."
Jennifer K.
West Des Moines, IA
Expedited Renewal
5 days
"My daughter needed her first passport for a school trip to France. I had no idea where to start. Fast Passport Center walked us through the acceptance clerk visit at the Johnston post office and handled everything after that."
Marcus T.
Ankeny, IA
New Passport
7 days
"Emergency situation — my passport was stolen two days before my flight to Mexico City. I called in a panic and they had a plan for me within an hour. Got my emergency passport the next day."
Sarah L.
Des Moines, IA
Emergency Replacement
24 hours
"Name change after marriage and I needed to update my passport for our honeymoon. The process was straightforward and the team was incredibly responsive. Highly recommend for any Des Moines area traveler."
David R.
Urbandale, IA
Name Change
6 days
Passport Acceptance Clerks
Passport Acceptance Facilities Near Des Moines, IA
First-time applicants must apply in person at a passport acceptance clerk, and all locations require an appointment. This is the self-service option, typically chosen by those on a tighter budget with at least 1–2+ months before travel.
If you want to use a registered U.S. Department of State courier to receive your passport in as little as 3 days, you must sign up with Fast Passport Center before going to the clerk. Once you apply at the clerk, your documents are sent through the standard route, and we cannot intervene afterward.
Merle Hay Station Post Office
USPS Passport Acceptance4343 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, IA 50310
Mon–Fri 9am–5pm
Northwest Des Moines
Appointment Required
Northwest Des Moines option. Call ahead to confirm passport acceptance hours.
Urbandale Post Office
USPS Passport Acceptance7900 Hickman Road, Urbandale, IA 50322
Mon–Fri 9am–5pm
Urbandale (~6 mi west of downtown)
Appointment Required
West Des Moines metro option. Confirm appointment and photo availability.
Ankeny Post Office
USPS Passport Acceptance1201 N Ankeny Boulevard, Ankeny, IA 50023
Mon–Fri 9am–5pm
Ankeny (~10 mi north of downtown)
Appointment Required
Northern suburb option. Call to confirm passport services and appointment requirements.
Polk County Clerk of Court
County Clerk Passport Acceptance500 Mulberry Street, Des Moines, IA 50309
Mon–Fri 8am–4:30pm
Downtown Des Moines
Appointment Required
Polk County acceptance option. Confirm appointments and accepted payments before visiting.
West Des Moines Post Office
USPS Passport Acceptance1725 60th Street, West Des Moines, IA 50266
Mon–Fri 9am–5pm
West Des Moines (~8 mi west of downtown)
Appointment Required
West Des Moines option. Appointment required. Confirm photo services when booking.
Last chance — sign up now, before your clerk visit
If you need your expedited passport fast, sign up with Fast Passport Center before you walk into that clerk appointment. Once your documents go through the standard route, there is no pulling them back.
Compare Options
Des Moines Passport Options Compared
See how Fast Passport Center compares to the standard post office route for Des Moines travelers.
Post Office / Clerk
6–13 weeks processing
Appointment required
No tracking or updates
Self-guided process
No expedited guarantee
Best for budget-conscious travelers with 4+ months before travel.
Recommended
Fast Passport Center
3–9 days expedited
24–72 hours emergency
Real-time tracking & updates
Expert document review
Personalized checklist
Live human support
Registered State Dept. courier
Best for travelers with trips in 2 weeks to 3 months.
Regional Agency
1–2 days (if approved)
Appointment required (hard to get)
Must drive to Chicago (5–6 hrs)
Life-or-death only
No guidance or review
Best for true emergencies with travel within 72 hours and proof of life-or-death.
Avoid Delays
Common Mistakes Des Moines Travelers Make
These are the top errors we see from Iowa applicants that cause passport delays and rejections.
01
Waiting Too Long to Start
Many Des Moines travelers assume 6–8 weeks is enough time. During peak seasons (summer, holidays), routine processing can stretch to 13+ weeks. Start your expedited application at least 4–6 weeks before travel.
02
Bad Passport Photos
The #1 reason for rejection. Photos with shadows, glasses, wrong background color, or incorrect size. Use a professional photo service in Des Moines and double-check against official requirements.
03
Visiting the Clerk Before Signing Up
If you need expedited service, you MUST sign up with Fast Passport Center BEFORE visiting the acceptance clerk. Once your documents enter the standard system, they cannot be retrieved for courier submission.
04
Wrong Name on Documents
Your passport application name must match your ID exactly. If you recently changed your name through marriage or divorce, bring legal documentation. Mismatched names cause instant delays.
05
Not Checking Passport Validity
Many countries require 6 months of validity beyond your travel date. Des Moines travelers flying to Europe, Asia, or South America should check requirements early — renewal is easier than emergency replacement.
06
Forgetting Parental Consent for Minors
Both parents typically must appear or provide notarized consent for children under 16. Des Moines families planning international travel should start child passport applications early to avoid last-minute issues.
The Process
How Fast Passport Center Works for Des Moines
Six simple steps from your home in Des Moines to your passport in hand.
1
Sign Up Online
Complete your order in minutes from anywhere in Des Moines. No office visit required to begin.
2
Get Your Checklist
We send you a personalized document checklist based on your passport type and situation.
3
Get Your Photo
Visit any CVS, Walgreens, or UPS Store in Des Moines for compliant passport photos.
4
Ship Overnight
Send your documents via overnight courier using our prepaid label or drop-off instructions.
5
We Review & Submit
Our team reviews everything for accuracy, then submits through our reserved courier access.
6
Receive Your Passport
Your passport arrives via secure delivery. Track the entire process from Des Moines.
Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions About Expedited Passports
Everything Des Moines and central Iowa travelers ask us most often about emergency and expedited passport services.
Through Fast Passport Center, expedited passport processing can be as fast as 24 hours depending on your eligibility and the processing option you select. Standard government processing through a post office or acceptance clerk in Des Moines can take 6–13 weeks.
Still have questions about expedited passports? Our team is here to help.
Call 877-253-0084Resources
Helpful Resources for Des Moines Travelers
Quick links and local info for Des Moines passport applicants.
Passport Photos in Des Moines
CVS, Walgreens, and UPS Store locations are available throughout the Des Moines metro. Most offer walk-in passport photo service.
Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
5800 Fleur Dr, Des Moines, IA 50321. Iowa's busiest airport with connections to international hubs including Chicago, Denver, and Minneapolis.
Visit DSM AirportIowa Vital Records
Need a certified birth certificate for your first passport? Order through the Iowa Department of Public Health Bureau of Health Statistics.
Order Birth CertificateOvernight Shipping from Des Moines
FedEx, UPS, and USPS Priority Mail Express locations are available throughout the Des Moines metro for overnight document shipping.
U.S. State Department Passport Info
Official government source for passport forms, fees, processing times, and travel advisories.
State Dept. Passport PortalContact Fast Passport Center
Talk to a real human about your Des Moines passport needs. Available Monday through Friday, 9am–6pm.
877-253-0084Service Network
Emergency & Expedited Passport Services Near You
Fast Passport Center provides emergency passport and expedited passport processing in Iowa. We also serve travelers in nearby states including Minnesota, Illinois and Missouri. Click a state below for local acceptance facilities, processing times, and fast passport options.
Ready to Get Your Expedited Passport in Des Moines?
Do not let an expired passport cancel your trip. Start your emergency or expedited passport application today and travel with confidence.
A+ BBB Rating · Registered State Department Courier · 20+ Years Experience