US Dept. of State opening new Texas passport agency amid growing demand

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TEXAS (KXAN) — San Antonio will soon be home to a new passport agency, the U.S. Department of State announced Tuesday.

The new Central Texas facility comes as part of a multi-agency expansion via the department, with other planned agencies set to come online in Salt Lake City, Utah; Kansas City, Missouri; Orlando, Florida; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Cincinnati, Ohio.

With the six new passport agencies in development, the Department of State's passport network will grow to 35 agencies and centers along with more than 7,400 public passport acceptance facilities in the country, the release added.

Here in Texas, there are currently two passport facilities operating:

• Houston Passport Agency
  • Mickey Leland Federal Building: 1919 Smith St., 4th floor, Houston
• Dallas Passport Agency
  • 1100 Commerce St., Dallas

During fiscal year 2022-23, Department of State officials set a record in issuing more than 24 million passport books and cards. It marks a notable trend toward greater passport access in the U.S.; in 1990, Department of State officials said only 5% of Americans had a passport, compared to the 48% who now carry one today.

KXAN reached out to the Department of State for more information on the San Antonio passport agency's planned opening. We'll update this story once we receive that information.

More details on passport access and travel information are available online.