Passport couriers must now register with the State Department

The State Department is formalizing rules for companies that hand-deliver passport applications and passports. These companies must now register with the Department and follow a standard set of procedures.

For years, anyone could start a business hand-delivering sensitive documents like passports. This change means the government will now know who these companies are and how they operate. It adds a layer of oversight to a process that handles personal identification for millions of people.