Introduced in Season 17, the Express Pass, also called as the Pase Directo in the Latin American version and as the Fripass in the Norwegian version, allows a team to skip any task, of their choosing without penalty, the only exception being the Fast Forward, and immediately receive the next clue. The pass can be used up until the leg that it expires. The pass may be awarded to the team who arrives at the Pit Stop first on a certain leg (usually the first leg) of the race, given by another team who were awarded two Express Passes, or by winning it in a separate, optional task.
If a U-Turned team uses an Express Pass to skip a Detour, that team must still complete the other side of the Detour. Additionally, a team that is U-Turned may use an Express Pass to skip the other side of the Detour.
Starting from Season 22, the award for placing first in the first leg was two Express Passes (one for the team to use for themselves and one to give away before the fourth leg). This concept of the Express was used until Season 24, as it returned to only one Express Pass rewarded in Season 25.
Additionally, in Season 25, the Express Pass was rewarded and can be received as part of an optional searching task on the second leg.
Jill & Thomas win the Express Pass on Season 17.
Express Pass Twists
Double Express Pass
Starting from Season 22, the first place team in the first leg was awarded two Express Passes. One is for them to use while the other has to be given to another team before the end of a designated leg (fourth leg for season 22, fifth leg for subsequent seasons). The Double Express Pass was continued until Season 24.
Latin America season 5, Australia season 3, the first four Canada seasons and The Amazing Race 1 (China) were the only international versions to give the Double Express Pass.
Hand-Off Express Pass
The Amazing Race 27 introduced a twist with a single Express Pass. Once used, the Express Pass users would have to relinquish it to another team to be used on the next leg.
Three Express Passes
In the fifth Canadian season, three separate Express Passes were up for grabs for any team to get. It's possible that one team could get multiple Express Passes, but that team must give their extra pass(es) to another team (or two teams) before the end of the third leg.
The Amazing Race Canada 7 had three Express Passes as well, but the first leg winners won the usual Double Express Pass while the second leg winners won a single Express Pass.
Hybrid Express/Salvage Pass
The Amazing Race Vietnam 2019 introduced an Express Pass that had an additional ability to save another team, similar to a Salvage Pass.
Express Pass Winners
The Amazing Race (US)
The Amazing Race Australia
| Season | Awarded | Owner | Used On | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Episode | Leg | via | Episode | Leg | Task | |||
| The Amazing Race Australia 1 | "Nothing's Smooth Sailing with Us" | 1 | Winning Leg |  Sam & Renae |
"We've Got Pain, but We've Not Lost Any Weight" | 3 | 
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| The Amazing Race Australia 2 | "We Only Picked Good Looking Ones" | 2 | Winning Leg |  Sticky & Sam |
"How Do You Fold Liquid?" | 7 | 
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| The Amazing Race: Australia v New Zealand | "I Gotta Have Two Legs to Run the Race!" | 1 | Winning Leg |  John & Murray |
"Like Four Seasons in a Day" | 2 |
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| "Proper Preparation Prevents Piss-Poor Performance" | 3 | Second Express Pass from John & Murray |  Carla & Hereni |
"We Have a Lot of Experience with Poo" | 4 |
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The Amazing Race Canada
| Season | Awarded | Owner | Used On | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Episode | Leg | via | Episode | Leg | Task | |||
| The Amazing Race Canada 1 | "Where in the World Is Ogopogo?" | 1 | Winning Leg |  Kristen & Darren |
Eliminated while in Possession in "Grab a 'Nug" | |||
| "Grab a 'Nug" | 4 | Second Express Pass from Kristen & Darren |  Vanessa & Celina |
"Grab a 'Nug" | 4 |
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| |
| The Amazing Race Canada 2 | "What's It Take to Get a Cup of Tea?" | 1 | Winning Leg |  Natalie & Meaghan |
"Snakes and Liars" | 3 |
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| "Who Designs These Torture Tests?" | 5 | Second Express Pass from Natalie & Meaghan |  Pierre & Michel |
"She's the Pierogi Poobah" | 6 |
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| The Amazing Race Canada 3 | "We're Going to Dance!" | 2 | Optional Task |  Hamilton & Michaelia |
"We're Going to Dance!" | 2 |
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| "They're Harshing Our Mellow" | 4 | Second Express Pass from Hamilton & Michaelia |  Brent & Sean |
"I Dream About Eating Sandwiches" | 7 | 
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| The Amazing Race Canada 4 | "Deal Guys? Deal! Deal!" | 2 | Optional Task |  Steph & Kristen |
Not Used; Expired in "I Could Be Prime Minister" |
| ||
| "Shine Your Light" | 4 | Second Express Pass from Steph & Kristen |  Frankie & Amy |
"Am I Actually Operating the Plane?" | 7 |
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| The Amazing Race Canada 5 | "You've Got to Leave My Hose Alone Dude" | 2 | Found at Roadblock Site |  Kenneth & Ryan |
"It's Like Ducks in the Forest" | 3 |
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| Second Express Pass from Kenneth & Ryan |  Karen & Bert |
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| "It's Like Ducks in the Forest" | 3 | Third Express Pass from Kenneth & Ryan |  Megan & Courtney |
Eliminated while in Possession in "It's Like Ducks in the Forest" |
| |||
| The Amazing Race Canada: Heroes Edition | "Fiddler's Fart" | 2 | Found in Route Marker task |  Todd & Anna |
"Sounds Like a Wild Boar" | 3 |
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 Nancy & Mellisa |
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 Leanne & Mar |
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| The Amazing Race Canada 7 | "Canada Get More Maps" | 1 | Winning Leg |  Dave & Irina |
"I Love Geologists" | 4 |
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| "We'll Let the Peasants Fight for Last Place" | 3 | Second Express Pass from Dave & Irina |  Anthony & James |
| ||||
| "Our Competition's Not That Smart" | 2 | Winning Leg |  Aarthy & Thinesh |
Not Used; Expired in "Balls, Balls, Balls" | ||||
The Amazing Race China
| Season4 | Awarded | Owner | Used On | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Episode | Leg | via | Episode | Leg | Task | |||
| The Amazing Race 1 (China) | Episode 1 | 1 | Winning Leg |  Jin Dachuan & Liu Chang |
Episode 3 | 3 | 
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| Episode 3 | 3 | Second Express Pass from Jin Dachuan & Liu Chang |  Zhang Tielin & Yueliang |
Episode 3 | 3 |
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| The Amazing Race 2 (China) | Episode 1 | 1 | Winning Leg |  Yang Qianhua & Ding Zigao |
Episode 4 | 4 |
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| Episode 4 | 4 | Second Express Pass from Yang Qianhua & Ding Zigao |  Zeng Zhiwei & Zeng Baoyi |
Episode 4 | 4 |
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| The Amazing Race China 3 | Episode 1 | 1 | Winning Leg |  Jin Dachuan & Liu Chang |
Episode 4 | 4 |
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| Episode 3 | 3 | Second Express Pass from Jin Dachuan & Liu Chang |  Jin Xing & Heinz |
Episode 3 | 3 |
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| The Amazing Race China 4 | Episode 1 | 1 | Found in Route Marker task |  Fan Bingbing & Xie Yilin |
Episode 2 | 2 |
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| Episode 4 | 4 | Second Express Pass from Fan Bingbing & Xie Yilin |  Zheng Yuanchang & Wang Likun |
Episode 4 | 4 | 
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The Amazing Race: China Rush
| Season | Awarded | Owner | Used On | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Episode | Leg | via | Episode | Leg | Task | |||
| The Amazing Race: China Rush 3 | Episode 1 | 1 | Winning Leg |  Liu Weiwei & Lei Sheng |
Episode 7 | 7 |
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The Amazing Race (Latin America)
| Season | Awarded | Owner | Used On | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Episode | Leg | via | Episode | Leg | Task | |||
| The Amazing Race 3 (Latin America) | Episode 1 | 1 | Winning Leg |  Felipe & Alejandro |
Episode 7 | 7 |
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| The Amazing Race 4 (Latin America) | Episode 1 | 1 | Winning Leg |  Renata & Ana Paula |
Episode 8 | 8 |
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| The Amazing Race 5 (Latin America) | Episode 1 | 1 | Winning Leg |  Evelyn & Jorge |
Episode 3 | 3 |
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| Episode 4 | 4 | Winning Leg |  Astrid & Aleja |
Episode 5 | 5 |
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| The Amazing Race: Ecuador | Episode 1 | 1 | Winning Leg |  Stefanía & Felipe |
Episode 6 | 6 |
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| Episode 3 | 3 | Second Express Pass from Stefanía & Felipe |  Juan & Cecilia |
Episode 5 | 5 |
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The Amazing Race Norge
| Season | Awarded | Owner | Used On | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Episode | Leg | via | Episode | Leg | Task | |||
| The Amazing Race Norge 1 | Episode 3 | 3 | Winning Leg |  Cathrine & Michelle |
Episode 4 | 4 |
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The Amazing Race Philippines
| Season | Awarded | Owner | Used On | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Episode | Leg | via | Episode | Leg | Task | |||
| The Amazing Race Philippines 1 | Unknown | 3 | Winning Leg |  Marc & Kat |
Unknown | 5 |
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| The Amazing Race Philippines 2 | Unknown | 1 | Winning Leg |  Vince & Ed |
Unknown | 5 |
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The Amazing Race Vietnam
| Season | Awarded | Owner | Used On | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Episode | Leg | via | Episode | Leg | Task | |||
| The Amazing Race Vietnam 2012 | Episode 1 | 1 | Winning Leg |  Thanh Thủy & Minh Thoa |
Episode 3 | 3 |
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| The Amazing Race Vietnam 2013 | Episode 1 | 1 | Winning Leg |  Linh Chi & Phúc Vinh |
Episode 11 | 11 |
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| The Amazing Race Vietnam 2014 | Episode 1 | 1 | Winning Leg |  Sơn Ngọc Minh & Mint |
Episode 5 | 5 |
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| The Amazing Race Vietnam 2015 | Episode 1 | 1 | Winning Leg |  Ngọc Anh & Nhật Anh |
Episode 5 | 5 |
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| The Amazing Race Vietnam 2016 | Episode 1 | 1 | Winning Leg |  Lincoln & Tiến Đạt |
Not Used; Expired in Episode 9 | |||
| The Amazing Race Vietnam 2019 | Episode 1 | 1 | Winning Leg |  ST Sơn Thạch & Bình An |
Episode 5 | 5 | Used to save Minh Triệu & Kỳ Duyên |
|
Trivia
- Dave & Connor were the first team to use a Express Pass and win the leg in the U.S. Version.
- Ernie & Cindy were the first team to win the race after winning the Express Pass.
- Marc & Kat were the first team to win both the Express Pass and the Salvage Pass.
References
| The Amazing Race Format |
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Challenges: Clues · Clue Box · Double Battle · Express Pass · Salvage Pass · Save |
