One of the most annoying forms of American bureaucracy – renewing your US passport – just got a whole lot easier, and millions of people have already taken advantage of it.
The US State Department has now opened its own online renewal system for passports of all citizens who meet the conditions and more than one million Americans they took the opportunity. The turnaround has also become faster: The routine processing time for passports is now just four to six weeks.
Anyone with an expired US passport that was issued within the last 15 years can now renew it online. The State Department estimates that the online application will take about 40 minutes, but if you have all your documents and payment information together, you can probably complete it in half that time. The big deal is that you'll need a MyTravelGov account to apply online — we'll explain more below.
Learn everything you need to know about the new online US passport renewal system, including who's eligible and how you can apply. For more travel tips, check the best days and times to get cheap plane tickets or on the worst airlines for flight delays and cancellations.
How do I renew my US passport online?
Most US citizens currently renewed their passports by printing and filling out a form DS-82then sending that form with a a new passport photo and a renewal fee in the form of a check or money order. The online passport renewal system instead uses a website form and payment system that allows credit cards, debit cards or online ACH transfers.
However, renewing your passport online does not mean you will receive it earlier than usual. The State Department is sticking to its “routine service” for passport renewals, whether online or by mail. That means you'll get your new passport in six to eight weeks no matter how you apply. If you need your passport sooner than that, you'll need to apply by mail. and paid $60 more for expedited service.
Who can renew a US passport online?
The most important qualifying factors for renewing your passport online are:
- You are at least 25 years old.
- You live in the United States (state or territory).
- Your current passport is or has been valid for 10 years.
- Your current passport must be at least 9 years old and issued within the last 15 years (2009-2015).
- You still have your existing passport and it is not mutilated or damaged.
Along with the main eligibility requirements, the State Department provides a list of additional restrictions for online renewal:
- You can only renew regular passports online, not “special issue” passports (such as diplomatic, service or official passports).
- You cannot change your name, gender, place of birth or date of birth from your previous passport.
- You must be able to pay for renewal online using a credit card, debit card or ACH transfer.
- You must be able to upload a new passport photo.
- You cannot travel internationally for eight weeks after submitting your online renewal application.
The latter restriction is important because your existing passport, if still valid, will be immediately canceled once your online renewal application is accepted.
If you do not meet the eligibility requirements to renew your passport online, you will need to renew it by mail or in person at a passport agency.
Here are the steps to renew your US passport online
Before applying for passport renewal online, you'll need to create a MyTravelGov account, which uses the government's login.gov system. If you don't already have a login.gov account, you can visit it MyTravelGov websiteclick on the blue one Sign up button in the upper right corner, then click Create an account.
You will then need to enter an email address and your choice of language: login.gov is available in English, Spanish and French. After you submit your email address, you'll need to verify it by clicking a link in the email from login.gov, then choose a password and your preferred form of multifactor authentication.
You will then need to provide personal account information, at least your first and last name. Once done, you should have access to online passport renewal site. Hit the blue Get started button at the bottom of the page to start the application. The State Department estimates that the online application process will take about 40 minutes.
To start an online passport renewal application, you will need the following items:
- Your existing US passport.
- Digital passport photo.
- Payment — credit card, debit card, or your bank's routing and account numbers for ACH transfer.
In the first part of the application, you will enter information about your current passport, your legal name and whether you want a passport book, passport card or both. Next you will set yours digital passport photoand then finally your payment information.
MyTravelGov will send you two email confirmations after you submit your renewal application: the first will confirm your pending payment and the second will confirm that the payment has been received. One week after you apply, you can sign up for email updates about your passport using the State Department online passport status system. You should expect to receive your new passport in the mail within six to eight weeks.
The type of passport – book or card – you renew depends on what you currently hold.
Can I renew my US Passport card online?
Passport cards are items that look like US driver's licenses and can be kept in your wallet. They allow travel from the US by land or sea to Canada, Mexico or Caribbean countries. They are not valid for international air travel.
You can also renew passports and cards online. Basically, you can renew any US passport document that you currently hold. If you have an old passport book and passport card, you can renew both at the same time. If you have one or the other, you can just renew that particular document.