If you’ve ever needed a passport, you know how difficult it can be to get one. Now it’s at least a little less of a headache, thanks to the official debut of the online renewal system for US passports. The State Department has finally lifted all restrictions and opened the program to all eligible citizens. Previously, applications opened at 1:00 PM ET and closed after a certain number of people applied each day.
Now anyone with an expired US passport that was issued in the last 15 years can 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 catch 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 US passport renewals online, including who’s eligible and how you can apply. For more travel tips, see the best days and times to get cheap plane tickets or the worst airlines for flight delays and cancellations.
How do I renew my US passport online?
Most US citizens currently renew their passports by printing and filling out the DS-82 form, then mailing that form with a new passport photo and a renewal fee in the form of a check or money order. Instead, the online passport renewal system uses a website form and a payment system that allows credit cards, debit cards, or online ACH transfers.
However, renewing your passport online does not mean that you will receive it faster than usual. The State Department is sticking to “routine service” for passport renewals, whether online or by mail. This means you will receive your new passport within six to eight weeks, regardless of how you apply. If you need your passport sooner than that, you’ll need to apply by mail and pay $60 more for expedited service.
Who can renew their 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 US (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 further restrictions for online renewal:
- You can only renew ordinary passports online, not “special issue” passports (such as diplomatic, official or service 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 the 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.
This last restriction is important because your existing passport, if still valid, will be canceled immediately 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 you can apply for a passport renewal online, you’ll need to create a MyTravelGov account, which uses the government’s login.gov system. If you do not already have a login.gov account, you can visit the MyTravelGov website, click on the blue Sign in button in the upper right corner, then click Create an account.
You will then need to enter an email address and your chosen language: login.gov is available in English, Spanish and French. After you submit your email address, you’ll need to verify it by clicking on a link in an email message from login.gov, after which you’ll choose a password and your preferred form of multi-factor authentication.
You will then need to provide personal account information, at least your first and last name. Once done, you should be able to access the online passport renewal page. Hit the blue Start 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 your online passport renewal application, you will need the following items:
- Your existing US passport.
- A digital passport photo.
- Payment — credit card, debit card, or your bank’s routing and account numbers for the 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. You will then upload your digital passport photo and 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 payment has been received. One week after you apply, you can sign up for email updates about your passport using the State Department’s 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 objects that look a lot like US driver’s licenses and can be carried in your wallet. They allow travel from the US by land or sea to Canada, Mexico or Caribbean countries. They are not valid for any international air travel.
You can renew passport books and cards online. Basically, you can renew any US passport document 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 only renew that specific document.