How to renew your US passport online

Securing a US passport has never been easier. It looks like that has finally changed after three months of testing a beta version of one online US passport renewal system. Now the State Department has finally lifted all restrictions and opened the program to all eligible US citizens starting September 18. Previously, applications opened at 1:00 PM ET and closed after a certain number of people signed up each day.

Now anyone who has an expired U.S. passport issued within the last 15 years can renew it online. The Department of State 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 advantage is that you need a MyTravelGov account to register online. We explain more below.

Learn everything you need to know about the new online U.S. passport renewals, including who is eligible and how to apply. For more travel tips, check out the best days and times to get cheap airline tickets or the worst airlines for flight delays and cancellations.

How can I renew my US passport online?

Most US citizens currently renew their passport by printing and completing the form DS-82and then send that form with a new passport photo and a renewal fees in the form of a check or money order. The online passport renewal system instead 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 earlier than usual. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains its ‘routine servicefor passport renewals, both online and by mail. That means you’ll receive your new passport within six to eight weeks, regardless of how you apply. If you need your passport sooner, you’ll need to apply by mail and pay $60 more for expedited service.

Who can renew their US passport online?

The main 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 was 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.

In addition to the main eligibility requirements, the Department of State provides a list of further restrictions for online renewal:

• You can only renew regular 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 online renewal with a credit card, debit card, or ACH transfer.
• You must be able to upload a new passport photo.
• You will not be able to 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 revoked as soon as your online renewal application is accepted.

If you do not meet the eligibility requirements for renewing your passport online, you will need to renew it by post or mail. in person at a passport agency.

Here are the steps to renew your US passport online

Before you can apply for an online passport renewal, you must create a MyTravelGov account, which uses the government agencies login.gov system. If you don’t already have a login.gov account, you can use the MyTravelGov websiteclick on the blue Login button in the upper right corner and then click Create an account.

You will then need to enter an email address and your language choice: 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 an email message from login.gov, then choose a password and your preferred form of multi-factor authentication.

You must then provide personal information for the account, 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 launch the application. The Department of State estimates that the online application process will take approximately 40 minutes.

To start the 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 ACH transfer.

In the first part of the application you enter information about your current passport, your legal name and whether you want a passport booklet, passport card or both. Then you upload your digital passport photoand finally your payment details.

MyTravelGov will send you two email verifications after you submit your renewal application: the first confirms your outstanding payment and the second confirms that payment has been received. One week after you apply, you can sign up for email updates about your passport through the Department of State online passport status system. You can expect to receive your new passport in the mail within six to eight weeks.

Can I renew my US passport card online?

Passport cards are items much like U.S. driver’s licenses that can be kept in your wallet. They enable travel from the US by land or sea to Canada, Mexico or Caribbean countries. They are not valid for international air travel.

You can renew both passport books and cards online. Basically, you can renew any US passport document you currently hold. If you have an old passport booklet and an old passport card, you can renew both at the same time. If you have one or the other, you can only renew that specific document.