You can now renew a passport without having to leave the house. Here’s how.
The State Department recently announced that American citizens can now renew their passport online.
To previously renew your passport, people would have to visit their local Passport Acceptance Offices or mail in an application. The improved process now eliminates printing applications, photos, or sending checks by mail.
“By offering this online alternative to the traditional paper application process, the agency is embracing digital transformation to offer the most efficient and convenient passport renewal experience possible,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
This applies to adults whose passports expired in the last five years or will expire in the coming year. This does not apply to children, first time passport holders, non-American citizens or expedited applications.
The State Department also says that passports are now received much quicker than the advertised six to eight weeks. Here is what you need to know to take advantage of the new system.
How to know if you qualify to renew your passport online
You can start by visiting the U.S. Travel State Gov website. You can either choose to renew your passport by mail or “renew online.” Choose the renew online option for passports.
You have to meet 10 requirements to be able to renew your passport online, according to the Department of State:
The passport you are renewing is or was valid for 10 years, and you are age 25 or older.
The passport you are renewing was issued between 2009 and 2015 (or over 9 years but less than 15 years from the date you plan to submit your application).
You are not changing your name, gender, date of birth, or place of birth.
You are not traveling for at least eight weeks from the date you will submit your application (Renewing online offers the same time stamp of six to eight weeks for processing).
You are applying for a regular (tourist) passport. You cannot renew a special issuance (diplomatic, official, service) passport online.
You live in the United States (either state or territory). You do not qualify to renew online if you live in a foreign country or have an Army Post Office (APO) or Fleet Post Office (FPO) address.
You have your passport with you, and it is not damaged or mutilated, and you have not reported it as lost or stolen. Keep your most recent passport and do not mail it to us.
You can pay for your passport using a credit or debit card.
You can upload a digital passport photo.
You are aware that we will cancel the passport you are renewing after you submit your application. You cannot use it for international travel.
How to renew your passport online
If you meet all the requirements to renew your passport, then you need to create a MyTravelGov account. Visit the MyTravelGov homepage and click sign in. If you have an account, log in. If not, a new account must be created.
Once you have an account, you can start an application.
There should be a “Renew your Passport” button on the MyTravelGov homepage to begin. A nice bonus is once you create an account you can save the progress on your application for up to 30 days.
You will need to enter all information about your current passport. Ensure that all fields online are spelled out the same as they are in your little blue booklet.
Renewing online can make the process faster but it is only for routine renewals. If you are traveling in eight weeks or less, you will not be able to renew your passport. This is to ensure that you get your booklet in time. If you need an expedited passport this has to be done in person or by mail.
You will need to upload a digital photo of yourself. It is suggested to use a JPEG file to upload. Photos must be:
Within the last six months.
Plenty of room behind head and shoulders.
At least 600x600 pexels.
In color. Never black and white.
High quality.
Finally, you will submit your application and pay for the application fees with a debit or credit card. A standard application fee for a U.S. adult passport is $130.
Once you submit your application, you cannot use your old passport. The Department of State will cancel it and ask you to keep it. Do not try to travel with it or mail it back.