New year, new passport. Here’s how to renew your US passport online

One of the most annoying forms of American bureaucracy — renewing a U.S. 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 doors Online renewal system For passports for all eligible citizens, and More than a million Americans They took advantage. The turnaround has also become faster: routine processing time for passports is now reduced Only four to six weeks.

Anyone with an expired US passport issued within the past 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 likely complete it in half that time. The 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 online U.S. passport renewal system, including who is eligible and how you can apply. For more travel tips, Find out the best days and times to get cheap flight tickets or The worst airlines for delaying and canceling flights.

How do I renew my US passport online?

Most US citizens currently Renew their passports By printing and filling out the form DS-82Then mail this form with A A copy of the new passport And a Renewal fees 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 ACH transfers online.

Renewing your passport online does not mean you will get it sooner than usual. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is committed to “Routine serviceTo renew your passport, whether online or by mail. This means that 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 will need to apply By mail and pay extra $60 for it Fast service.

Who can renew their US passport online?

The most important qualifying factors to renew 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 current passport, and it is not mutilated or damaged.

Besides the main eligibility requirements, the Department of State provides a list of additional 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 your renewal online using a credit card, debit card, or ACH transfer.
• You should be able to upload a new passport photo.
• You cannot travel internationally for eight weeks after submitting your renewal application online.

This last restriction is important because your current 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 by mail or Personally at the passport agency.

Here are the steps to renew your US passport online

Before you can apply for a passport renewal online, you will need to create a MyTravelGov account, which uses government accounts login.gov system. If you don’t already have a login.gov account, you can visit the website MyTravelGov websiteClick on the blue color Login in the upper-right corner, then click Create an account.

You will then need to enter an email address and choose the language of your choice: logo.gov is available in English, Spanish, and French. After submitting your email address, you’ll need to verify it by clicking the link in an email from login.gov, and then you’ll choose a password and preferred form of multi-factor authentication.

You will then need to provide personal information for the account, at least your first and last name. Once completed, you should be able to access Electronic passport renewal page. Hit blue It starts The button at the bottom of the page to start the application. The Department of State estimates that the online application process will take approximately 40 minutes.

To start your online passport renewal application, you will need the following items:

• Your current 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 or not you want a passport book. Passport card Or both. After that you will upload your file Digital passport photoand then finally your payment information.

MyTravelGov will send you two verification emails after you submit your renewal request: the first will confirm your pending payment, and the second will confirm that payment has been received. One week after submitting your application, you can sign up for email updates about your passport using the Department of State Online passport status system. You should 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 things that look a lot like US driver’s licenses and can be kept in your wallet. They allow travel from the United States by land or sea to Canada, Mexico, or Caribbean countries. It is not valid for any international air travel.

You can renew your passport books and cards online. Essentially, you can renew any US passport document you currently hold. If you have an old passport book and a passport card, you can renew them at the same time. If you have one or the other, you can only renew that specific document.