Is Your Passport Expiring? Skip the Panic and Renew It From Your Bed

The days of wasting an entire afternoon in a government office just to obtain a travel document are finally over. For years, the process of renewing a passport was a jumble of paper forms, physical checkbooks, and finding a specific type of printed photo. It was a tedious analog hurdle that seemed decades behind the way we handle the rest of our lives.

Who can renew online? If your current passport was issued within the last 15 years, you’re probably safe. The government claims the process takes about 40 minutes, but if you have your paperwork ready, you’ll probably finish it faster than it takes to order a pizza. All you have to do is create a MyTravelGov account and upload a digital photo. Additionally, keep your eyes peeled for the digital passport feature that Apple is reportedly bringing to the iPhone soon.

If you’re not a fan of paperwork and physical queues, this is the win you’ve been waiting for. We’ll show you exactly how to navigate the online system so you can get back to planning your next vacation instead of dreading the paperwork.

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How do I renew my US passport online?

Most U.S. citizens renew their passports by printing and completing Form DS-82, then mailing that form with a new photo ID and a renewal fee in the form of a check or money order. Instead, the online passport renewal system uses a web form and payment system that allows credit cards, debit cards, or ACH transfers online.

Renewing your passport online does not mean you will receive it any sooner than usual. The State Department is sticking to its “routine service” for passport renewals, whether done online or by mail. This means you will receive your new passport in four to six weeks, regardless of how you apply.

If you need your passport sooner, you must request it by mail and pay an additional $60 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 was valid for 10 years.
• Your current passport must be at least 9 years old and issued within the last 15 years.
• 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 other restrictions for online renewal:

• You can only renew regular passports online, not “special issue” passports (diplomatic, official or service).
• You cannot change your name, gender, place of birth or date of birth from your old passport.
• You must be able to pay for the renewal online using a credit card, debit card, or ACH transfer.
• You should be able to upload a new ID photo.
• You cannot travel internationally for 8 weeks after submitting your renewal application online.

This last restriction is important because your existing passport, if still valid, will be immediately canceled as soon as 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.

What are the steps to renew a US passport online?

Before you can apply for a passport renewal online, you will need to create a MyTravelGov account, which uses the government’s login.gov system. If you don’t have a login.gov account yet, you can visit MyTravelGov, click the blue button Log in button in the upper right corner, then click Create an account.

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

You must then provide personal information for the account, at least your first and last name. Once you’re done, you should be able to access the online passport renewal page. Click on the blue To start 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 applying for passport renewal online, you need the following:

• Your existing US passport.
• A digital ID photo.
• Payment in the form of credit card, debit card or your bank 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 upload your digital ID photo, then finally your payment information.

MyTravelGov will send you two email verifications after you submit your renewal request. The first will confirm your pending payment and the second will confirm that the payment has been received. One week after applying, you can sign up to receive email updates about your passport using the Department of State’s online passport status system. You should expect to receive your new passport in the mail within six to eight weeks.

Can I also renew my US passport card online?

Passport cards are wallet-sized documents that resemble U.S. driver’s licenses. They allow travel from the United States by land or sea to Canada, Mexico or Caribbean countries. However, they are not valid for international air travel.

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