How To Renew Your U.S. Passport Online In Under 15 Minutes

Share The Article

Last Updated 24 hours in the past

After the launch of a profitable pilot program final fall, many Americans at the moment are capable of renew their passport on-line in 15 minutes or much less.

The U.S. Department of State started trialing the online renewal system final September with the purpose of constructing it a everlasting program in 2023.

In November 2022, the net renewal system opened as much as most of the people, and as of January 2023, it’s nonetheless out there.

Here’s what you could learn about renewing your U.S. passport on-line:

Why Renew Your Passport Online?

Previously, the one technique to renew your passport was in-person or by mail. Renewing on-line saves numerous time and is much less trouble.

Last yr, passport processing instances stretched to 11 weeks or more resulting from a backlog. This doesn't embrace mailing time and the estimated processing time solely started as soon as the company acquired your passport utility.

This yr, the U.S. Department of State has shortened the processing time for passport renewals, partially because of the brand new on-line system.

Right now, you possibly can count on to attend 6 to 9 weeks for routine processing and 3 to five weeks for expedited processing.

Renewing your passport prices $130 for routine processing and a further $60 for expedited processing.

Top 5 Travel Insurance Plans For 2023 Starting At $10 Per Week

The price is identical whether or not you're renewing your passport on-line, by mail, or in particular person. Since it’s the identical worth and because it eliminates mailing time, renewing your passport on-line is by far the best possibility.

Who Is Eligible?

Not everyone seems to be eligible to resume their passport on-line. However, many Americans will be capable of, offered they meet the next standards, which is offered by the U.S. Department of State:

1. You are over 25, and your final passport had a ten yr validity.
2. Your final passport was issued lower than 15 however over 9 years from the date you will submit your utility. Your passport is allowed to be expired. 
3. You should not altering your gender, identify, date or place of origin.
4. You aren’t touring in another country for at the least six weeks from the date you'll flip in your utility. 
5. You are making use of for the standard passport as a vacationer solely. Special passports like diplomatic passports on-line.
6. You dwell within the U.S. (territories depend as effectively).
7. You bodily have your passport, and it's in good situation and undamaged, and it isn’t misplaced or stolen.
8. You will pay in your passport with ACH out of your financial institution or with a credit score or debit card.
9. You are capable of add a JPG model of your passport picture.
10. You know that as quickly as you submit your utility, you can not use your present passport for touring in another country as a result of it is going to be instantly invalidated.

Note that you're solely capable of renew your passport on-line. If you've got by no means had a passport, you can not apply for one on-line.

How To Renew Your Passport Online

If you meet all the standards above, you possibly can renew your passport on-line. It’s a easy course of that takes lower than 15 minutes.

All you’ll must do is follow the steps on this page from the U.S. Department of State.

You might want to register for a MyTravelGov account, then wait as much as 24 hours for the “Renew Passport” button to look in your account.

At that time, you'll fill out a easy utility. You’ll want your previous passport readily available so you possibly can present your passport quantity, problem date, and expiration date.

You’ll additionally want a digital passport picture to connect. This simply must be a photograph of your self with dimensions of at the least 600×600 pixels towards a plain white background. You can see the full photo requirements here.

After that, you’ll simply must pay the $130 processing price (add $60 for expedited processing) and wait in your new passport to reach!

All in all, the method takes not more than 15 minutes.

Traveler Alert: Don’t Forget Travel Insurance For Your Next Trip!

↓ Join Our Community ↓

The Travel Off Path Community FB group has all the most recent reopening information, conversations, and Q&A’s taking place every day! 

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS

Enter your e mail handle to subscribe to Travel Off Path’s newest breaking journey information, straight to your inbox

This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com