Renewing your passport just got a whole lot easier: The U.S. State Department has just launched an online passport renewal system.
After months of testing, this new option allows millions of Americans to skip the hassle of paperwork and long post office lines and renew their passports from the comfort of their couches.
How to renew your passport online
Instead of printing forms, writing checks, and mailing everything off, you can now go to travel.state.gov and renew your passport online.
Eligible adults—those with a 10-year passport that’s expired within the past five years or is set to expire soon—can complete the entire process online. No in-person visit is required. All you need is a digital photo, your payment, and a few minutes to answer eligibility questions.
“This is a game-changer,” says Rena Bitter, Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs.
“It’s all about making the process easier and more convenient, so people can take care of their passport renewals anytime, anywhere.”
Requirements to renew your passport online
This new online passport renewal option is currently available for:
- Adults renewing a standard 10-year passport.
- Anyone whose passport has expired in the last five years or is about to expire within a year.
- U.S. residents with a valid mailing address.
Unfortunately, first-time passport applicants and those with damaged or lost passports will still need to use the traditional methods.
The online passport renewal system isn’t the first time the U.S. has made it easier for travelers to skip some of the bureaucratic headaches. If you’ve ever applied for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, you know those applications are already available online, too.
TSA PreCheck speeds up the security process for domestic flights and allows you to pre-enroll online before a quick in-person appointment to collect biometric data.
For Global Entry, you can apply online, pay the fee (increasing to $120 for five years starting in October 2024), and schedule an interview at an enrollment center near you. These programs have already been a huge hit, saving travelers precious time at airports, and now the State Department is following suit with passport renewals.
The State Department expects around five million Americans to renew their passports annually through this new system. Not only does it make the process easier, but it’s also part of a broader effort to streamline travel-related services for Americans.
Even more good news: Delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and staffing shortages, passport processing times are finally improving.
In fact, processing times have decreased by about a third, and the State Department estimates that renewing online will take six to eight weeks—the same as by mail, but without all the extra hassle.