You Can Finally Renew Your Passport Online

Are you finally ready to book that fabulous trip that you’ve been daydreaming about? Maybe it’s a wine tour in Italy or a cruise around Japan. Lucky you! It’s going to be amazing, we’re sure. What isn’t going to be quite as amazing? Renewing your passport before you go. It can be a hassle to schlep to an in-person appointment or even to gather everything you need to mail in. Or, rather, it was a hassle until now. The U.S. Department of State just launched an online passport-renewal program that will make the process a whole lot easier.

However, the program has a few restrictions. So what will that mean for you and your attempt to take care of this task online? Here’s what you need to know.

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Can anyone renew their passport online?

As of right now, no. To renew your passport online:

You must be a U.S. citizen.
This cannot be your first-ever passport. To get your first passport, you have to apply and schedule an in-person appointment with the Department of State.
The passport you’re renewing cannot be more than five years past its expiration date. Passports that are set to expire within the next 12 months are also eligible.
You must be 18 years old or older.
You are not changing your name, gender, date of birth or place of birth.
You live in the United States (either state or territory), not a foreign country, and you don’t have an Army Post Office (APO) or Fleet Post Office (FPO) address.
You are applying for a regular (tourist) passport, not a special-issue (diplomatic, official or service) passport.
You can upload a digital passport photo.

As the program continues to expand, some of the restrictions above may change, though others likely won’t (such as being a U.S. citizen). If you don’t meet these requirements, you won’t be able to move forward in the application process online.

How to renew your passport online

Here’s what the renewal process will entail:

Creating an account through MyTravelGov and starting an application.
Filling out the DS-82 form online and electronically signing the paperwork.
Submitting a passport photo that is 2-by-2-inches. It should be a clear image of you with a white background and a neutral expression on your face. You can have a friend or family member take a photo with your smartphone.
Paying the passport fee.

Ta-da! You’re done.

How much does renewing a passport online cost?

It costs $130 to apply—which is the standard amount for a routine passport renewal at, say, the post office or other government office. Right now, the only form of available payment is a credit card.

How long does it take to get a passport that’s been renewed online?

The process takes six to eight weeks, just like a routine passport renewal in person or via mail. So if you’re looking for the fastest way to apply for a passport, this program unfortunately isn’t it. If you need your passport quickly, mail in your application with the extra $60 fee for expedited service, and you should get it in two to three weeks. There are also passport-renewal services you can find in your area that charge a heftier fee for an even faster renewal—between one and four days.

Can you use your current passport while waiting for the new one?

No. Similar to when you apply for a passport by mail, you’ll have to send your old passport to the U.S. Department of State, so don’t plan on traveling out of the country during the time you’re waiting for your renewed passport. The government will eventually send back the old passport to keep for your records, but the new one will arrive first.

How does renewing your passport online work in practice?

RD.com’s Deputy Editor, Anne Fritz, recently renewed her passport online. Here’s her experience: “I loved that I didn’t have to take the time to go to a drugstore or post office for a passport photo—or pay extra for one—I uploaded a headshot I had on my phone. Unfortunately, my initial photo was rejected because my smile was too big.”

After having her husband take a new photo where she had a more neutral expression, Fritz was able to go back to her saved application and update the image. This time, it was accepted and she completed the application. “I received my new passport in the mail a mere 10 days later! I couldn’t believe it.” We can’t guarantee that your passport renewal will be turned around that quickly, but it’s nice to know that the process is seamless, even in its testing phase.

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Sources:

U.S. Department of State: “Renew Online – Beta Release”
U.S. Department of State: “Renew by Mail”
CNET: “Planning to Travel Abroad? You Can Now Renew Your U.S. Passport Online”