If you’ve put off renewing your passport because the process is inconvenient, you may be about to catch a break. The U.S. Department of State has reopened a beta release of its online passport renewal system, which will allow a limited number of passport holders to submit renewal applications each day.
Online passport processing was initially announced in late 2021 but was paused in March 2023 for additional development. The standard steps for obtaining a passport include going in person to a passport agency or acceptance facility, though renewals can also be submitted by mail.
According to the State Department, the online renewal platform will open “midday eastern time” for a limited number of applications and will close once that threshold has been reached. There are a number of specific requirements to qualify for online renewals:
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You are 25 years of age or older.
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Your passport is or was valid for 10 years and issued between 2009 and 2015.
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You are not requesting to change your name, gender, date of birth, or place of birth.
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You are not traveling abroad for at least eight weeks.
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You live in the United States.
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You are applying for a standard tourist passport.
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You have your current/most recent passport in your possession.
How to renew your passport online
Go to the MyTravelGov page to create an account or sign in using your existing login. Then click the Renew Your Passport button to start your application. (You won’t be able to begin if the daily limit has already been reached.)
You’ll be asked to enter information about your most recent passport, as well as your upcoming travel plans, upload a digital passport photo, and pay the renewal fee using a debit or credit card. You should receive two emails—one confirming your payment is pending and one confirming it has been received.
Make sure you keep your current passport on hand—do not mail it in. You can also sign up for status update emails one week after you apply.
Note that the online application does not speed up processing time, which remains around six to eight weeks at the time of writing. If you need expedited service (or are applying for a special-issue passport such as a diplomatic document), you must use the mail-in option.
