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

Last Updated 2 minutes 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 creating it a everlasting program in 2023.

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

Here’s what you must find out about renewing your U.S. passport on-line:

Why Renew Your Passport Online?

Previously, the one solution to renew your passport was in-person or by mail. Renewing on-line saves a number of time and is much less problem.

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 obtained your passport utility.

Passport Processing Time — Source: U.S. Department of State

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’ll be able to 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.

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The price is identical whether or not you might be 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 simplest choice.

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:

Female Traveler With Nails Painted Red Clutching A U.S. Passport

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

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

Man holding a passport with a suitcase in the background

How To Renew Your Passport Online

If you meet the entire standards above, you’ll be able to renew your passport on-line. It’s a easy course of that takes lower than 15 minutes.

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

Steps to Renew Passport — Source: 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 seem in your account.

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

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

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

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

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