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The dream of many American travelers has finally come true: passport renewal is officially available online.
“You can skip the printing and mailing. Renew from the comfort of your home (couch!) completely online, 24/7,” the State Department’s Consular Affairs posted on X on Sept. 18. “It’s secure, convenient, and ready for you to use.”
Not all Americans can use this service, which had its limited beta launch in June. To renew your passport online, you must meet the following requirements:
*Be at least 25-year-old
- Live in a U.S. state or territory.
- Be applying for a regular (tourist) passport.
- Have a passport that was valid for ten years.
- You must have a passport issued between 2009 and 2015 OR over nine years before your new application date but less than 15 years.
- Have your current passport in good condition.
In addition to the requirements above, travelers must be able to upload their digital passport photo to the system and pay for it using a credit or debit card. Applicants are also advised to refrain from using the online system if they have travel plans within the following eight weeks. The application may be online, but it is not an expedited service.
The cost of renewing online is the same as via mail: $130. It’s important to note that travelers do not have to mail in their current passports when applying online.
“This will not be the last thing that we do. We want to see how this goes, and then we’ll start looking at ways to continue to make this service available to more American citizens in the coming months and years,” said Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Rena Bitter.
To apply for your passport renewal or read more details about the process, head to travel.state.gov.
Jessica is a freelance journalist on a quest to see and experience everything our gorgeous planet offers and share her experiences with her fellow travelers. Jessica has written for several world-class Travel Magazines.
