How to Renew Your Passport Online

As of September 18, 2024, all eligible travelers in the United States were able to renew their passports online. The program that the US State Department uses for this process has been in its beta phase for roughly three months before the full rollout that will completely change the way that people prepare for international trips.

During the beta phase of the process, there were a limited number of openings each day. The program opened at 1 PM EST and was closed after a certain number of applications were received. As of September 18, that’s not the case any longer.

This is wonderful news for people whose passports have expired within the last 15 years. Today, find out more about how the process works and how you can get your passport renewed online today.

1. Know the Eligibility Requirements

The process of renewing your passport online is much easier than going to a designated office to get things up to date.

However, you don’t want to start the process unless you’re sure that you’re eligible. With that in mind, you should begin the process of online passport renewal by knowing who is eligible to take part in the program.

First, your passport must be undamaged, which has proven to be a sticking point for some people who want to utilize this new program. If you haven’t taken care of your passport and it’s banged up after being buried in a drawer for years, you’re not going to be able to use this program.

Also, you’ll need to be sure that your passport didn’t expire more than 15 years ago, and that you were at least 16 when you received the passport that you’re renewing.

There are other age requirements in play, too.

For instance, you have to be at least 25 years of age to use the online passport renewal option. The original passport must have been valid for at least 10 years, and your last name must be the same as it appears on the original passport. Finally, you must live in a US state or territory.

The entire premise of the online passport renewal is to make what was once a long, tedious process more streamlined and straightforward. That’s why there are so many eligibility requirements.

If your passport has been lost, stolen, or badly damaged, or you need to make changes to your personal information, you’ll have to go through the old process.

2. Gather the Right Documents

Just because you can now renew your passport online doesn’t mean that you don’t need the documentation that has always been part of the process. Fortunately, thanks to advances in technology, you can now upload that documentation from your home computer, helping expedite the entire process.

Begin by gathering your passport that you’re renewing, as well as a digital photo that will serve as your new passport photo. There are several requirements for this photograph, including the fact that it must have been taken within the last six months.

The photo must be clear, you must be showing a natural expression in the picture, and it must adhere to the size requirements outlined on the website. Photos that don’t meet these requirements will be denied at worst, and at best, they will result in delays that essentially cancel out the benefits of renewing online.

You’ll also need to provide verifiable contact information, a valid email address, and updated payment information.

3. Visit the Passport Renewal Website

You’ll start the actual process by visiting the United States State Department website. If you’ve never done anything on the website before, you’ll need to create an account, a process that should only take a few minutes.

If you have used the site in the past, your login information should still be valid, and you should not make a new account, even if you can’t remember your old login. Instead, reset your account, as having more than one active account is going to create issues during the process.

The State Department spent almost a year setting this program up with efficiency in mind, so the process is clearly outlined on the site.

Even if you don’t consider yourself to be a tech-savvy person, you should be able to navigate the process with relative ease. Simply follow the steps outlined on the site, including the process for uploading your photo, and you should receive a confirmation email shortly after you finish.

4. Pay the Renewal Fee

As has always been the case, there is a fee associated with renewing your passport, and the fact that you can do it online hasn’t done anything to make it cheaper. Depending on the documents that you’re requesting, your fees may be different.

For instance, a passport book renewal costs $130 while a passport card is $30. If you’re requesting both a passport book and a passport card, you’ll pay $160.

The process of inputting your payment information is as simple on the State Department site as it is on any of the e-commerce sites where you shop. Simply provide the information requested, which will include your credit card number, name on the card, expiration date, and the security code.

5. Track Your Status

Just because you’re using the online portal to renew your passport, you shouldn’t expect to be able to travel internationally once you’ve finished the process. However, you can use the same portal to monitor the status of your renewal application.

Based on current trends, it usually takes anywhere from eight to 11 weeks for the renewal application to go through, so if you’re planning on traveling internationally, you should start the process as soon as possible.

Make sure to check the website daily, because you can occasionally find promotions that allow you to request expedited processing, but there’s no way to know when the State Department is going to offer this service. Your application will be updated regularly, so make sure to monitor the progress.

Troubleshooting Some Common Issues

While the process is still very new, there are already some common issues that users have run into, most of which the State Department is working to manage.

The most common issues seem to be problems with the photos that applicants select, which is why it’s so important to make sure that your photo meets all of the requirements that we’ve outlined here. You can find more detailed information about the photo requirements on the State Department website.

Other issues typically revolve around mistakes on the application and issues with payment. If you run into these problems, the State Department has a phone number on the website that you can use to get the help that you need.

Renew Your Passport From Home

According to the US State Department, the entire process should take around 40 minutes to complete, which is much better than standing in line, going through the photo process, and filling out all of the necessary information at a government office.

By getting your documents in order and understanding the requirements provided by the State Department, you can get yourself back to traveling internationally from the comfort of your own home in no time. Happy travels!