U.S. Passport Renewal Becomes Easy! Get your Passport or License Renewed Online!

There was a time when Americans had to stand in lines to get their passports or driver's licences renewed. 

Now the process has been streamlined with the introduction of online renewal services, making it more convenient and efficient for citizens to update their important documents without the hassle of waiting in long queues. 

The State Department announced on Wednesday that all American citizens can now renew their passports or other travel documents online, completely implementing a system that eliminates the traditional method of printing a form and mailing a cheque.

How can you Renew Your Passport Online?

Now renewing your travel documents, such as passports or driving licences, becomes easy. Just follow the following steps.

Confirm you meet the Requirements

Eligibility:

• Your passport must have been valid for 10 years, and you should be at least 25 years old.
• It should have been issued between 2009 and 2015, or it must be within 9 to 15 years of the date you plan to submit your application.
• You cannot change your name, gender, date of birth, or place of birth.

Travel Plans:

• You should not have any travel plans for at least 8 weeks from the date you submit your application.

Application Type:

• Only routine service will be offered, which will take the same time as renewing by mail.
• You are applying for a regular (tourist) passport; special issuance passports (diplomatic, official, service) cannot be renewed online.

Residency:

• You must reside in the United States (including states and territories). 
• If you live abroad or have an APO/FPO address, you do not qualify for online renewal.
• You must have your current passport with you, which should not be damaged or reported as lost or stolen. Do not send your passport in the mail.

Payment and Photo Submission:

• Payment can be made using a credit or debit card.
• You can upload a digital photo for your passport application.

Cancellation Notice:

• Be aware that once you submit your application, the passport you are renewing will be cancelled and cannot be used for international travel.

If you do not meet these criteria for online renewal, you may still renew by mail or in person at a passport agency or centre.

Create your Account 

• To access your MyTravelGov account, click the Sign In button on the homepage. 
• This action will redirect you to Login.gov, where you can either log in as an existing user or set up a new account.

Start your Application

To begin your passport renewal application, follow these steps:

• Create your account on the passport website.
• Once logged in, locate the "Renew Your Passport" button on the home page and click on it to start your application.
• You have the flexibility to save your application and complete it at a later time. This can be useful if you need to gather additional information or documents.
• After starting your application, you have a 30-day window to complete it. If you fail to submit your application within this timeframe, you will need to start the process from the beginning.

Enter your most recent passport Info

• At this point, the authority verifies the passport(s) you wish to renew against our records to determine if online renewal is possible.
• Please enter your details exactly as they appear on the passport you are renewing. If you think you should qualify for online renewal but cannot proceed, please try again later as there may be temporary technical issues with our system. 
• If you are not eligible for online renewal, the application will provide a list of reasons. Ensure that your information is correct before re-entering it.

• Validity of Most Recent Passport: Confirm that your most recent passport was valid for 10 years. It must either be expiring within one year or have been expired for less than five years.
• Your Name: Carefully check the spelling, capitalisation, hyphens, and spacing in your name against your most recent passport. 

For example, if your last name is "McDonald" but appears as "Mc Donald" (with a space), enter it as "Mc Donald" (including the space) in the application. If your last name is "Smith-Jenkins" (with a hyphen) and is printed without it, try entering it as "Smith Jenkins" (without a hyphen) or "SmithJenkins" (without space). The hyphen will be added by the authorities when they evaluate your application.

• Passport Book, Passport Card, or Both Documents: You can renew both passport books and passport cards online. If you wish to renew only a passport book, leave the card section blank in the application. Conversely, if you're renewing just a passport card, leave the book section blank.

Enter Travel Plans

• If you need your passport within the next 8 weeks, you cannot renew it online. The only service option available is routine processing.

• Routine processing times are the same for both online and mail-in renewals. These times do not include mailing times.

• If you require your passport within 3–8 weeks, you can opt for expedited service by renewing through the mail.

• If you need your passport in less than 3 weeks, you must make an appointment to renew it in person at a passport agency or centre.

Upload Digital Photo

• Upload a photo in .JPEG file format.
• Visit the "Uploading a Digital Photo" page for examples and specifications.
• Have someone else take your photo; no selfies are allowed.
• Do not scan a printed photo or take a photo of an already printed photo.

Sign and Pay

To finalise your passport application, you must pay all associated fees using a credit or debit card. Click the “Sign and Pay” button, which will redirect you to pay.gov to complete your payment.

Payment Confirmation

You will receive emails regarding your payment status. The first email will indicate that your payment is pending, while the second will confirm that it has been processed. 

If there is an issue with processing your payment, you will receive an email instructing you to log in to your account and attempt the payment again. Be sure to check your spam or junk folder if you do not see these emails in your inbox.

Retaining Your Current Passport

When submitting your application, keep your most recent passport accessible. Do not send it to us or use it for travel, as it will be cancelled during the renewal process.

Enroll in Email Updates

• One week after submitting your application, visit the Online Passport Status System to sign up for additional email updates regarding your application status. 

• The authorities will inform you when your application is being processed and approved and when your passport is dispatched. 

• Additionally, they will reach out if we require further information to continue processing your application. Their Application Status page provides explanations for each status message.