Skip the Lines: Renew Your Passport Online

Say goodbye to the days of running around town to renew your passport. If you meet certain requirements, you can now renew your passport online in just minutes. Here’s everything you need to know to get started.

Who can renew their passport online

To renew your passport online, you must meet the following requirements: 

• You are 25 or older. 
• Your passport is valid for 10 years. 
• Your passport is either expiring within a year or expired less than five years ago.
• You’re not changing your name, sex, date of birth, or place of birth.
• You’re not traveling within six weeks of submitting your application.
• Your passport is not lost or stolen.
• You currently live in the US.
• You’re applying for a regular tourist passport. 
• You can upload a digital passport photo.
• You can pay by debit or credit card.
• You want your passport delivered to a US postal address.

How to begin the online renewal process

You first need to make a MyTravelGov account. To set one up, go to travel.state.gov. 

• In the navy bar running across the very top of the page, choose the “MyTravelGov” link.
• Follow the instructions to create an account.
• Once your account is active, select the “Renew Your Passport” link on the MyTravelGov homepage.

How to verify your eligibility for online passport renewal

Before diving into the application, you’ll need to confirm that you are eligible to renew your passport online. Simply have your current passport handy, and enter your name, date of birth, passport number, and other relevant information.

Once you’ve completed the eligibility check, you’ll receive a message confirming whether or not you can renew online. If you’re not eligible, you’ll receive an explanation why.

What to know about passport cards

A passport card is a smaller card mainly used for travel between the US and certain countries, such as Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. It cannot be used for international air travel.

If you currently have a passport card and a traditional passport, you can renew both online. However, if you have just a passport book, you can only renew your traditional passport.

What kind of photo to use

One of the best parts of renewing your passport online? You can snap passport-worthy photos at home as long as you follow these passport photo guidelines.

• Use a recent photo taken within the last six months.
• Someone else should take the photo (aka no selfies).
• It must be a color photo. 
• It must be in JPEG format, with a size of at least 54KB but no larger than 10MB and dimensions of at least 600 x 600 pixels.
• Leave plenty of space around your head and shoulders to allow room for cropping.
• Stand in front of a plain background. 
• Make sure your full face is visible.
• You may smile, but make sure your mouth is closed.
• Remove glasses and take off your hat. (You may wear head coverings for religious purposes.)

For photo examples, check out this page from the US Department of State's website. If your submitted photo doesn’t meet the requirements, you’ll get a letter or email requesting another photo. 

How to pay

To complete your passport application, you’ll need to pay your passport fees with a credit or debit card. After payment, you’ll receive two emails: one saying your payment is pending and another confirming your payment has been processed.

How to track your passport application

After you submit your renewal application online, you have no further steps to take. You don’t even need to mail in your current passport. Just be aware that the government will cancel the passport you are renewing, and you won’t be able to use it for international travel.

To stay informed about the status of your passport renewal, you can sign up for email updates. Just wait a week after you’ve submitted your application, and then visit passportstatus.state.gov to enter your email address and receive notifications when your application status changes. 

The standard processing time for passports is four to six weeks. In a hurry? Expedited passport processing, which takes about two to three weeks, is available for an additional fee.

Now sit back and wait for your new passport to arrive. Once it does, you’re ready for your next international adventure!