Online Passport Renewal: How It Works, Who Qualifies

Can I renew my U.S. passport online, and who qualifies?

Online passport renewal is for adults aged 25 or older with a 10-year passport that expires within a year or expired less than 5 years ago, who are in a U.S. state or territory and not traveling for at least 6 weeks.

Online passport renewal is a route run by the U.S. Department of State. It suits a relaxed timeline, because the online route cannot be sped up. Meet every condition below and it can work for you.

Online renewal eligibility checklist

1. Your ageThe online route is open to adults aged 25 or older. It exists so the government can confirm a returning applicant without a paper form.
   How to get it: Your date of birth decides this.
   Watch out: Younger adults and children use a different route.
   Who needs it: Every online applicant
2. Your passport's ageYour passport must be a 10-year passport that expires within 1 year or expired less than 5 years ago. This keeps the route to recent, undamaged passports.
   How to get it: Read the issue and expiry dates on your passport's data page.
   Watch out: A passport that expired long ago may need a new application instead.
   Who needs it: Every online applicant
3. Your name, location and passport conditionYou must keep the same name and sex, be in a U.S. state or territory, and have your passport in hand and undamaged. These conditions let the government process the renewal without extra paperwork.
   How to get it: Have the passport in your hands before you start.
   Watch out: A name change or a damaged passport sends you to another route.
   Who needs it: Every online applicant
4. Your travel dateYou must not be traveling for at least 6 weeks, because online renewals cannot be expedited.
   How to get it: Count from today to your departure date.
   Watch out: A sooner trip needs a different route.
   Who needs it: Every online applicant
5. Your old passportYou keep your old passport and do not send it in; it will be canceled. The government cancels it once the new one is issued.
   How to get it: Hold on to it and do not post it anywhere.
   Watch out: Do not throw it away before the new one arrives.
   Who needs it: Every online applicant

If you hold a passport from another country, our visa checker shows what you need for your destination.

What if you need your passport sooner than online renewal allows?

Online passport renewal cannot be expedited, so travelers in a hurry need another route: the government's expedited processing, or PassportsAndVisas.com, with speeds as fast as 3-4 business days.

Government expedited processing takes 2–3 weeks and adds the government expedite fee of $60. Door to door, that is up to 7 weeks, because shipping each way is extra.

PassportsAndVisas.com is for travelers who would rather have a courier handle it, with their documents pre-checked first. Our speeds run from 3-4 business days to 12 business days.

What do you need to renew a passport, and do you need a birth certificate?

A standard passport renewal does not need a birth certificate. You provide your most recent passport, a signed form DS-82, one passport photo and payment.

For the government's routine renewal (form DS-82), you send in your most recent passport, the signed form, one passport photo, and a check or money order payable to the U.S. Department of State.

• Your passport must have been issued within the last 15 years, when you were 16 or older, and be valid for 10 years.
• Your name must match your passport, or you add a marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order.
• Your passport must not be reported lost or stolen, and not damaged beyond normal wear.

A birth certificate comes into play only when you must apply as a new applicant instead. Our passport renewal vs. new application guide explains which one applies to you.

With PassportsAndVisas.com you complete your DS-82 in your portal and we prepare the form for you. No photo? Upload a clear selfie and our Digital Photo Service turns it into a compliant passport photo.

How much does a passport renewal cost?

A passport book renewal has a government application fee of $130, a passport card renewal $30, and a book and card together $160.

Our service fee is separate from the government fees above, and each is shown as its own part.

How long does online renewal take, and can it be sped up?

Online passport renewal cannot be expedited. Government routine processing takes 4–6 weeks, and door to door it can take up to 10 weeks.

Filling in the online form can be quick. Receiving the passport is a different matter, because processing and shipping come after filing. Each time below is labelled by kind.

Can a service submit my online renewal for me?

No. An online renewal must be completed by the applicant, and no third-party service can submit it.

What PassportsAndVisas.com does instead is prepare your renewal (form DS-82), pre-check every document before anything goes in, and submit it to the U.S. Department of State on your behalf. You never deal with the government directly.

You sign at home and send your packet in the prepaid FedEx envelope. We review it, submit it, pick up the finished passport and FedEx it to you, with email and text updates at each stage. Our Protection Plan covers issues during the application process.

What if you don't qualify for online renewal? Your other options

If you do not qualify for online renewal, the route depends on why: a child under 16, a lost, stolen or damaged passport, an older passport, a name change or a second passport each have their own application.

Online or by mail: which renewal route is right for you?

Online renewal suits adults with time to spare, the paper DS-82 renewal suits those who do not qualify online, and PassportsAndVisas.com suits anyone who wants it handled or needs it fast.

On the paper route, the application travels through USPS, and post office staff do not review or process renewals. Your old passport is returned separately, up to 2 weeks after your new passport.

For the reader whose trip is sooner, or who would rather not do it themselves, PassportsAndVisas.com takes it from there: documents pre-checked, packet submitted for you, FedEx both ways and tracking. Our expedited renewal guide shows how the service works.

What mistakes delay a passport renewal?

In our review of 521 applications over the last 180 days, our pre-check caught a missing or unusable document on 44% before submission, most often the photo.

For more, see our renewal mistakes guide.

Why PassportsAndVisas.com for your passport renewal?

PassportsAndVisas.com has been a registered passport expediter since 1992, and we are a private company, not the U.S. government.

• We have served 500K+ travelers, and our customers have left 11,766 reviews.
• We pre-check every document before it is submitted.
• We prepare your DS-82, submit it for you and ship your passport back by FedEx.
• Our speeds run as fast as 3-4 business days, with service from $199 plus government fees.
• Our Protection Plan covers issues during the application process.