Renewing your passport just got easier.
The State Department announced Wednesday that Americans can now renew their passport online.
The Online Passport Renewal system is now available to the public, allowing passport holders to skip the hassle of printing and mailing documents or going in person to a a passport agency or center.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the online system “a significant step forward in ensuring that Americans can more easily access passport services.”
In a press release announcing the new system, Blinken also noted that average routine passport is being processed in about a third the time compared to last year.
The State Department estimates that 5 million Americans will use the online system per year. For now, the online system can not be used to renew children’s passports, first-time passport applicants, those living abroad, or those wanting an expedited applications.
Do you qualify?
Before you try to renew your passport online, make sure you meet the current requirements. You are qualified to renew online if:
- The passport you are renewing is or was valid for 10 years, and you are age 25 or older.
- The passport you are renewing was issued between 2009 and 2015, or over nine years but less than 15 years from the date you plan to submit your application.
- You are not changing your name, gender, date of birth or place of birth.
- You are not traveling for at least eight weeks from the date you will submit your application.
- You are applying for a regular (tourist) passport.
- You live in the United States.
Note that the passport you are renewing will be canceled once you submit you’re application, so you won’t be able to travel internationally for at least eight weeks.
How to renew your passport online
Once you’ve checked to see if you qualify to use the Online Passport Renewal System, follow these simple steps to renew your passport.
- Create an online account or sign in. Visit https://mytravel.state.gov/ and click the sign in button in the top right corner. It will direct you to either sign in or create an account using your email address.
- Start your application by clicking on “Renew Your Passport” on the MyTravelGov home page.
- Enter info from your most recent passport. Make sure to double check the spelling, capitalization, hyphens and spacing between letters in your name.
- Upload a photo. You will need to upload an original, digital photo in JPEG file format. See photo requirements here.
- Sign and Pay. Click the “Sign and Pay” button and pay using a credit or debit card.
- Check your application status by enrolling in email updates here. You will get email updates that will let you know when your passport has been approved and mailed.