You Can Now Renew Your US Passport Online

Travelers rejoice: The State Department has announced that online passport renewal is now available to everyone. I renewed my passport on the first day the system was open to the general public and the process went smoothly, although I did have some trouble taking photos at first. (I figured it out and will give you some tips below.)

If this sounds like it’s not exactly new, that’s because online passport renewal was originally announced in 2021, paused in 2023, and reopened in “beta” earlier this summer . The State Department now says passports are being processed three times faster than last year and significantly less than the six to eight weeks that renewals typically take.

How to renew a US passport online

First, go toTravel.State.Gov/renewonline . There you will see a list of steps:

1. Confirm that you meet the requirements

2. Create your account

3. Launch your application

4. Enter your latest passport details

5. Enter travel plans

6. Upload a digital photo

7. Sign and pay

8. Subscribe to email updates

I recommend keeping this page open while you go through this process, since you will have to switch between several different websites at first. You will need to create an account at login.gov and then return to travel.state.gov to begin renewing your passport. At the end of the process, you will be directed to pay.gov to complete your credit or debit card payment.

Who has the right to renew a passport online?

The list of requirements is long, so be sure to read them all. Among the important ones:

• You are 25 years old or older.

• Your passport either expires next year or has not expired for more than 5 years. (Another option: your old passport was issued 9–15 years ago.)

• You do not change your name, gender, date or place of birth.

• In front of you is an old passport.

When renewing, I also noticed that I couldn’t add a passport card to my order because I didn’t have a passport card to begin with. I only had the book, so I could only extend the book.

How long does it take to replace a passport online?

It took me about 30 minutes to renew my passport, including about 10-15 minutes to take the photo and make sure it was cropped and adjusted correctly.

The processing time is officially the same as renewal by mail, six to eight weeks. (However, the State Department says it processes them much faster these days.) You can’t use expedited service online.

How much does it cost to renew a passport online?

The fee is US$130 for a regular or large passport book. I didn’t have a passport card to renew, but the fee for a passport card is $30, according to the State Department. (You can see the full fee schedule here .)

Can I apply for a passport online for the first time?

No, this service is for renewal purposes only. It’s also worth noting that you won’t be able to use your old passport while you’re waiting for a new one. Your old passport is automatically canceled when you apply for a new one. So be sure to apply for an extension if you do not have international travel. (Or use the expedited service , which is not available online.)

What information will I need to renew my passport online?

Well, I just did that and the website asked me for the following information (besides my name and address):

• My passport number

• My Social Security Number

• My height, eye color, hair color and occupation

• ICN or Inventory Control Number on the inside back cover of the passport.

• Your credit or debit card details for payment

Can you take your own digital photos to renew your passport online?

Yes! The system is very photo demanding, as you might guess from traditional passport applications. The photo requirements are outlined here , but the safest way to make sure you get it right is to go to a place that offers passport photography services. (I made the previous set at the pharmacy.)

He will ask you to take a photo against a plain, light background, with no shadows on your face or on the wall behind you. Your eyes must be open, you must not smile, and you must not wear anything other than religious head coverings on your face or head. The photo should also be taken from a distance far enough away to include your shoulders and upper torso.

I had a harder time with this than I expected. A simple light background with no objects visible behind me? I tried several walls in my house before I found the one that would work for the bathroom. They say no selfies, but I put my phone on a tripod and took a video. (I then played the video, paused it, and took a screenshot.) My finished photo looked exactly like the examples they gave—or so I thought.

When you upload a photo, the system automatically crops it. Even though all the examples are tall rectangular photos, the auto crop is a narrow square. You can adjust it, and I did, but no matter what I did, the system rejected my photo, saying the “overall image quality” was poor.

The example photos were brighter lit, so I went to Instagram, loaded my photo into the Stories tool, and selected the Melbourne filter. (Same idea as this trick to smooth out photos using the Paris filter ; just keep swiping until you get Melbourne, or whatever filter makes your photo look as passport-like as possible.) When I uploaded it to the passport site , I let the crop tool do it. everything he did by default. It’s gone. I then entered my credit card information and am now expecting my new passport in the mail (hopefully sooner) in six to eight weeks.

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