If your U.S. passport has expired or is about to do so, there's a new way to renew it: online!
"Our online passport renewal system is an important example of how the Department is modernizing government services for the benefit of Americans and delivering on President Biden’s Executive Order, Transforming Federal Customer Experience and Service Delivery to Rebuild Trust in Government," the Agency said.
As of September 18, 2024, the U.S. Department of State's new online passport renewal system became fully available to the public, marking what the department termed "(A) significant step forward in ensuring that Americans can more easily access passport services."
Instead of printing a paper application and mailing it with a passport photo and a check, Americans can now renew their passports through a secure process intended to save time and effort.
Instead of printing a paper application and mailing it with a passport photo and a check, Americans can now renew their passports through a secure process intended to save time and effort.
"Our online passport renewal system is an important example of how the Department is modernizing government services for the benefit of Americans and delivering on President Biden’s Executive Order, Transforming Federal Customer Experience and Service Delivery to Rebuild Trust in Government," the Agency said.
"By offering this online alternative to the traditional paper application process, the Department is embracing digital transformation to offer the most efficient and convenient passport renewal experience possible," noting that the average routine passport is being processed today in roughly one-third the time as at the same point last summer, and well under the advertised six to eight weeks processing times.
Online passport renewal is available at Travel.State.Gov/renewonline.
Because my passport expires in less than a year, I began working my way through this self-service offering.
Because my passport expires in less than a year, I began working my way through this self-service offering.
There are a number of requirements that one must meet in order to use this system, including your current passport's validity. It either is or was valid for 10 years -- generally those issued to citizens age 16 and older -- issued between 2009 and 2015, and issued over nine years but less than 15 years from the date you submit your application.
You can't make changes to name, gender, date or place of birth through this system, and you should not plan to travel outside the U.S. for six weeks after submitting the application because your current passport will become invalid once you submit your renewal.
If you meet these criteria, you'll enter information about your current or most recent passport, any travel plans, and upload an original digital color photo which meets certain standards which are stated on the renewal site.
If you meet these criteria, you'll enter information about your current or most recent passport, any travel plans, and upload an original digital color photo which meets certain standards which are stated on the renewal site.
Specifically, the applicant must face the camera with eyes open and mouth closed. The photo must be shot by someone else - no "selfies" accepted - and it must be against a white or off-white background with no texture. There must be plenty of room left around the head and shoulders to allow room for cropping.
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| Photo from Travel.State.Gov |
Finally, it must be at least 600 by 600 pixels and submitted in the .JPEG format. The website has a three-minute video with more information.
Taking the photo is what stopped me from using the system, primarily because I don't have a wall or other area that will meet the "plain white or off-white" requirement. Otherwise, the system seems fairly straightforward.
Taking the photo is what stopped me from using the system, primarily because I don't have a wall or other area that will meet the "plain white or off-white" requirement. Otherwise, the system seems fairly straightforward.
As for my renewal, I went old-school: had a passport photo taken at a local UPS store, filled out the passport renewal application (Form DS-82), wrote out a paper check, then went to the post office and sent the package Priority Mail which includes a tracking number.
The average advertised processing time is six to eight weeks, so I'll keep track of how long mine takes and publish another article detailing my experiences.
Visit my main page at TheTravelPro.us for more news, reviews, and personal observations on the world of upmarket travel.
Photos by Carl Dombek unless otherwise noted
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