Renewing U.S. passports, one of the most annoying bureaucratic tasks associated with visiting other countries, is about to get a lot easier this year. On Wednesday, June 12, MyTravelGov – the website of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs – relaunched its online passport renewal system.
MyTravelGov first introduced online passport renewal in 2022 and had several windows open for the pilot program before it closed in March last year. For this relaunch, an unspecified number of applicants can apply each day during a “limited window of noon Eastern Time.” Once the limit is reached, the program will be closed until the next day.
Learn everything you need to know about new U.S. passport renewals online, including who is eligible and how to apply. For more travel tips, learn how to plan your trip with AI, how to pack your carry-on bags perfectly, and how to avoid airline baggage fees.
A limited number of people can apply to renew their U.S. passport each day.
How does the new US online passport renewal system work?
Most U.S. citizens currently renew their passports by printing and completing Form DS-82, then mailing it with a new photo ID and a renewal fee in the form of a check or money order. Instead, the online passport renewal system uses a web form and payment system that allows credit cards, debit cards, or ACH transfers online.
Renewing your passport online does not mean you will receive it any sooner than usual. The State Department is sticking to its “routine service” for passport renewals, whether online or by mail. This means you will receive your new passport in six to eight weeks, regardless of how you apply. If you need your passport sooner, you will need to apply by mail and pay an additional $60 for expedited service.
Who can renew their US passport online?
The most important qualifying factors for renewing your passport online are:
- You are at least 25 years old.
- You live in the United States (state or territory).
- Your current passport is or was valid for 10 years.
- Your current passport must be at least 9 years old and issued within the last 15 years (2009-2015).
- You still have your existing passport and it is not mutilated or damaged.
In addition to the main eligibility requirements, the Department of State provides a list of other restrictions for online renewal:
- You can only renew regular passports online, not “special issue” passports (such as diplomatic, official or service passports).
- You cannot change your name, gender, place of birth or date of birth from your old passport.
- You must be able to pay for the renewal online using a credit card, debit card, or ACH transfer.
- You should be able to upload a new ID photo.
- You cannot travel internationally for eight weeks after submitting your renewal application online.
This last restriction is important because your existing passport, if still valid, will be immediately canceled as soon as your online renewal application is accepted.
If you do not meet the eligibility requirements to renew your passport online, you will need to renew it by mail or in person at a passport agency.
If I am eligible, how can I renew my US passport online?
Currently, MyTravelGov accepts a select number of passport renewals online each day (including weekends) around noon ET. However, several news publications, including Thrifty Traveler, report that the window will open each day at 1 p.m. ET.
Before you can request a passport renewal online, you will need to create a MyTravelGov account, if you don’t already have one. Visit the MyTravelGov website, click on the blue To log in in the upper right corner, then click Create an account. This will begin the process of creating an account with login.gov, the US federal government’s authentication system.
You will then need to enter an email address and your choice of language: login.gov is available in English, Spanish and French. After submitting your email address, you will need to verify it by clicking on a link in an email message from login.gov, after which you will choose a password and a preferred form of multi-factor authentication.
You will then need to provide personal information for the account, at least your first and last name. Once you’re done, you should be able to access the online passport renewal page. Hit the blue To start at the bottom of the page to start the application.
If the online passport renewal application window is not open, you will receive a message telling you that you will need to come back and try again tomorrow. If you are lucky enough to start the application, you will need the following:
- Your existing US passport.
- A digital ID photo.
- Credit card, debit card, or your bank’s routing and account numbers for ACH transfer.
In the first part of the application, you will enter information about your current passport, your legal name, and whether you want a passport book, passport card, or both. Next, you will update your digital photo ID, then finally your payment information.
MyTravelGov will send you two email verifications after you submit your renewal request: the first will confirm your pending payment; the second will confirm that payment has been received. One week after applying, you can sign up to receive email updates about your passport using the Department of State’s online passport status system. You should expect to receive your new passport in the mail within six to eight weeks.
You can renew the US passport format you currently hold.
What about US passport renewal cards online?
Passport cards are items that look a lot like U.S. driver’s licenses and can be kept in your wallet. They allow travel from the United States by land or sea to Canada, Mexico or Caribbean countries. They are not valid for any international air travel.
You can renew passport books and cards online. Basically, you can renew the US passport document you currently hold. If you have an old passport book and an old passport card, you can renew both at the same time. If you have one or the other, you can only renew that specific document.