A Guide to Renewing Your U.S. Passport

Young woman smiling walking through and airport, carrying a passport Young woman smiling walking through and airport, carrying a passport

A valid U.Southward. passport is essential to traveling internationally and can serve as a legal form of ID inside the United States. Information technology's an official government document that confirms your identity and citizenship. Withal, your passport has an expiration date. If your passport was issued when you were 16 years former or older, it is valid for x years. If your passport was issued when you were xv years erstwhile or younger, it is valid for five years.ane

A proficient rule of thumb is to brand certain your passport volition remain valid for six months across any planned trip. Using information from the U.S. Department of Country website, Travelers has compiled the following guide to help provide many of the fundamental details involved in the passport renewal process. For more information, including the current fees, be certain to visit the U.S. State Section website to help ensure y'all have the most upward-to-date information.

Here are some things you need to know about renewing a U.Southward. passport:

Can I Renew My Passport by Mail?

Ane of the most convenient ways to renew your passport is by mail service. Nonetheless, co-ordinate to the U.S. State Department,two to renew by mail all of the following must be truthful:

Your passport is:

  • In your possession to submit with your application.
  • Undamaged, other than normal vesture and tear.
  • Issued when you were age xvi or older.
  • Issued within the terminal 15 years.
  • Issued in your current proper noun, or you can document your name modify.

If all of these statements are true, you can more often than not utilize the following steps to renew your passport past mail. If whatsoever are not true, you'll need to utilise in person.

Steps to Renew Your Passport past Mail service

To renew your passport by mail, follow the five steps listed below. Retrieve, all information is subject to change, so consult the U.S. State Department passport site for the nearly upward-to-appointment data.

1. Get together Your Documents

Typically, you'll need the post-obit documents:

  • Renewal Form — For renewals, you lot'll need to consummate the Passport Renewal Application Grade DS-82 from the U.S. State Department website.
  • Name Change Documents —If the name you are currently using is dissimilar from the name on your current passport due to marriage, divorce or a court-ordered name change, you must provide a certified copy of the legal name change document. Yous will demand to send the original documentation. Typically, your name change document will be returned to you in a split up mailing from your new passport.
  • Your Most Recent Passport —Make certain your current passport is nonetheless valid. Expired passports will not be considered for renewal by mail. Commonly, your old passport will be returned to you in a dissever mailing from your new passport.

2. Provide a Photo

You will need to adhere a passport photograph to the Passport Renewal Grade. Be certain to review the photo requirements on the U.S. State Department website. Also, be enlightened that the U.S. State Department advises that you not wear the following in your photo:

  • Eyeglasses. If you can't remove your spectacles for medical reasons, include a signed annotation from your physician with your awarding.
  • A uniform, clothing that looks like a uniform or clothing that looks like camouflage.
  • A chapeau or caput covering unless you are required to article of clothing one for religious or medical purposes. If you lot demand to article of clothing it for medical purposes, include a signed annotation from your doctor. If y'all are wearing a head covering for religious purposes, include a signed statement that verifies that the chapeau or head covering in your photo is function of traditional religious attire worn continuously in public. In both cases, brand sure your full face is visible in the photo.
  • Headphones or hands-gratuitous wireless devices.

Y'all can wear jewelry and keep facial piercings if they don't hide your face. Permanent tattoos are adequate for passport purposes.

If you need more information, the U.S. Country Section offers a comprehensive photo guide with examples of good and bad photos.

3. Calculate Fees

Brand sure you know how much you need to pay for your passport renewal so you can include the correct amount. You lot tin can review the electric current passport fee structure and the U.S. State Department also offers a fee calculator.

Payment must be made using a check or money order payable to "U.S. Section of Land," and you lot should print your total proper name and date of birth on the front end. Cash and credit cards are non accepted for payment.

iv. Mail Completed Application

When you have your materials together, information technology'southward fourth dimension to mail in your application. Remember to do the following:

  • Use an envelope large enough to fit the application without folding it. USPS Priority Mail Express® and Priority Mail® services both provide complimentary envelopes big enough to hold your application.
  • Include your application form, supporting documentation, current passport, passport photo and payment.
  • Address the envelope to the correct location for your state as indicated on folio 2 of your DS-82 form and send.

5. Rails Your Awarding Status

Depending on the method you lot use to mail in your passport, you typically should be able to track the envelope to ensure delivery. Once you have confirmed that your application has arrived, you can phone call 1-877-487-2778 or request a status update online later 7 to ten business organization days.

Steps to Renew Your Passport in Person

If you do not meet the criteria to renew your passport by post, you'll demand to submit your application in person at an canonical passport acceptance facility.

1. Gather Your Documents

Before you go far to renew your passport in person, you'll typically need to gather the following documents:

  • Passport Renewal Application Form DS-11 from the U.S. State Section website.
    You can make full out the class in advance just Exercise Non SIGN THE FORM. Your signature needs to be witnessed by an authorized agent at the credence facility.
  • Evidence of U.S. citizenship.
  • Current ID.
  • Photo.

2. Provide Prove of U.Due south. Citizenship

The process also typically requires that y'all submit one of the following to prove that you are a U.Due south. citizen:

  • A fully valid, undamaged U.S. passport (it's okay if it is expired).
  • U.S. birth certificate that meets the following requirements:
    • Issued by the city, canton or country of birth.
    • Lists your full proper name, engagement of nascency and place of birth.
    • Lists your parent(s)' total names.
    • Has the date filed with registrar's office (must be within one twelvemonth of birth).
    • Has the registrar's signature.
    • Has the seal of the issuing authority.
  • Consular Written report of Nascency Abroad or certification of birth.
  • Certificate of naturalization.
  • Certificate of citizenship.

The document you submit to bear witness citizenship must be either an original or certified physical copy. A certified re-create is any certificate that has the seal or stamp of the official issuing authority. Digital show such as a scan or photo will not be accepted.

In improver to the original, bring a photocopy of your proof of citizenship to include with your application. Brand certain that the photocopies are legible, printed on white viii.five"x eleven" standard newspaper, black and white, and single-sided.

3. Current ID and Photograph

You'll also demand to bring proof of identity. For a consummate list of acceptable forms of ID, check the U.S. State Department website. If you can't provide any of the listed forms of ID, you'll demand to submit at to the lowest degree two of the following:

  • Out-of-country driver's license or enhanced driver's license with photo
  • Learner'south or temporary commuter's permit (without a photo)
  • In-state, fully valid non-driver ID (without a photo)
  • Out-of-state, not-driver ID
  • Temporary driver's license (without a photo)
  • Social Security card
  • Voter registration bill of fare
  • Employee piece of work ID
  • Pupil ID
  • School yearbook with identifiable photograph
  • Selective Service (typhoon) carte
  • Medicare or other health card
  • Expired commuter's license
  • Class DS-71, for an identifying witness (these are only available at an credence facility or a passport agency)

Some states now issue digital ID documents (also known every bit mobile commuter's licenses or mobile IDs). These digital IDs are not currently adequate forms of ID when applying for a U.S. passport.

If your name has changed, you'll also need to nowadays any documentation outlining your proper name alter. Don't forget a photo. Information technology should meet all the criteria listed on the U.S. State Section website.

4. Make up one's mind Special Circumstances

If whatever of the following apply to you, you lot may have additional requirements for your passport application, such as additional documentation or having a parent or guardian present when you utilise. Delight see the relevant U.S. State Department webpage for more information.

  • Children under xvi
  • Children xvi-17
  • Previous passport was lost or stolen
  • Owe over $two,500 in child support
  • Requesting a sex marking change
  • Official, diplomatic or other special issuance passport

five. Schedule an Appointment

Once yous have all your documentation, y'all'll need to bring everything to your local acceptance facility. Remember that most facilities have set hours, and then it'southward a good idea to schedule an appointment. For the post office, yous tin utilize the online retail customer engagement scheduler or a vestibule self-service kiosk. For other facilities, call in advance to make an engagement.

6. Pay Passport Acceptance and Processing Fees

In improver to the passport application fee that yous need to pay to the U.South. Country Department, yous'll need to pay an additional processing fee at the acceptance facility. While the awarding fee must be paid using a check or money club, you tin can usually pay the processing fee using a credit card or other payment method accepted by the credence facility.

Remember that fees may be bailiwick to change, so bank check with your acceptance facility in advance.

7. Submit Application and Start Tracking Condition

Once you've submitted your application at the acceptance facility, you lot tin request a status update 7 to 10 business days after you submit your application. Yous can exercise this using the U.S. Country Department website or by calling 1-877-487-2778.

Frequently Asked Questions About Renewing Passports

You should renew your passport well in advance of its expiration appointment. Routine service to receive your new passport takes between 10 and 12 weeks. If you lot need your passport sooner, paying for expedited service may permit yous to receive your passport in iv to 6 weeks. Cheque the U.Southward. Country Department website for information about anticipated processing times.

There is no limit on how early y'all can renew your passport, but the U.Due south. Department of Land3 suggests renewing it ix months before the expiration appointment. Information technology is of import to remember that some countries crave passports to remain valid for upwards to six months after travel, and some airlines will also preclude you from boarding if you don't meet this requirement.

Getting a passport photo taken is easier than ever. You tin can have your passport photo taken at:

  • Photography businesses
  • Drug stores with a photo department
  • Print, mail service and copy stores

However, a photo taken at a store does not guarantee that information technology will be accustomed equally a passport photo. Make sure your photo matches the required photo criteria.

Yous can take your own photograph as long as information technology meets the image requirements.4 Selfies are not recommended; instead, ask a friend to have your photo confronting a white background and don't use whatever filters or editing software. There are as well photo apps available for both iOS and Android that will format your photo to run into the right spacing requirements. Still, fifty-fifty the all-time app can't guarantee that your photo will be approved, then be sure to check it confronting the criteria before submitting.

If you're in a blitz, you can become your passport photo taken at the post office for an additional fee. Not every mail service part location may offer this service, then check in advance for availability and pricing.

You can renew an expired passport by mail under certain conditions:

  • You accept the passport and information technology is not damaged.
  • It was issued within the concluding 15 years and yous were at to the lowest degree 16 years old when the passport was issued.
  • The passport was issued in your current name or you can show legal proof of your proper noun change.

You can larn more about renewing your expired passport at Travel.State.Gov.

The best way to get current information on fees to renew a passport is past checking the U.S. State Department website. There are different fees for the post-obit:

  • Passport book
  • Passport card
  • Combination of passport book and passport bill of fare

In addition, fees are typically lower for children nether the age of 16. In all cases, you'll also demand to pay an acceptance fee that you pay to the acceptance facility if you renew in person. If y'all need to become your passport renewed sooner, you can opt to pay an expediting fee.

If you are unable to present evidence of U.S. citizenship, verification of a previously issued passport or Consular Report of Nativity Away, you may need to pay a fee for a file search to pull the proper documentation.

Passport applications CANNOT exist submitted online at this time. You lot can visit the U.South. State Section passport website to download necessary forms such as the DS-11 or DS-82, cheque requirements and detect answers to your questions. While there are legitimate services that can help you process your application faster, they still need to mail your awarding or process it at an approved facility. Avoid any service that offers to process your passport application online, as information technology may be fraudulent.

Standard Turnaround Time— Routine service to receive your new passport takes between 10 and 12 weeks. Y'all tin can check the U.S. State Department passport website to confirm.

Expedited Service —You can pay for expedited iv-to-6 week processing by postal service. You can likewise asking and pay for expedited iii-business-day service, merely you must appear in person at a passport agency. These requests are to accommodate emergencies like illness, injury or death of an immediate family member, or non-emergency urgent travel.

Traveling Before long? Consider Travel Insurance

Now that yous have your passport, you're ready to travel. Or are y'all? While your new passport volition go you through the airport and customs and serve as a helpful form of ID overseas, you may want to consider getting travel insurance for your trip. Travel insurance can help have the stress out of travel by providing yous with counterfoil and interruption insurance in the event of weather, natural disaster, strike, illness, traffic accidents or task reasons. It can likewise help cover unexpected medical and evacuation expenses, and typically can cover your costs if your baggage is lost, delayed or stolen.

So, don't wait. Whatever your travel plans may be, make sure you're protected with travel insurance.

Contact your local contained agent to get a travel insurance quote today.

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