In a nutshell
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the U.S. Department of State’s rollout of an online passport renewal system in a Sept. 18 news release.
The online renewal process is meant to save time and effort and is only available for routine service, which is estimated at six to eight weeks processing time, according to the U.S. Department of State’s website.
“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,” Blinken said in the release.
The conditions
Online renewal is only available for adults age 25 and older living within a state or territory of the United States, according to the website. The passport must be a regular or tourist passport and isn’t available for those who have travel scheduled within eight weeks of the application request or if any details of the passport are changing, including name, gender, birth date or place.
According to the website, further passport requirements for online renewal applications include:
- The renewed passport must be with the applicant and can’t have been damaged or lost
- The passport being renewed must be or was valid for 10 years and is at least nine years old and less than 15 years from the date of application
Applicants renewing online should note that their existing passport will become void upon application and unusable for international travel, according to the website.
In their own words
“We continue to find ways to reduce administrative barriers and improve efficiency, equity and accessibility throughout the passport application process,” Blinken said in the release. “We are dedicated to ensuring the American public can seamlessly access passport services and to making our new online process the best tool possible.”
