Americans can now renew their passports online, bypassing the traditional mail-in paper application process, which often led to delays.
The State Department’s online passport renewal system is now fully operational after successful pilot programs. It is available to adult passport holders whose passports have expired within the past five years or will expire within the next year.
The big picture: Approximately 5 million Americans are estimated to be eligible to use the online renewal service annually, with 40% of the 24 million processed passports in 2023 being renewals.
- To address previous staffing shortages and processing delays exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the State Department has increased hiring and implemented technological improvements that reduced wait times by about one-third. Most applications now take less than the advertised six to eight weeks for processing.
- The new online renewal system allows applicants to submit documents and payments securely via the website http://www.travel.state.gov/renewonline, removing the need to mail in paper applications, photos, and checks.
- The renewal fees remain unchanged at $130 for a regular renewal, and there are plans to possibly expand the online service to include Americans living abroad, those renewing a second passport, and children’s passports in the future.
What they’re saying: “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,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
