Updated November 5, 2026: Added post-renewal travel-document checks; existing fee and processing guidance spot-checked.
Official requirements and fees reviewed: 29 October 2026.
Online passport renewal in the USA is available to eligible adults applying for routine service through the U.S. Department of State. Start at opr.travel.state.gov, check every eligibility condition and prepare an original digital photo before submitting. Online submission saves the paper-mailing step; it does not provide expedited processing.
This guide covers renewal of a U.S. passport. Living in the United States does not make another country’s passport eligible for this service. It also distinguishes a submitted renewal from filling out a form online, paying for delivery or making a passport appointment.
Before starting: check your next international travel date and the expiry date in your current passport. Once the renewed document is canceled, it cannot be used for international travel while you wait. Decide whether routine renewal fits your plans before pressing submit.
Planning a long-term move? Our guide to moving to Mexico from the USA connects passport preparation with the consular residence application, entry and later INM card-exchange steps. Check your passport timing before committing to those appointments or travel.
Preparing to live in Costa Rica? Our guide to moving to Costa Rica from the USA connects passport preparation with residence-route selection, U.S. document collection, healthcare and arrival tasks. Check renewal timing before fixing travel or immigration appointments.
Who qualifies for U.S. passport renewal online?
The State Department’s current online-renewal rules require all of the following:
If your next step is a residence application, review the documents for a Mexican temporary resident visa before scheduling travel or a consular appointment. Confirm the handling office’s passport and copy requirements alongside your renewal timing.
- You are 25 or older.
- The passport had 10-year validity and expires within one year, or expired less than five years ago.
- You are not changing personal information, such as your name or sex.
- You will not travel internationally for at least six weeks after submission.
- You are in a U.S. state or territory when submitting.
- You possess the passport; it is not damaged or mutilated and has not been reported lost or stolen.
Check the actual dates rather than relying on a blog’s fixed issue-year range. Keep the passport beside you and compare the issue and expiration entries. Someone renewing a child’s five-year passport or replacing a lost document needs a different route.
Example: Jordan is 34, has an undamaged ten-year U.S. passport expiring in four months, is applying from Colorado and has no near-term international trip or personal-information change. Those facts support checking the online route. They are not a substitute for completing every official eligibility question.
If you cannot renew online, use USAGov’s adult-renewal guidance to distinguish mail renewal from a new in-person application. An expired passport is not automatically eligible for every renewal method.
Find the official online passport renewal site
Use the renewal link from Travel.State.Gov, which leads to the official OPR application. Follow the instructions currently displayed there. Old tutorials may describe account screens or button names that no longer match the service.
The State Department identifies OPR as the authorized online application route and requires applicants to complete their own submissions. GlobalVisora provides an independent explanation; we do not collect your application, payment or passport details.
Before entering sensitive information, read the complete website address. A familiar-looking title, a sponsored search result or the word “government” in a business name does not establish that you are using the official application.
U.S. passports are handled by the Department of State. The CBP passport guidance explains that CBP does not issue them. Keep passport-renewal support separate from immigration-case or border-inspection services.
An online DS-82 form is not necessarily an online renewal
There are two different activities: entering information into the government’s online renewal application, and using an internet form filler to prepare a paper application. Completing the second activity does not file the first.
For mail renewal, the State Department’s instructions describe a signed DS-82, the required photograph, current passport, payment and any applicable supporting evidence. Use those instructions when that is your selected route. Do not combine half of the mail checklist with half of the online process.
| What you are doing | What establishes progress | What to avoid assuming |
|---|---|---|
| Preparing a DS-82 for mail | A complete, signed packet sent according to its instructions | That typing or printing the form submits it |
| Renewing through OPR | Completion of the official submission process and its confirmation | That a draft or payment screen is a filed application |
| Booking a photo appointment | A confirmed appointment for the photo service | That the appointment is your passport application |
Give your saved records clear names, such as “submitted renewal confirmation” and “photo appointment.” This small distinction makes later troubleshooting easier.
Can you renew a passport book, card or both online?
Choose the document you need for your actual travel. The official book-and-card comparison explains that a passport card does not support international air travel. It has defined land and sea uses; it is not a lower-cost substitute for a passport book on an overseas flight.
The current OPR product matrix allows these combinations, subject to eligibility:
| You have | You want | Online route? |
|---|---|---|
| Book | Book, or book and card | Yes |
| Card | Card, or book and card | Yes |
| Book and card | Book and card | Yes |
| Book only | Card only | Use mail instructions |
| Card only | Book only | Use mail instructions |
Review the combination before budgeting. Adding a product and switching to only the other product are different requests. If the portal does not support what you need, investigate the appropriate alternative instead of selecting an inaccurate answer to continue.
Digital passport photo requirements for online renewal
Use the State Department’s digital-photo instructions, not a scanned copy of a printed passport photograph. The accepted file formats are JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC and HEIF, with a file size between 54 KB and 10 MB.
The image must be an original, unedited color photo taken within six months. Face the camera with eyes visible, use a plain white or off-white background and avoid shadows. Do not apply filters, retouch your appearance or use an AI-generated replacement. Follow the official guidance for glasses and documented exceptions.
The upload tool checks basic requirements and permits positioning or cropping. A State Department employee still reviews the photograph after submission. A successful upload is not final photo acceptance.
Practical preparation: take the photo before opening the application, locate the original file on the device you will use and check its format and size. View it at a sensible magnification to spot blur. If the lighting or background is wrong, retake the photograph rather than trying to repair it digitally.
You can also investigate a professional digital-photo service. USPS lists digital passport photo appointments at participating locations. Confirm that you will receive the original digital file you need. The featured image on this article is a conceptual editorial scene, not a photograph to submit with an application.
How much does online passport renewal cost?
The official fee table lists the following renewal application charges, checked on 29 October 2026:
| Renewal product | Government application fee | Optional faster return |
|---|---|---|
| Passport book | $130 | $26.87 for eligible 1–3-day delivery |
| Passport card | $30 | Faster return service is not offered for card-only applications |
| Book and card | $160 | Faster return applies to the book; cards use regular mail |
Online payment uses a credit or debit card. The fee calculator is a planning tool, not a submitted application. A qualifying renewal is also different from a first-time DS-11 application with a facility acceptance fee.
For a book renewal with the optional $26.87 return delivery, the two listed government charges total $156.87. Budget separately for obtaining a photo or any genuinely optional service. Faster shipping does not buy faster application review.
Review the final government checkout before paying. If a private website quotes another amount, identify what service the extra charge covers instead of assuming it is a mandatory passport fee.
How to renew your U.S. passport online
- Choose the route. Review eligibility, document combination and travel date before opening the application.
- Prepare the file. Have your passport, original digital photo, payment card, Social Security information, contact details and emergency-contact information available.
- Open the official application. Follow the current OPR instructions rather than a private form-copying service.
- Enter information carefully. Compare passport details, spelling and dates with the original document. Check that the mailing address can receive the new passport.
- Upload and review. Complete the required photo step, check the product and payment choices and read the declarations before submitting.
- Keep the result. Save the submission confirmation and payment record, then monitor official correspondence.
Set aside uninterrupted time. The public renewal instructions warn that an expired session may require starting again. Preparation is more useful than trying to finish within a promised number of minutes.
After submission, keep the passport being renewed rather than mailing it in. Treat it as unavailable for international travel after cancellation. Mark your travel-planning notes accordingly so another household member does not accidentally pack it for a trip.
Processing time: online submission versus delivery
On 29 October 2026, the State Department’s processing-time page listed 4–6 weeks for routine processing. Mailing time is separate; receiving the new passport can take up to two weeks after dispatch. Published times can change and individual applications can take different amounts of time.
For a planned relocation, coordinate passport renewal with the destination’s visa process. Our Portugal moving guide for U.S. applicants explains the separate consular application and document sequence, so renewal, the visa appointment and international travel can be planned together.
An online application avoids sending a paper packet to the processing system. It does not eliminate review, printing or delivery. Do not add incoming paper-mail transit to an online application simply because a general article includes that stage.
Example: Taylor has an international trip in ten weeks. Taylor checks eligibility and the current routine estimate, then allows for outgoing delivery and possible requests. That is a planning exercise, not a guarantee of arrival before the flight. Comparing only the four-week end of an estimate would leave less room for problems.
Record the date you checked the estimate, your submission date, travel date and latest official update. A friend’s unusually fast renewal does not change the service you selected.
Can you expedite an online passport renewal?
You cannot select expedited processing when initially submitting an online renewal. If you already know routine service is unsuitable, consult Get Your Passport Fast before applying. The official alternatives distinguish expedited mail renewal from urgent agency appointments.
Expedited processing is currently listed as 2–3 weeks, excluding mailing, with an additional $60 charge. Urgent-travel appointments have their own timing and evidence requirements. They are not a premium checkbox in the initial OPR application.
If plans change after submission, use the official passport contact instructions. Applicants with an existing application and travel within 14 days should call 877-487-2778. For requests involving expedited service, a changed mailing address or faster return, follow the relevant contact route. Availability and completion before travel are not guaranteed.
Example: Casey applied online without an imminent trip, then received an unexpected overseas work assignment. Casey should explain that an application already exists and provide its reference when contacting support. Starting another application without instructions would not resolve the first file’s situation.
Check your online passport renewal status
Watch for official email updates and use the Department’s application-status guidance. For manual status checks, it specifies your last name, date of birth and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
| Update | What it means | Next useful check |
|---|---|---|
| In Process | The application is under review | Check correspondence and the applicable service estimate |
| Approved | Review has finished and printing will begin | Watch for dispatch; approval is not delivery |
| Passport Mailed | The passport has been sent | Use the available delivery information |
| Additional Information Needed | Further evidence or information is requested | Read and respond to the actual notice |
For a request, the official response instructions require action within 90 days of the notice date. Follow the specific submission method and address in your correspondence. Keep a copy of your response and evidence of sending it.
A simple request log can prevent missed tasks: notice date, item requested, deadline, response method and confirmation. Check those entries together rather than relying on memory.
What if the renewal site is down or something goes wrong?
First identify the failed task: opening OPR, uploading a photo, completing payment or checking status. These are different problems. Save the exact error and when it occurred, without sharing sensitive identifiers publicly.
For a status lookup problem, the official guidance suggests checking name matching and trying the relevant browser or connection troubleshooting. Do not treat mailed-application transit explanations as proof of what is happening to an online submission.
If you are unsure whether a payment or submission completed, review the confirmation records and contact official support as needed. Describe what you can verify: the stage reached, any reference received and the error. Avoid guessing that an application was accepted merely because a bank transaction is visible.
Before international travel, check the new document and destination requirements together. Our UK travel guide for U.S. citizens and residents explains the separate passport and permission questions. Our U.S. border document guide covers the different task of preparing for entry. Passport renewal does not decide every other travel requirement.
Before travel: reconcile the new passport with your other records
Completing an online passport renewal in the USA does not automatically update every airline, visa or residence record. When the new document arrives, compare its identity details with your booking and the destination’s instructions before travelling.
- Inspect the new passport for an apparent error and follow the State Department’s correction instructions if necessary.
- Check which passport number an existing booking or immigration account holds. Use that provider’s actual update process rather than editing a saved confirmation yourself.
- Keep the passport being renewed as instructed, but do not plan international travel on it after cancellation.
- If another valid visa is in an older passport, consult the issuing destination’s rules about using both documents or transferring the record. Do not remove the visa or assume every country follows the same rule.
- Confirm the document needed for each leg: a US passport card is not a substitute for a passport book on international air travel.
The official online-renewal guidance explains cancellation and keeping the old passport. For an overseas application or trip, the tourist visa requirements guide separates passport validity, visas and itinerary evidence. Keep the renewal confirmation, issued document and destination permission as different records. A delivery update is useful, but the actual document should be checked before relying on it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I renew an expired U.S. passport online?
Possibly. The online rules include a ten-year passport that expired less than five years ago, but you must also satisfy the age, location, condition, information-change and travel requirements.
Is filling out DS-82 online the same as submitting an online renewal?
No. A form filler can prepare a paper renewal. Actual online submission must be completed through the official OPR service.
Do I mail my old passport after renewing online?
No. Keep it as instructed. The document being renewed is canceled after online submission and cannot then be used for international travel.
Is a JPEG the only accepted digital photo format?
No. Current instructions list JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC and HEIF, with a file size between 54 KB and 10 MB. Other photo requirements still apply.
Does paying for faster delivery expedite my application?
No. Return delivery and application processing are separate services. Initial online renewal offers routine processing.
Can someone else submit my online passport renewal?
The State Department requires you to complete your own online application. Use its official service and support instructions.