ARTICLE HIGLIGHTS
- The U.S. State Department has officially rolled out its online passport renewal system, allowing U.S. citizens to renew their passports more easily through a secure, paperless process.
- Thanks to increased staffing and technological improvements, routine passport processing times have been significantly reduced, taking roughly one-third the time compared to last summer.
- To renew a passport online, applicants must meet specific criteria, including having a passport issued between 2009 and 2015, being at least 25 years old, and not making changes to personal details like name or gender.
Great news for Americans with an expired or soon-to-be expired passport. Last year, the U.S. State Department launched a pilot program to allow U.S. citizens to renew their passports online. It was a huge success and in June, they expanded it.
Today, the program has rolled out for good. According to a United States Department of State press release: “The Department of State is making our new online passport renewal system fully available to the public today, a significant step forward in ensuring that Americans can more easily access passport services. Instead of printing a paper application and mailing it with a check, Americans can now renew their passports through a secure process that will save time and effort.”
The news release from Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken also states: “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. Thanks to increased staffing, technological advancements, and a host of other improvements, the average routine passport is being processed today in roughly one-third the time as at the same point last summer, and well under the advertised six to eight weeks processing times.”
I can back this up because I just renewed my daughter’s passport last month. We didn’t do it online as minors aren’t allowed to for obvious reasons. But my daughter had her appointment on August 21 and I didn’t pay to expedite it like I usually do because the kids are in school and there was no reason to spend an extra $60. I haven’t checked our mail for a week but after reading this news, I did and her passport, passport card and her original documents were all in our mailbox. The last time I checked our mail was a week ago and I think that’s how long it’s been in there as the postmarked date of her passport envelope was September 9. That’s a far cry from last year, when wait times were up to 12 weeks.
Post by @statedeptView on Threads
If you want to renew your passport online, there are 10 requirements you need to meet to be able to use the online system. You can read what they are here but below are the first four to give you an idea:
- The passport you are renewing is or was valid for 10 years, and you are age 25 or older.
- The passport you are renewing was issued between 2009 and 2015, or over 9 years but less than 15 years from the date you plan to submit your application.
- You are not changing your name, gender, date of birth, or place of birth.
- You are not traveling internationally for at least 8 weeks from the date you will submit your application. We will only offer routine service during this limited release, and the time it takes to get a passport will be the same as renewing by mail.”
To track your status, here are the 8 steps you need to follow:
1. Confirm you meet the requirements
2. Create your account
3. Start your application
4. Enter your most recent passport info
5. Enter travel plans
6. Upload digital photo
7. Sign and pay
8. Enroll in email updates
If you need to renew your passport, here are 12 more passport tips for 2024 that will save you time, money and headaches. Have you renewed your passport online? How did the process go and how long did it take to receive your documents? Let us know in the comments below or email me at Johnny AT JohnnyJet.com.
KEEP READING:–
12 passport tips that will save you time, money and headaches
–The most important thing I do when I travel internationally is …
–Rick Steves got pickpocketed in Paris: Here’s what he wants you to know
–The most important thing for travelers to do according to a safety expert
–What you need to know about renewing or getting an emergency passport in the U.S.
Want more travel news, tips and deals? Sign up to Johnny Jet’s free newsletter and check out these popular posts: The Travel Gadget Flight Attendants Never Leave Home Without and 12 Ways to Save Money on Baggage Fees. Follow Johnny Jet on MSN, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube for all of my travel posts.
Great news unless you live overseas even though there is an embassy and consulate here and believe it ore not we even have mail and couriers in New Zealand.