HOUSTON — If mailing your application to renew a passport seems like a hassle, the U.S. Department of State may have an easier option again soon.
The U.S. State Department is now beta-testing an online passport renewal system.
Eligible U.S. citizens can now renew their passports online. However, there are some limitations.
Those trying to renew their passports may not be able to start their application on the day of their choice. State Department officials said the system will open for a limited midday Eastern time window and will close once it has reached its daily limit.
If those looking to renew are not able to start their application, they will have to try again another day.
State Department officials said during the next several months, they plan to continue to limit the number of applications accepted each day so they can monitor the system’s performance in real-time.
Another important aspect to note is that the State Department is not offering expedited service for those renewing online.
Processing times for renewing online are from six to eight weeks. If an applicant needs their passport sooner, then they will need to mail it in or apply in person at a passport agency or center and pay the fees associated with expediting their application.
What are the eligibility requirements to renew your passport online?
According to the State Department, an applicant can renew their passport online if they meet the following requirements:
- 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.
- You are applying for a regular (tourist) passport. You cannot renew a special issuance (diplomatic, official, service) passport online.
- You live in the United States (either state or territory). You do not qualify to renew online if you live in a foreign country or have an Army Post Office (APO) or Fleet Post Office (FPO) address.
- You have your passport with you, and it is not damaged or mutilated, and you have not previously reported it as lost or stolen. Keep your most recent passport and do not mail it to us.
- You can pay for your passport using a credit or debit card.
- You can upload a digital passport photo.
- You are aware that the passport you are renewing will be canceled after you submit your application and you cannot use it for international travel.
Creating an account at MyTravelGov
If an applicant meets the requirements, then they will need to create an account at the MyTravelGov homepage. If the daily limit has not been reached, an applicant can start their application. The application can be started and finished at a later date.
The State Department said those looking to renew have 30 days to complete their application after they start it. If they do not complete it, they will need to start over.
Once an applicant has created an account, they will have to enter their info about their most recent passport. This is when the State Department will check the passport against their records to see if an applicant can renew online.
Officials want that there may be some temporary technical issues with eir system so if it does not accept it at first, the info will need to be entered again.
If an applicant is not eligible to renew online, the application will give them a list of reasons.
Then the applicant will have to enter their travel plans. This is where if you plan to travel within with weeks, the system will tell an applicant that they cannot renew online. The processing times that they list do not include mailing times as well. Routine times are the same for customers who renew online and renew by mail.
Digital passport photo requirements
The state department said applicants will need to upload a digital photo in the JPEG format for their application. This is different than submitting a photo for a physical application.
There are still very specific requirements for the passport photo. They can be found here. The photo has to be taken by someone else. No selfies.
The next step is paying for the application. Applicants can use a credit or debit card for the fees. They can also use a Automated Clearing House payment, to transfer funds from their bank account. However, the state department said processing an ACH payment may take longer than a credit or debit card.
The State Department said that applicants will still need to hold onto their recent passport as opposed to mailing it as one would do for a physical application. However, do not try and use it to travel since the state department said they will cancel it as part of the renewal process.
Applicants can enroll in email updates so they can check the status of their renewal. The State Department said they will send updates when the application is in process, approved, and when it is being sent to the applicants.