Thinking about renewing your passport? If you take action now, you might be able to do it from the comfort of your home.
Recently, the U.S. State Department launched a pilot of its online passport renewal program, with plans for a nationwide rollout next year. This trial allows up to 25,000 people to renew their passports online, provided they meet certain conditions.
To qualify for this online service, you need to be at least 25 years old and have a passport in good condition, issued between 2007 and 2013.
The program is aimed at those whose passports are expiring within the next year—unfortunately, expired passports don’t qualify. If you need to update any details on your passport, such as your name or date of birth, you won’t be able to do so in this test phase.
To begin the renewal process, you’ll need to create a MyTravelGov account. After entering your information, there’s a mandatory 24-hour wait before you can log in and start your passport registration. You’ll need to complete the renewal application and upload a JPEG photo of yourself.
Renewing online costs the same as by mail: $130 for a passport book, $30 for a passport card, or $160 for both. Keep in mind, if you have one type of passport, you cannot switch to the other type during the online process.
If you’re eager to travel within the next five weeks, this might not be the option for you—processing times will mirror those of the mail-in method during this pilot phase.
Last December, President Biden issued an executive order aimed at enhancing customer service, including enabling online passport renewals. This initial trial will help assess the system’s efficiency before its broader release.
For more information on the trial and to check your eligibility, click here. Don’t delay, as the pilot will close after receiving 25,000 applications.
