A Step-By-Step Guide to Passport Renewal

There are many reasons a person might need to renew their passport. Whether the all-important document was lost or stolen, is approaching its expiration date or needs to be updated to reflect a name change, there comes a time in every avid jetsetter’s life when they’re required to swap their current booklet for a fresh set of pages. Travel advisors know this, and while they can’t renew their clients’ passports for them, they can certainly point them in the right direction.

Need a refresher on how the renewal process works? Here’s a step-by-step guide.

Adults Renewing by Mail

• Confirm Eligibility - To renew their passport by mail, travelers will need a current passport to submit alongside their application. The current passport cannot be damaged, lost or stolen, and it must have been issued within the last 15 years when the person was 16 or older. The document should also reflect the person’s current name.
• Complete the Application - Passport renewal forms can be found on the U.S. Department of State’s (DOS) website. Upon completing the form, travelers should print it on single-sided paper, and advisors will want to remind their clients to confirm they’ve finished all parts of the application, including signing and dating it, before mailing it in.
• Provide Current Passport(s): Next, travelers will be asked to mail their most recent passport(s) with their renewal application.
• Supply Additional Documents: Travelers who recently changed their name must provide additional documentation when applying for renewal. This can be in the form of a marriage certificate, divorce decree or court-ordered name change document.
• Include a Photo: A current photo is required for every renewal application. The picture should use a clear image of the person’s face and be taken in color in front of a white or off-white background. Travelers should remove their glasses and be warned not to alter the photo using software, apps or filters.
• Pay Applicable Fees: S. passport renewals currently cost $130. Travelers can add $60 to their application fee if they want expedited service, and they can add $22.05 if they want the DOS to ship their new passport one to two days after it’s issued. Fees can be paid via check or money order, and they should be made out to the DOS.
• Send It: Completed applications can be mailed to one of the addresses listed on the DOS website under the “Renewal by Mail” section of the “U.S. Passports” page. If someone plans to travel sooner than three weeks from their renewal date, they’re advised to renew in person versus by mail.
• Track It: Status updates will be shared with applicants via email. Travelers can also check the status of their application online on the DOS website. It can take up to two weeks from the day of applying for a renewal until an application is officially “In Process.”

Adults Renewing Online

• Confirm Eligibility - Travelers living in the U.S. ages 25+ can renew online if their existing passport is or was valid for 10 years. The current passport must expire within one year or have expired less than five years ago, and the applicant’s name, sex, birthday and place of birth must remain the same.
• Log In – To start the online renewal process, applicants can visit the MyTravelGov homepage to create an account or log into an existing one.
• Get Started - Once logged in, travelers can select “Renew Your Passport” to get started. Applicants have seven days to complete their renewal request and can save their application at any time to finish it later.
• Enter Current Passport Details - Next, the DOS verifies applicants’ eligibility to renew online by asking them to enter their information as printed on their current passport. Spelling, capitalization, hyphens and spacing between letters must be exact. If applicants are not eligible, they’ll be told why.
• Provide Travel Plans - Applicants must confirm they won’t travel for more than six weeks as online renewal is only offered under routine service.
• Upload a Photo - A color, JPEG photo taken in front of a plain, off-white background must be provided. Photos should be high resolution, taken by another person — no selfies! — and have large dimensions with space around the person’s head and shoulders for cropping purposes.
• Sign and Pay – Online passport renewal costs $130, and fees can be paid using a credit or debit card.
• Track It – Travelers can track their application via email or visit the DOS Application Status page to stay in the loop.

Visit the U.S. Department of State website at travel.state.gov for more guidance on how to renew or apply for a U.S. passport.

Originally appeared in the Fall 2025 issue of The Compass magazine