How to Renew a Passport Online: Steps, Fees and Rules

8 min read

Last updated November 9, 2026

To renew a United States passport online, use the State Department’s online renewal system. Fill in the form, upload a digital photo and pay the fee. Most adults finish in under an hour.

You qualify if your last passport was a 10-year adult passport. It must expire within a year or have expired in the last five years.

Online renewal saves a trip to the post office and a mailed envelope. This guide covers who qualifies, the costs, each step and what to do if you cannot renew online.

Key Takeaways

Your most recent passport must have been valid for 10 years.
It must expire within one year or have expired less than five years ago.
A passport book renewal costs $130 in State Department fees.
If you travel abroad in less than 8 weeks, you cannot renew online.
The department cancels your old passport once you apply, so do not travel on it.

Inside this guide

Who can renew online
How much it costs
What you need before you start
How to renew step by step
Passport photo rules
How long it takes
If you cannot renew online
Frequently asked questions

Who Can Renew Online

The State Department explains the rules on its online renewal page. You must meet all of them to use the online system.

Your most recent passport was valid for 10 years, meaning it was an adult passport.
It expires within the next year or expired less than five years ago.
Your name matches your most recent passport exactly, including spelling and hyphens.
You live in the United States.
You are not traveling abroad within the next 8 weeks.

You can renew a book for a book, a card for a card or both if you already hold both. However, you cannot switch from a card only to a book online.

$130State Department fee to renew an adult passport book, per its official fee chart.

Good to know. If your name changed through marriage or a court order, you may need to renew by mail with legal proof of the change.

How Much It Costs

Fees are the same whether you renew online or by mail. The State Department lists them on its passport fees page.

What you renew	State Department fee
Passport book	$130
Passport card	$30
Book and card together	$160

Expedited service adds $60. Faster one to two day delivery of the finished book costs extra and is not available for cards alone.

You pay online by credit card, debit card or bank transfer. The department says cards process faster than bank transfers.

Quick tip. Choose a card payment. Bank transfers can add a delay before your application moves forward.

What You Need Before You Start

Your most recent passport, kept with you, not mailed
A digital passport photo in JPEG format
A credit or debit card for payment
An email address you check often
Your travel dates, if you have plans

Keep your old passport handy while you fill in the form. You will need numbers and dates from it.

Applications open during a set daily window, and you have 30 days to finish one after you start it.

How to Renew Step by Step

Go to the online renewal page on the State Department website.
Create or sign in to your account.
Answer the eligibility questions.
Fill in your personal details and emergency contact.
Upload your digital photo.
Choose routine or expedited service.
Pay the fees.
Watch for a pending email, then a confirmation email.

The confirmation can take up to three days to arrive. After that, you can track the status online.

Do not mail in your old passport, and do not use it to travel. The department cancels it once you apply.

How do you plan to renew your passport?

Online
By mail
In person
Not sure

Passport Photo Rules

A rejected photo is one of the most common causes of delay. Take time to get it right.

Upload an original digital photo in JPEG format.
Use a plain white or off-white background.
Face the camera directly with a neutral expression and both eyes open.
Remove glasses.
Avoid filters, editing and shadows on your face.
Use a recent photo that shows how you look today.

Many pharmacies and shipping stores take passport photos and can give you a digital file. You can also take one at home if it meets every rule.

How Long It Takes

Processing times change through the year. Check the latest numbers on the official processing times page before you apply.

Spring and early summer are usually the busiest seasons. Renewing in fall or winter often means shorter waits.

Online renewal is not for urgent trips. If you travel abroad within 8 weeks, renew by mail with expedited service or book an in-person appointment.

The State Department says travel within 3 weeks needs an in-person appointment at a passport agency or center.

If You Cannot Renew Online

Renew by mail

Cannot use the online system? You may still be able to renew by mail with Form DS-82. You mail it with your old passport, a printed photo and a check.

Apply in person

You must apply in person with Form DS-11 if you got your last passport before age 16. The same applies if it was lost, stolen or badly damaged.

Children under 16

Children cannot renew online. Both parents usually need to appear in person, as the department explains on its page for children under 16.

Traveling as a family? Our guide to traveling with kids covers documents and more.

Free updates

Join the Digieh list

Be the first to know when our weekly brief launches.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Read our Privacy Policy.

Passport Book vs Passport Card

The passport book works for all international travel, including flights. The passport card is cheaper but more limited.

The card works only for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. It does not work for international flights.

Many travelers hold both. The card fits in a wallet and can serve as identification. Meanwhile, the book stays safe at home until a flight.

What to Do While You Wait

Save your confirmation email and application number.
Check your status online every week or two.
Avoid booking nonrefundable international trips until the passport arrives.
Watch your mailbox, since the new passport and old documents may arrive separately.

If your trip date gets close and the passport has not arrived, contact the passport information center. They can tell you whether you need an urgent appointment.

Lost or Stolen Passport

You cannot renew a lost or stolen passport online. Report it to the State Department first, then apply in person for a new one.

Online vs Mail vs In Person

Method	Best for	Main drawback
Online	Eligible adults with time to spare	Not for travel within 8 weeks
By mail	Adults who cannot use the online system	Mailing time adds days
In person	Kids, first passports, lost passports, urgent trips	Needs an appointment