If your passport is getting close to expiring (or already has), you usually don't need to start from scratch — you can renew by mail or, if you qualify, entirely online. This walks you through figuring out which route you're eligible for, gathering what you need, and getting it submitted without losing your old passport to a scam site along the way.

21 items · 8 essential reviewed 19 Oct 2026 7 sources .md .json

Check you're actually eligible to renew (not reapply from scratch)

Dig up your most recent passportYou can renew by mail if your most recent passport can be submitted with your application, is not damaged beyond normal wear and tear, has never been reported lost or stolen, and was issued within the last 15 years and when you were age 16 or older. If any of those don't hold, you'll need to apply in person with form DS-11 instead.
Confirm your passport was valid for 10 yearsMail renewal (form DS-82) is only for passports originally issued for a 10-year validity period at age 16 or older.
Check if you qualify for online renewal if want online renewalYou can renew online if your passport is (or was) valid for 10 years, is expiring within 1 year or has expired less than 5 years ago, you are age 25 or older, and you are not changing your personal information such as your name or sex.
Note online renewals can't be rushed if travel is soonYou must not be traveling for at least 6 weeks from the date you submit your application, and online renewals cannot be expedited. If your trip is closer than that, use mail or in-person service instead.
Watch for fake renewal sitesThe only official, authorized place to renew your U.S. passport online is opr.travel.state.gov; other websites or companies claiming you can renew your passport online may be fraudulent.

Get your paperwork and photo ready

Get a passport photo takenA recent 2x2 inch color photo; drugstores, shipping stores, and many post offices offer this.
Gather name-change documents if name has changedOnly needed if your legal name has changed since your last passport; bring the court order, marriage certificate, or divorce decree.
Pull out your most recent passportYou'll mail this in for a paper renewal or photograph it for an online one, and it won't be returned to you as a valid document.
Fill out the renewal form online, then print itUse form DS-82 for mail renewal; completing it on the State Department site first catches errors that would otherwise bounce your application.
Double-check your mailing addressThis is where your new passport (and old one, if requested back) will be sent, so a typo means real delays.

Pay and submit

Know your fee before you startAn adult passport book costs $130 plus shipping when renewed by mail, and add roughly $60 more if you want expedited service.
Pay the right way for mail applicationsSend a check (personal, certified, cashier's, or traveler's) or money order payable to "U.S. Department of State" with your application — a wrong payee name is a common reason applications get sent back.
Decide if you need expedited service if traveling soonOnly worth the extra cost if you're traveling soon; it roughly halves your wait.
Mail everything flat, in a rigid, large-enough envelopeDon't fold the application or photo, and use a trackable mail service for proof of mailing.
If renewing online, complete it in one sittingYou must complete your own online application — you cannot use a third-party service or have someone submit the application on your behalf — and if you step away, your session may expire and force you to start over.
Enroll in email status updatesLets you track your application without having to call in.

While you wait

Note the current processing timesCurrent processing times are 4-6 weeks for routine service and 2-3 weeks for expedited service, and these do not include mailing times — plan your trip with that total in mind.
Don't lock in international travel until the new passport arrivesIf your trip falls within the processing window, treat the booking as tentative or pay the expedite fee instead.
Keep a photocopy of your submitted application and old passportHandy if anything goes missing in the mail or you need to follow up.
Call the National Passport Information Center if you're past the stated window1-877-487-2778; have your application details ready.
Check your new passport the moment it arrivesConfirm your name, birth date, and photo are correct before filing it away; mistakes are far easier to fix right away.

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Built only from the steps above — nothing new gets invented.

Sources & upkeep

state.gov
travelers.com
- A Guide to Renewing Your U.S. Passport
rusticpathways.com
- How Much Does a U.S. Passport Cost in 2027?

All 7 sources are re-checked weekly. When one changes a fact this checklist asserts, the step is edited and the change is logged — the revision history is public.

Different situation? — it only selects from the steps above; nothing new is written.

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