You can renew a U.S. passport online through the State Department's official portal if you are 25 or older, your passport was issued for 10 years, and you are not changing your name or other personal details. The process takes about 20 minutes, you keep your old passport, and you pay the same fee as renewing by mail. If you are leaving in less than six weeks, online renewal is not the right route, and this guide shows what to do instead.
Below you get the eligibility rules, a document checklist, the steps, the fees, realistic timing, and the fallback options if you do not qualify.
TL;DR
- Online renewal is open to U.S. citizens 25 or older whose 10-year passport expires within 1 year or expired less than 5 years ago.
- The only official site is opr.travel.state.gov. No third party can submit the application for you.
- You need your current passport, a valid digital photo, a card for payment, and your Social Security number.
- Routine processing is 4 to 6 weeks, plus mailing time. Expedited service costs an extra $60.
- Traveling in under six weeks, changing your name, or living abroad? Use another route, covered below.
Table of Contents
- Who can renew a passport online in 2026
- What to gather before you start
- How to renew your passport online, step by step
- Do you mail in your old passport?
- What online renewal costs
- How long it takes
- Online or by mail: which is better
- If you are traveling soon
- Renewing a passport that is already expired
- Our perspective
- Need your passport faster?
- FAQ
- Sources
Who can renew a passport online in 2026
The State Department sets the rules, and they are strict. According to the official online renewal page, you qualify if all of these are true:
- You are 25 or older.
- Your passport is, or was, valid for 10 years.
- It expires within 1 year, or it expired less than 5 years ago.
- You are not changing personal information such as your name or sex.
- You are in a U.S. state or territory when you submit.
- You are not traveling for at least 6 weeks from the day you submit.
That last point catches many people. The portal is built for routine service. If your trip is close, skip it and read the urgent options further down.
If you want a quick self-check before you start, our 5 yes/no checks for passport renewal eligibility walk through the same questions in order.
Who has to use another route
You cannot renew online if any of these apply:
- Your passport is a 5-year passport. Passports issued to applicants under 16 are valid for 5 years and do not meet the 10-year test.
- Your name changed and you need the new name on the passport.
- Your passport was lost, stolen, or damaged. These cases need a different process.
- You are outside the U.S. The online system is not approved for overseas use. A U.S. embassy notice explains that citizens abroad must follow the embassy's own procedures, and some adults can renew by mail depending on the country. Our guide to renewing a U.S. passport abroad covers the three routes.
If you do not qualify online, the State Department says you may be able to renew by mail or in person at a passport agency or center, as stated on its renewal page.
What to gather before you start
Having everything ready keeps the application near the 20 minutes the agency reports. Per the official page, you need:
- Your current passport. You will enter details from it.
- A credit or debit card for the fee.
- A valid digital passport photo. Online renewal requires a digital photo, so you do not mail a printed one.
- Personal details, including your Social Security number.
Our U.S. passport renewal checklist lists these in more detail, including common photo mistakes.
A note on photos
The photo is where most delays start. Use a plain white or off-white background, face the camera straight on, and keep a neutral expression. Do not wear glasses. Do not use a filtered selfie. If the photo is rejected, your application stalls, and that costs you weeks.
How to renew your passport online, step by step
- Go to the official site only. The State Department warns against unofficial look-alike sites. The only authorized place is opr.travel.state.gov, which you reach from the official Renew Online page.
- Confirm eligibility. The portal asks a short set of questions and tells you if you qualify.
- Enter your information. Fill in your details from your current passport and your personal data.
- Upload your digital photo.
- Choose your service. Pick book, card, or both, and routine or expedited service.
- Pay by card. You can also choose faster return delivery at this step.
- Submit. Save your confirmation, then track the status afterward.
No one can do this for you. The State Department says you cannot use a third-party service or have someone submit an online application on your behalf. A site that offers to "file your online renewal" for a fee is not the government portal.
Do you mail in your old passport?
No. You keep your old passport. The State Department says it is invalidated after you submit your application, so do not plan to use it for travel once you have filed. This is a major change from mail renewal, where you send the old book in with your form.
That matters for timing. After you submit, you have no valid passport until the new one arrives. If you have a trip within weeks, this is the single biggest risk of the online route. Use our expired passport travel guide if you are already past your expiration date and still planning a trip.
What online renewal costs
The State Department fee schedule lists these renewal fees for eligible adults, whether you renew by mail or online:
| Document | Renewal fee |
|---|---|
| Passport book | $130 |
| Passport card | $30 |
| Passport book and card | $160 |
A few details that save money and confusion:
- No facility fee. The $35 acceptance fee applies to in-person first-time applications, not to renewals.
- Expedited service adds $60. The same fee page says that if you paid $60 for expedited service and your application was not processed in the stated time, you may be eligible for a refund of that $60 expedite fee. Other fees and travel costs are not refunded.
- Faster delivery costs extra. Optional 1 to 3 day return delivery is paid at checkout.
Fees can change, so confirm the amount on the official fee page on the day you apply.
How long it takes
The State Department's processing time page breaks the journey into three parts:
| Stage | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Your application reaches the agency | Up to 2 weeks if mailed. Online filing skips most of this. |
| Agency review | 4 to 6 weeks, with expedited service available for an extra $60 |
| Passport returns to you | Up to 2 weeks by standard mail, or 1 to 3 days if you paid for faster return |
Processing time does not include mailing. The agency itself tells you to count the full time to receive your passport when you book travel. Published processing times change, so check the live figures before you commit. Our guide to the current U.S. passport processing time explains how to read them.
A realistic rule of thumb
If your trip is more than three months away, routine service is usually safe. If it is closer, pay for expedited service and faster return delivery, and file today, not next week. If it is inside six weeks, online renewal is not available, so look at the next section.
Online or by mail: which is better
For most eligible people, online is simpler:
- Online: about 20 minutes, a digital photo, no printing, no mailing your old passport, and a card payment.
- By mail: you print and fill in a form, attach a printed photo, mail your old passport, and pay by check or money order.
The agency itself reports that the online system cut the time to complete a renewal from roughly 40 minutes to 20, according to a federal technology news report. Pick mail only if you are not comfortable with online forms or cannot take a digital photo.
The form, the fee, and the processing queue are the same either way. Your choice comes down to convenience.
If you are traveling soon
Here is the honest truth: online renewal is for planned trips. If you travel in under six weeks, you have three realistic options, ordered by speed.
Option 1: Passport agency appointment. If your trip is very close, you may be able to book an appointment at a regional passport agency. Appointments are limited and tied to urgent international travel. Our guide to urgent U.S. passports lays out the eligibility windows and what to bring.
Option 2: Expedited mail or in-person renewal. If you qualify for renewal but not for online, you can renew by mail with the $60 expedite fee. See what to bring to an in-person renewal if you go to an agency.
Option 3: A registered passport courier. A courier does not issue your passport. It helps you prepare and submit your paperwork correctly and carries it to the government for you, which can save time if you live far from an agency. It adds a service fee on top of the government fees.
Watch for scams
Search results for passport renewal include many look-alike sites. Check the address before you pay. The official portal ends in travel.state.gov. Any service that submits your online application for you is not using the official process.
Renewing a passport that is already expired
If your passport expired less than 5 years ago and was issued for 10 years, you can still renew online. If it expired earlier, or you were under 16 when it was issued, you will apply as a first-time applicant with Form DS-11 in person. Our expired passport renewal guide walks through both cases.
Our perspective
Most people who contact us are not confused about the form. They are worried about time. A trip is booked, the passport expires soon, and every page they read says something different.
Our view is simple. Check the official online route first, because it is the cheapest and fastest way to renew when you qualify and have time. If you do not qualify, or you are short on time, choose the next fastest official route and add a registered courier only when its help is worth the fee.
We built PassportCenter.ai to put the rules, the fees, and the timing in plain language, so you can decide quickly. We do not issue passports. We explain the process and connect you to vetted courier services when you need expedited or professional help.
Use AI-assisted research to compare your options, then confirm every fee and deadline on the State Department site before you pay.
David
Need your passport faster?
If you are inside the six-week window, or you live far from a passport agency, you do not have to guess. At PassportCenter.ai we explain your options by speed and urgency and point you to registered expedited passport courier services when you want professional help with your paperwork.
Tell us your travel date, and compare the routes before you pay anyone. Whichever route you choose, government fees go to the State Department, and a courier's service fee is separate.
FAQ
Do I need a new photo to renew my passport online?
Yes. You must upload a valid digital passport photo. The photo must meet State Department standards, so use a plain background, face the camera, and skip glasses and filters.
Do I need to send my old passport when I renew online?
No. You keep your old passport. It is invalidated once you submit your application, so do not rely on it for travel after you file.
Is it better to renew online or by mail?
If you are eligible, online is usually easier. It takes about 20 minutes, needs no printing, and does not require mailing your old passport. The fees and processing queue match mail renewal, so choose by convenience.
How long does a passport renewal take in 2026?
Agency review is listed at 4 to 6 weeks for routine service, with expedited service for an extra $60. Add mailing time on each end. Check the State Department's live processing times before you book travel.
Can I renew online if I live abroad?
No. The online system is not approved for overseas use, and you must be in a U.S. state or territory when you submit. Follow your nearest U.S. embassy's instructions instead.
Sources
- Renew Your Passport Online, U.S. Department of State
- Passport Fees, U.S. Department of State
- Get Your Processing Time, U.S. Department of State
- Online passport renewal is NOT for U.S. citizens overseas, U.S. Embassy Tbilisi
- Federal News Network