If your most recent U.S. passport was issued when you were 16 or older, within the last 15 years, and it's undamaged and not lost or stolen, you're eligible to renew by mail using Form DS-82. If you also meet a stricter set of rules (age 25 or older, no name or sex change, currently in the U.S., no travel within six weeks) you can renew online instead. Anyone who fails the baseline test must apply in person with Form DS-11.
TL;DR:
- Passports issued to individuals aged 16 or older within the past 15 years, undamaged and with a full 10-year validity, qualify for renewal by mail or online.
- Online renewal is only available for those age 25 or older, physically in the U.S., not changing personal data, and with no travel plans within six weeks.
- Ineligible applications include passports issued before age 16, damaged or lost passports, or those with name changes without certified proof, requiring in-person application with Form DS-11.
- Name changes demand certified documents such as marriage certificates or court orders; missing or uncertified paperwork leads to rejection.
- Routine processing takes several weeks, with expedited options only available in person or by mail; tracking is done via the official passport status portal.
Table of Contents
- Passport Renewal Eligibility: The Core Checks
- Who Qualifies to Renew a Passport Online
- How to Renew a Passport by Mail With Form DS-82
- When You Must Apply in Person With Form DS-11
- Name Changes, Restricted Passports, and Overseas Renewals
- How Long Passport Renewal Takes and How to Track It
- How to Spot a Fake Passport Renewal Site
- Why Most Renewal Denials Are Avoidable
- Get Help Confirming Your Passport Renewal Eligibility
- Sources
- FAQ
Passport Renewal Eligibility: The Core Checks
Every renewal decision runs through the same five yes/no tests. Get one wrong, and you're routed to an in-person application whether you like it or not.
- Issued at age 16 or older. Passports issued to minors don't qualify for renewal by mail or online.
- Issued within the last 15 years; this is crucial as upcoming travel-entry rules require your passport to meet certain validity standards, detailed in ETIAS for Americans. Renew by mail rules cut off at the 15-year mark, no exceptions.
- Valid for a full 10-year term. A five-year passport (common for minors) doesn't count.
- Not lost, stolen, or significantly damaged. Water damage, torn pages, or a missing document all disqualify you.
- No limited-validity restrictions. A passport issued with a shortened validity period, or a pattern of repeated loss reports, usually forces an in-person visit.
Miss any one of these, and mail or online renewal is off the table. Our passport renewal checklist walks through each test in more detail if you want to double-check before you start.
Who Qualifies to Renew a Passport Online
Online renewal is the fastest path, but the U.S. Department of State keeps the door narrower than it does for mail. To use online renewal, you need to be age 25 or older, not changing your name or sex on the document, physically located in a U.S. state or territory, and free of travel plans within six weeks of submitting. Online renewals cover routine service only. There's no expedite button, so if you're flying out in ten days, skip this path entirely.
Before you start, gather your current passport, a digital passport photo (check our photo size guide if you're unsure about specs), a payment method, and any name-change documents if applicable.
- Log in and start your application on the official site.
- Verify your personal information against your current passport.
- Upload your photo and submit payment.
- Track your status through the official portal once submitted.
Pro Tip: The single most common online rejection cause is a mismatched photo, taken too long ago or in the wrong format. Take a new one the same week you apply.
How to Renew a Passport by Mail With Form DS-82
Mail renewal covers more people than online renewal does. If you're under 25, changed your name with proper documentation, or you're traveling soon, this is usually your route. It follows the same baseline eligibility as online (age 16+, issued within 15 years, undamaged) without the extra online-only restrictions.
Your mailed packet needs:
- Completed Form DS-82, signed and dated.
- Your most recent passport book or card.
- One recent passport photo meeting current specs.
- Payment (check or money order, per the form's instructions).
- Certified name-change documentation, if your name has changed.
A frequent rejection reason is incomplete or uncertified name-change paperwork. Send exactly what the form asks for, nothing improvised. Your old passport typically gets mailed back separately from your new one, so don't panic if the envelope with your new passport doesn't include it. Use trackable mail, USPS Priority or a comparable service, and follow the mailing address instructions printed directly on the form. Our guide on mailing a passport application covers packaging mistakes that cause delays.
When You Must Apply in Person With Form DS-11
Some situations take mail and online off the table entirely, and Form DS-11 becomes mandatory:
- Your passport was issued before you turned 16.
- It was issued more than 15 years ago.
- It was lost, stolen, or significantly damaged.
- You changed your name and don't have certified documentation to prove it.
- Your current passport carries limited validity or other restrictions.
Locate an acceptance facility (many post offices and clerk's offices qualify) and bring your DS-11, proof of citizenship, a valid photo ID, and payment. If your last passport was issued decades ago, our expired passport renewal guide covers exactly what changes for long-lapsed applicants.
Name Changes, Restricted Passports, and Overseas Renewals
A handful of special cases trip up otherwise-eligible applicants:
- Name changes require certified proof, a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order, submitted with your mail application. Missing or uncertified copies are a top cause of mail rejections.
- Limited-validity passports, or a history of repeated loss or damage reports, generally force an in-person application regardless of how recently your passport was issued.
- Children under 16 never renew. They apply in person with a parent or guardian and additional consent documentation, every time, with no exceptions.
- U.S. citizens living overseas typically can't use the domestic online system. Renewal happens through the local embassy or consulate, usually by mail through that consular channel.
How Long Passport Renewal Takes and How to Track It
Routine processing runs several weeks; expedited service is available for an added fee, but only through mail or in-person applications, never online. If your trip is close and you're not eligible for expedited mail service, an in-person appointment is your realistic option.
- Check your status anytime at the official passport status tracker.
- Respond quickly if the State Department requests additional documents. Delays there stall everything else.
- If you renewed by mail, expect your old passport back in a separate envelope, often arriving about four weeks after your new one.
How to Spot a Fake Passport Renewal Site
Only use websites ending in .gov for forms, applications, and payments. The State Department explicitly warns against third-party sites that mimic official renewal pages.
- Confirm the URL starts with
travel.state.govorpassportstatus.state.govbefore entering any personal data. - Treat "guaranteed same-day" promises or upfront service fees before you've even applied as red flags. Our breakdown of expeditor scams covers the exact patterns to watch for.
- Report suspected fraud to the FTC or Identitytheft immediately.
Why Most Renewal Denials Are Avoidable
The eligibility rules aren't complicated once you see them laid out, yet a huge share of rejected applications trace back to the same handful of preventable mistakes: an uncertified name-change document, a photo that doesn't meet spec, or someone assuming they qualify for online renewal when they're two years too young. A clear checklist, reviewed before you submit anything, catches nearly all of it.
— David
Get Help Confirming Your Passport Renewal Eligibility
Working through DS-82 versus DS-11, name-change paperwork, and mailing logistics on your own is doable, but it's easy to miss one requirement and lose weeks to a rejection. Passportcenter publishes free, plain-language checklists that walk you through every eligibility test in this article, with no signup and no cost.
If your travel date is close, your name-change documents are complicated, or you'd rather not risk a mail rejection eating into your trip timeline, Passportcenter provides information and links to registered passport courier services for expedited handling. That's a reasonable move when time matters more than the small added cost. For a full walkthrough of every renewal path, mail, online, and in-person, visit our step-by-step renewal guide and check your eligibility before you fill out a single form.
Sources
FAQ
Who Is Eligible for U.S. Passport Renewal?
Anyone whose most recent passport was issued at age 16 or older, within the last 15 years, and isn't lost, stolen, or significantly damaged qualifies for mail renewal; a narrower group also qualifies for online renewal.
What Makes You Ineligible to Renew Your Passport by Mail or Online?
You're ineligible if your passport was issued before age 16, issued more than 15 years ago, lost, stolen, damaged, or if you changed your name without certified documentation. Any of these routes you to Form DS-11 in person.
Can I Renew My Passport Online if I Changed My Name?
No. Online renewal specifically excludes name or sex changes; you'll need to renew by mail with certified documentation or apply in person.
How Do I Track My Passport Renewal Application?
Use the official passport status tracker to monitor progress, and respond promptly if the State Department requests additional documents.
Do Children Ever Qualify for Passport Renewal?
No. Children under 16 always apply in person with a parent or guardian, regardless of how recently their previous passport was issued.