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Renewing a U.S. passport is about to get easier.
The State Department started a pilot program on Friday, Sept 16, that would allow qualified U.S. citizens to renew their passports online.
“We are committed to the President’s Executive Order on Transforming Federal Customer Experience and Service Delivery to Rebuild Trust in Government,” a spokesperson for the State Department told USA TODAY in an email. “Delivering on this promise, we are working toward providing a secure online passport renewal option. Our new online system will save Americans money, time, and effort, making it much more convenient to renew their passports.”
The spokesperson also explained that applications would be accepted until a cap is reached but did not mention that number. After applications opened on Friday, the program reached its monthly goal by 12:24 p.m. the next day and stopped receiving applications.
According to the State Department website, anyone who creates a MyTravelGov account after 12:24 p.m. on Sept 17 will have to wait until October to initiate their passport renewal online. A MyTravelGov account is free to create and serves as the portal for qualified U.S. citizens to apply for a new passport. The new feature on the State Department website can also apply for an electronic Consular Report of Birth Abroad.
There are several requirements that must be met in order to use the government’s online passport renewal system, including:
Your most recent Passport is/was valid for ten years.
- That Passport was issued between nine and 15 years ago.
- You are 25 years old or older.
- You’re not changing your name, gender, date, or place of birth.
- You are not traveling out of the country for at least six weeks from submitting your application.
- You’re applying for a regular tourist passport.
- You live in the U.S.
The MyTravel.Gov feature is still a pilot program with limited capacity, but I expect a full public launch in early 2023.
U.S. citizens looking to renew their passports can do so by mailing in their most recent Passport plus several documents, including some with sensitive personal information, or making an appointment at a Regional Passport Agency.
It’s important to note that online passport renewal processing time is the same as renewing by mail: eight to 11 weeks or five to seven for expedited processing. Despite no change in the processing time, travel industry experts still praise the program as a positive move that will make travelers’ lives much more manageable.
Jessica is a freelance journalist on a quest to see and experience everything our gorgeous planet offers and share her experiences with her fellow travelers. Jessica has written for several world-class Travel Magazines.