Obtaining a passport in the United States is a fairly tedious process, but it’s about to get a little easier. After several pilot programs, the State Department announced that online passport renewals are officially available to the public. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that increased staffing and improved technology have helped both advance this progress and reduce passport wait times.
Previously, to apply for a new passport, Americans had to mail in a printed form, a passport-sized photo, a copy of a valid ID, their current passport and a check. Americans could also bring their documents to a passport acceptance facility and pay with cash or credit card.
However, the online passport application process will not be available to all US citizens. Those eligible are those who are resident in the US, are over 25, and whose passports are expiring in 2019 or later or next year. This means that those getting a passport for the first time in more than five years, those living overseas, and those under the age of 25 will not be able to take advantage of the change. People who are changing their name or gender will also not be able to use the new system.
These restrictions may change in the future. “This will not be our last effort,” Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Lena Bitar said during the briefing. “We will watch how this effort progresses and then begin to consider ways we can continue to offer this service to more U.S. citizens in the months and years to come.”For now, if you qualify, follow the instructions for online passport renewal here.
