Ready to start traveling outside the United States again? If you’re planning an international travel trip or itching to take advantage of today’s crazy-low cruise ship rates, one of the most important items on your to-do list should be making sure you have a valid passport.
With passports comes an endless amount of questions like how to change a name on a passport or how to renew a passport. Renewing an expired passport isn’t quite as simple as heading down to the local DMV to update your driver’s license. Although you may qualify to renew your passport by mail, you’ll still need to pay attention to every detailed instruction—down to exactly where to place each staple—to ensure the renewal application process runs smoothly.
Below, we’ve gathered the answers to some common passport service questions about how to renew your passport.
First things first—do you qualify for the passport renewal process? Some situations require you to apply for a new passport rather than renew your current passport book or card. Even if you currently possess an old passport, you’ll need to start at passport renewal service square one and apply for a brand new one if your passport was:
If any of these situations apply, you’ll need to make an appointment at a passport acceptance facility and apply in person with Form DS-11 and all of the proper documentation.
You may be wondering how to get a second passport. To determine when you should renew your passport, take a look at either the data page of your passport book or the front of your passport card to find the issue date.
For children under 16 years of age at the time of issuance, a passport is only valid for five years. For adults, both passport books and the newer passport cards need to be renewed every ten years. In either case, don’t wait until the last minute to renew. It’s best to apply for renewal early, considering both:
In terms of planned usage, you’ll need to ensure your passport is renewed if you plan to:
There is a difference in renewal fees between passport books and cards, just as with the original cost. You’ll pay:
If possible, you should avoid in-person visits, as renew passport appointments are often limited to only urgent and medical emergency travel.
These days, you can expect the following wait times at the passport office:
Note, these processing times do not include mailing to or from a passport agency or center. With an additional $18.32 fee, you can opt for USPS Priority Mail Express for a return mail time of 1–2 days.
Looking for ways to replace a lost passport? If your passport has been lost, stolen, or damaged beyond normal wear and tear, you’ll need to apply for a new U.S. passport online rather than use the renewal process.
Damage to the level of needing a replacement includes:
To avoid the hustle and bustle of renewing your passport in person, simply fill out this form to apply for a passport renewal right now.
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