How to Renew Your U.S. Passport (2026): Steps, Costs, and Timing

Yes, you can renew your passport by mail or online as long as your most recent passport was issued within the last 15 years and hasn't been lost, stolen, or significantly damaged; otherwise you'll need to apply in person with Form DS-11. A passport book renewal costs $130 (or $30 for a card), and the State Department's current stated processing time is 4–6 weeks for routine service or 2–3 weeks for expedited by-mail service. 

Below, you can find out how to make sure you qualify for renewal, what are the steps you need to take to renew, how long the processing takes, and where GOV+ fits in that process.

Do you qualify to renew?

Whether you can renew by mail/online or must start over with a new application depends entirely on your most recent passport — check these before you do anything else. You need to meet all three "can renew" criteria below, not just one, to qualify for renewal. 

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This distinction matters for your wallet and your paperwork: renewing uses Form DS-82 by mail or online with no facility fee, while a new application requires Form DS-11 and an in-person visit to a passport acceptance facility, which adds a separate execution fee.

Renew online vs. by mail vs. in person — which route to take

Online renewal works only for eligible adults 25 or older who aren't traveling within 6 weeks, haven't changed their name, and can submit a digital photo through the only authorized portal, opr.travel.state.gov, which also lets you add a passport card to an existing book (or vice versa) in the same application.

By mail using Form DS-82 is for anyone who meets the standard renewal criteria (issued at 16 or older, within the last 15 years, current name or proof of change, not lost or damaged), and requires the completed form, your most recent passport, a new passport photo, and payment mailed to the processing address specified for your service speed.

In person, using Form DS-11 or a passport agency appointment, is required if you don't meet renewal eligibility or need urgent travel, carries a separate acceptance/execution fee at the facility, and should be booked as soon as possible since agencies generally limit in-person slots to travel within about 14 calendar days.

Forms, documents, and photos you need

What you need depends on which form applies to you — renewal (DS-82) uses a lighter document set than a new application (DS-11).

If you qualify to renew (Form DS-82)

• Form DS-82, completed and printed, or a completed online renewal session if eligible
• Your current passport — most recent book and/or card, not damaged beyond normal wear
• Name-change documentation, if applicable — an original or certified copy of a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order
• A compliant passport photo — digital upload for online renewal, or a printed 2x2-inch photo for mail
• Payment — check or money order for mail; credit/debit card for online renewal

If you must apply as new (Form DS-11)

• Form DS-11, completed but not signed — you sign it in front of the acceptance agent
• Proof of U.S. citizenship — a certified birth certificate, or your previous (even expired) passport
• Proof of identity — a valid driver's license, government ID, or previous passport
• A photocopy of the citizenship and identity documents you submit
• A compliant passport photo, printed at 2x2 inches
• Payment — separate checks or money orders for the application fee and the facility's acceptance/execution fee
• An in-person appointment at a passport acceptance facility

Photo tips (both forms): Take it in the last 6 months against a plain white or off-white background, and skip any filters, retouching, or beautification editing — the State Department flags altered or AI-enhanced photos, and it's the top reason applications get held up. If you're shooting it yourself, here's how to take a passport photo at home that meets the specs.

Sorting out which form applies to you — and which documents that form actually needs — is where most delays happen. GOV+ walks you through exactly what you need before you submit, so nothing gets sent back for a missing signature, wrong proof of identity, or an out-of-spec photo. 

Fees for renewing your passport (2026)

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Fees current as of the State Department's fee page, updated June 2026.

If you're applying in person with Form DS-11, you'll make two separate payments: the application fee goes to the U.S. Department of State (check or money order), while the $35 acceptance/execution fee is paid directly to the acceptance facility.

How long it takes

Routine processing currently takes about 4–6 weeks, according to the State Department's official processing-time page. This doesn't include mailing time — figure on an extra 2 weeks for your application to arrive and another 2 weeks to receive your printed passport, so plan for roughly 8–10 weeks door to door.

Expedited processing cuts that to about 2–3 weeks, for an additional $60 on top of your application fee. Mailing time still applies on top of this window.

Agency appointments are reserved for genuinely urgent travel — typically proof of international travel within 14 calendar days, or a life-or-death emergency appointment if you need to travel because an immediate family member abroad is dying or has died. These appointments aren't guaranteed even if you meet the eligibility window, so book as soon as you know you need one.

Online renewal generally tracks the same routine timeline as mail, though the State Department notes it can help you skip the 2 weeks of inbound mailing time since your application arrives instantly.

Example: If you add expedited service plus 1–3 day return shipping, expect roughly 2–3 weeks of processing plus mailing time on each end — call it 3–4 weeks total door to door, versus 8–10 weeks for routine service by mail.

Step-by-step: Renew by mail (DS-82)

1. Confirm eligibility — make sure your last passport was issued at 16 or older, within the last 15 years, in your current name (or with proof of a name change), and isn't lost, stolen, or damaged.
2. Complete Form DS-82 — fill it out online and print it, or download and complete it by hand. Print single-sided only.
3. Get a compliant passport photo — 2x2 inches, taken in the last 6 months, plain white or off-white background, no filters or retouching.
4. Prepare payment — a check or money order payable to "U.S. Department of State," covering your application fee plus any expedited or delivery add-ons.
5. Include your current passport — your most recent book and/or card, along with your new photo and, if applicable, name-change documentation.
6. Mail your application via a trackable service — such as USPS Priority Mail, to the processing address for your service speed. Write "EXPEDITE" on the envelope if you're paying for expedited service.
7. Track your status online at passportstatus.state.gov once you've submitted, using the confirmation info from your application.

Note: Your old passport will be returned separately, generally about 4 weeks after your new one arrives — don't expect them in the same envelope.

Step-by-step: Renew online

1. Confirm you're eligible for online renewal — you must be 25 or older, not changing your name, not traveling within 6 weeks, and your last passport must have been valid for 10 years and either expiring within 1 year or expired less than 5 years ago.
2. Create an account on the official portal, opr.travel.state.gov — this is the only authorized site for online renewal.
3. Upload a digital passport photo — a JPG, PNG, HEIC, or HEIF file taken in the last 6 months, with no filters or beautification editing applied.
4. Pay online with a credit or debit card, covering your application fee plus any optional 1–3 day delivery.
5. Watch for status emails at the address you provided — the State Department will update you as your application moves through processing.
6. Keep your printed or saved confirmation until your new passport arrives.

When you must apply in person (DS-11)

If your passport doesn't meet the renewal criteria covered above — issued before 16, issued more than 15 years ago, lost/stolen/damaged, or in an undocumented former name — you'll need to apply in person with Form DS-11.

How to schedule your appointment

• Routine timing: Find a nearby acceptance facility — post office, library, clerk of court, or local government office. Many accept walk-ins, but call ahead to check if yours requires an appointment.
• Urgent travel (within 14 calendar days): You'll need a passport agency or center instead. Call 1-877-487-2778 (Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–10 p.m. ET, weekends 10 a.m.–3 p.m. ET) to request an appointment, or complete an existing application first if you already applied and your plans became more urgent.
• Appointments are free to book — treat any site charging a booking fee as fraudulent, and never book through a third party claiming to guarantee a slot.

What to bring to your appointment

• Form DS-11, completed but not signed — you sign it in front of the acceptance agent
• Proof of U.S. citizenship — a certified birth certificate, or a previous (even expired) U.S. passport
• A valid photo ID — driver's license, government ID, or previous passport
• A photocopy of both your citizenship document and your photo ID
• Two separate payments — the application fee to the U.S. Department of State, and the $35 acceptance/execution fee to the facility

Figuring out which form applies to you, which documents actually count as proof, and where to submit them can turn into hours of digging through government pages — especially if your situation doesn't fit neatly into one category. GOV+ walks you through it step by step, so you know exactly what to bring to your appointment without navigating complex gov websites alone.

How GOV+ helps

If working through this checklist on your own sounds like more government paperwork than you want to deal with, GOV+ is designed to help applicants move quickly so you can get your passport faster.

• We'll prepare your application package with everything you'll need to submit your application, including the check.
• Our expert reviewers can review your application, so you don't have to worry about errors that can slow down your application process.
• GOV+ is also authorized by the U.S. Department of State to process expedited passport applications. If your travel date is coming up, we can help expedite the submission of corrected applications.

Some of the additional benefits that come with a GOV+ subscription:

• Automatic passport renewal before expiration (you pay only the government fee).
• Free replacement if your passport is lost, stolen, or damaged (you pay only the government fee).
• Identity theft protection with up to $1M coverage.

Ready to submit? Renew your passport with GOV+.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to renew a passport?

A passport book renewal costs $130, and a card costs $30. Add $60 for expedited service or $23.36 for 1–3 day return shipping if you want your passport faster.

Can I renew online?

Yes, if you're 25 or older, not changing your name, not traveling within 6 weeks, and your last passport was valid for 10 years and either expiring within 1 year or expired less than 5 years ago. The only authorized portal is opr.travel.state.gov.

How long does expedited processing take?

Expedited processing currently takes about 2–3 weeks, not including mailing time, for an additional $60 on top of your application fee.

Will I pay the $35 acceptance fee when renewing by mail?

No — the $35 acceptance/execution fee only applies to in-person applications using Form DS-11. Mail and online renewals with Form DS-82 skip this fee entirely.

Can I renew my passport that was issued when I was a child?

No. Passports issued before age 16 can't be renewed — you'll need to apply in person with Form DS-11 as if applying for the first time.

What if I need a passport immediately?

If you're traveling internationally within 14 calendar days, you can book an appointment at a passport agency or center by calling 1-877-487-2778. GOV+ can also help you pull together and expedite a corrected application if your travel date is coming up fast.

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