The US State Department (DOS) announced Thursday that its once tedious passport renewal process has been officially streamlined with the launch of its new online system. Here’s what you need to know.
No more waiting in lines, no more mailing your old passport in a manilla envelope to the federal agency, praying for its return along with a shiny replacement.
The US Department of State’s new online passport renewal system is now fully available to the public as of September 18th.
Issued under the department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, the DOS says the launch is a “significant step forward in ensuring that Americans can more easily access passport services.”
“Instead of printing a paper application and mailing it with a check, Americans can now renew their passports through a secure process that will save time and effort,” it said.
According to the US State Department’s records, as of 2023, roughly 160.6 million valid US passports were in circulation. The records also show that more than 24 million new passports were issued to US citizens that same year.
The system had previously been offered in beta testing mode since June 14th, but was only able to accept a limited number of applicants per day.
The adaption of a new system was triggered in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic to help the agency keep up with passport renewal demands once travel restrictions were lifted.
U.S. passport renewal just got easier! We've fully launched our Online Passport Renewal (OPR) system. You can skip the printing and mailing. Renew from the comfort of your home (couch!) completely online, 24/7. It's secure, convenient, and ready for you to use. See if you qualify… pic.twitter.com/RulCs5hDFi
undefined Travel - State Dept (@TravelGov) September 18, 2024
Keep in mind, there are certain requirements that must be met to renew a US passport online, including the applicant must be 25 years or older, live in the United States, the passport must have been valid for 10 years, and issued between 2009 and 2015.
The applicant must also not be traveling for at least 8 weeks from the date of applying for the renewal, be able to upload a digital passport photo, and have no changes to their name, gender, or date/place of birth.
Streamlining travel for US citizens
The post-pandemic modernization initiative is part of an executive order, Transforming Federal Customer Experience and Service Delivery to Rebuild Trust in Government, signed into law by US President Joe Biden in December 2021.
The DOS said as a result of the initiative – which also included increased staffing and several other improvements – the average passport renewal process takes “roughly one-third the time as it did last summer, and well under the six to eight weeks processing times” currently advertised on the website.
The new passport online renewal system system can be assessed by creating an account on the MyTravelGov website.
Once logged in, passport holders can also sign up for STEP, the free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. This program allows US citizens and nationals to input their international travel details so they can be quickly alerted in case of an emergency, such as a natural disaster, civil unrest, or a family crisis.
Additionally, valid passport holders can use the online site to submit a Consular Report of Birth Abroad application, manage requests, or check the status of an application 24/7, the DOS states.
For those that do not meet the requirements to renew online, valid US passport holders can still renew in person or by mail. For a full list of requirements, click here.
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