U.S. travelers can now renew their passports online through a pilot program launched by the U.S. Department of State on Thursday.
The new system allows passport holders to initiate renewal applications during a limited window each day. The application window will close once a certain number of applications have been received, according to a statement from the State Department. While the full rollout date for this system remains unspecified, the agency plans to expand the service following successful testing.
An online renewal system could significantly reduce the lengthy wait times that travelers often face when updating their passports.
“In the coming months, we will continue to restrict the number of daily applications to monitor the system’s performance in real-time,” the department stated. “If you cannot start your application, please try again on another day.”
The State Department has faced increasing challenges in processing passports since COVID-19 travel restrictions were lifted, resulting in a surge of applications each week. Last year, the backlog became so severe that lawmakers from California, Colorado, and Oklahoma proposed measures in the Senate to expedite the process.
Jay Zagorsky, an economist at Boston University, noted that the number of Americans with valid passports has grown about 10% faster than the population over the past three decades. In 1990, only 5% of Americans held passports, a figure that rose to 48% by December.
In 2023, the State Department issued a record 24 million passports. By December, processing times for applications and renewals had returned to the typical 6-8 week timeframe.
To renew your passport online, follow these six steps:
1. Create a free MyTravelGov online account.
2. Log in and begin a renewal application by selecting the “Renew Your Passport” button.
3. Complete the form with the information from your current passport.
4. Enter your international travel plans if departing within the next eight weeks.
5. Upload a jpeg photo (no selfies).
6. Pay the renewal fee and digitally sign the application.
For more details, visit the State Department’s online renewal website.
