Millions of Americans can now renew their passports online instead of mailing the State Department paper documents with a check. The department announced Wednesday that its online system is now open after months of limited testing and years of pilots.
“We are really excited that we are now making online passport renewal available,” said Rena Bitter, assistant secretary for consular affairs. “This is a new service that will allow Americans to pay, upload a photo, and apply completely online with no need to appear in person or send documents through the mail.”
The State Department estimates that up to 5 million Americans can use the service annually. Last year, the department renewed 9.6 million passports.
Bitter said the online service is currently limited to renewals for adult, 10-year passports that have expired within the last five years or will expire in the coming year. It is also available for those needing expedited service, anyone not living in the United States, or people changing details like their name or gender.
“We want to make sure that we get this right, so this is where we’re starting,” she said. Bitter noted that the online option does not offer faster processing times or reduced fees
