How to Renew a Passport

It's time for a vacation abroad.

Maybe this venture, you'll want to go across the pond and see Great Britain; or perhaps travel to Greece, or the Azores. Or even destinations unknown.

But when was the last time you checked your passport? Do you even have one? You will need that little official booklet to be current if you want to dine on Cozido das Furnas in Sao Miguel.

The good news is that the process isn't as scary as some people believe it to be. Whether it is your first passport, or renewing your old expired passport, the process has evolved over the years and become more streamlined, thanks in part to our digital age.

What is a Passport?

A passport is an official document issued by a country's governing body for the purposes of international travel. In the United States, passports are awarded by the U.S. Department of State and carefully regulated, since it is against the law to travel in or out of this county without one. Legal citizens and noncitizen nationals (that have been naturalized) are eligible to receive a passport. Passports are, under most circumstances, valid for 10 years from the date of issuance.

The purpose of a passport is this: to verify the identity and nationality of the traveler.

A passport contains the following information:

1. Name
2. Place of birth
3. Date of birth
4. Photograph of the holder
5. Signature of the holder
6. Gender
7. Nationality

What Are The Types of Passports?

As with all official documents, the process begins with the U.S. passport application form. There are three types: The DS-11, for first time passport applicants; the DS-82, for expired passport renewal; and the DS-64, used very rarely in cases of a lost secondary passport. This sounds like murky waters, but in reality it's very easy to sort out.

If you have never had a passport before, or have held a passport longer than 15 years, then the DS-11 form applies to you. And it must be obtained in person, with an extra $25 fee.

DS-82 Form for Passport Renewal

Let's focus though on the DS-82, for U.S. passport renewal, which is a remarkably easier process than the applicant's first go-around trying to obtain this travel document. The eligibility requirements for renewing an expired passport are in very clear language.

Passport Renewal Eligibility

The big advantage of the DS-82 passport renewal form? You can mail it in and not pay the $25 fee for in-person applicants.

Where Can You Get a DS-83 Form?

And you can get that DS-82 form in a number of convenient places. Applicants can get it here: DS-82 Form. You can also visit the Department of State Travel site which is a fantastic, informative site that is very easy to navigate. On the homepage, there is a menu bar at the top. Click on the “U.S. Passports & International Travel” tab and it will walk you through the process. Right there is a link to either download and print the DS-82 passport renewal form, or fill it out online and then print for mailing.

Applicants can also go in person to a Passport Acceptance Facility, usually any U.S. Postal Service office, many local libraries and any clerk of the court office. If you do choose to go in person, you will have to pay that extra $25 fee.

If that is not an option, those needing to renew their expired passports can also locate a Regional Passport Agency; these are U.S. Department of State offices that can take your DS-82 form and necessary documentation and also provide services to those travelers needing expedited passport renewal. The only catch here is that an appointment is needed; they will not accept walk-in traffic.

Where to Renew a Passport?

You can both locate an office on PostLocations.com and call them, additionally you canmake an appointment through the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) by calling 1-877-487-2778 (or for TDD/TTY, 1-888-874-7793). Customer service representatives can make appointments for your U.S. passport renewal Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. EST, and on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. EST (excluding, of course, federal holidays). Those numbers also go to an automated system after hours, with application renewal information and status of your passport renewal, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You can also get the DS-82 renewal form via email from the NPIC. Send them a request at NPIC@state.gov; according to the U.S. Department of State website, most emails are answered within 24 hours. You can request a DS-82 form be emailed to you, or mailed to your home.

Passport Renewal Process

1. Fill out the DS-82 application form
2. Submit your most recent passport
3. Include a certified copy of your marriage certificate/divorce decree/court order if your name has changed
4. Provide one passport photo 2 x 2 inches
5. Include your payment fee
6. Sign and date your application
7. Mail it

For routine U.S. passport renewals, mail to:

For expedited U.S. passport renewals, mail to:

DS-82 Passport Renewal Form

The DS-82 passport renewal form is user friendly. It comes in six pages, but three of them are definitions and disclaimers. The first page contains a simple, six-question checklist to make sure the applicant is eligible and able to use the DS-82 for passport renewal. That same first page also provides all the necessary links and telephone numbers mentioned above, should an applicant need assistance.

On the last two pages, you will find the actual application. Nothing scary here, the questions are streamlined and self-explanatory. The place for you to staple your 2 x 2 inch passport photo is boldly marked. It takes less than 10 minutes to fill out. Sign, date and you are on your way. The NPIC recommends no letter-sized envelopes; place all items in an envelope large enough so that nothing has to be folded. And mail it using a delivery method that can be tracked.

A word about passport photos: The U.S. Department of State has very specific guidelines on what they'll allow, and what they'll reject, such as the color of the background, the height of the head in the shot, and religious head coverings. Most of it is common sense. You can find the detailed passport photo requirements right on the DS-82 renewal form itself, by visiting https://travel.state.gov, or by calling the NPIC. And where to get those passport photos? Chances are you are just blocks away from a local store that handles them, for example:

1. Costco
2. Target
3. Wal-Mart
4. KINKOS
5. CVS
6. Walgreens

As a last resort, you can also have your photo taken at your local Regional Passport Agency, or even a local photo studio.

How Much To Renew a Passport?

The payment fee schedule for U.S. passport renewal differs based on circumstance. For routine renewal requests mailed in, the fee is $110. If you visit any of the centers in person, the $25 fee also must be paid. The time frame for waiting is up to six weeks.

How to Expedite a Passport Renewal?

For expedited requests, an extra charge of $60 is required in addition to the $110 passport application renewal fee. For overnight delivery, once your expired passport has been renewed, an additional $20.66 must be included with the payment. Time frame for an expedited request that is mailed in is up to three weeks. There are private agencies that will assist, for a charge, an expedited U.S. passport renewal; some of them claim to be able to get your travel document within 8 days.

If you have a special, unforeseen circumstance, such as an unexpected dying family member, or any other life and death situation, The U.S. Department of State has a hotline set up for just this purpose, to help a traveler expedite their passport renewal: 1-202-647-4000. In some cases, you can get your passport in 24 hours.

How to Pay for a Passport Renewal?

Methods of payment for your expired passport renewal also differ depending on where and how you are applying.

If you mail in your application, the following methods of payment are accepted:

If you are going in person to an authorized Passport Application Acceptance Facility, they will only take these methods of payment:

If you make an appointment at one of the Regional Passport Agencies, they will let you pay in following ways:

No one can plan for the unexpected. But squaring away your travel arrangements six months in advance is the official recommendation from the U.S. Department of State if you need a passport, either for the first time or for a renewal. That way, you can ensure you have the proper documents to visit that place abroad on your must-see list.