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Renew an adult passport
Find out if you can renew your passport or have to get a new one. Learn how to renew your passport by mail or in person in an emergency.
Renew early. Passport processing times vary. And some countries and airlines deny entry if your passport expires in less than 6 months.
Determine if you can renew your passport
If any of the following are true, you cannot renew your U.S. passport and must instead apply for a new passport in person using Form DS-11:
- Issued before your 16th birthday
- Issued more than 15 years ago
- Damaged, lost, or stolen. Learn how to report a lost or stolen passport.
- Issued in your previous name, and you do not have a legal document like a marriage license to prove your legal name change
If none of the above situations are true, you can renew your U.S. passport.
How to renew your passport and documents you will need
Passports can only be renewed by mail. Online renewals are currently paused. Because it can take up to three months to process your application, it is important to renew your passport before it expires.
Typically, you will need the following items to renew your passport:
- You can fill out Form DS-82 online , or
- Download Form DS-82 and fill it out by hand, or
- Find your local passport acceptance facility or regional agency and pick up a copy.
- Passport photo
- Passport fee
- Your most recent passport
- Name change documentation, if necessary
Learn how to submit all your documentation and passport fees by mail.
Check with the Department of State to find out the current processing times for passport renewals .
If you need your passport quickly
Learn how and where to get your passport fast for emergency or urgent travel or to get expedited processing. The time it takes for each varies throughout the year, and there may be additional fees. Use the fee calculator or chart.
If you are outside the U.S.
Contact the U.S. embassy or consulate near you to request a passport while outside the U.S.
If you need to change your name or correct your passport
After you receive your renewed passport, if you change your name or find an error, you will need to get an updated one to reflect the change. The process, cost, and forms you need depend on how long you have had your current passport. Follow the steps from the State Department to change your name or correct your passport.
Check the status of your passport renewal
Learn how to check the status of your passport renewal online . Or check its status by phone (call wait times may be long).
Be aware of passport expiration rules for your destination
Some countries and airlines will not allow a U.S. passport holder to enter if their passport expires in less than 6 months.
Check your destination country's U.S. passport expiration rules on the Department of State's country information page .
- On the left, search for the country name in the "learn about your destination" box.
- On that country's page, look for "passport validity."
LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023
Have a question?
Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They will get you the answer or let you know where to find it.
Passport wait times are down: Here's what to know about getting a US passport
As you run down your pre-travel checklist, there is one item you may need that requires some planning: a passport.
Though some destinations do not require U.S. travelers to have a passport, most of the time you'll need one for international travel. Wait times are down from the levels seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, when travelers could expect to wait about four months for routine service, but travelers still need to think ahead if they want to avoid any disruptions to their plans.
"The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically reduced the Department’s capacity to issue passports," a U.S. State Department official told USA TODAY in an email. "However, we made great strides over the last year to lower passport processing times and are currently meeting our service standards, which almost match pre-pandemic norms."
Here's what travelers need to know about getting a U.S. passport.
How long does it take to get a US passport?
Travelers can expect to wait six to nine weeks for routine service and three to five weeks for expedited service, according to the State Department . Those processing times do not include mailing times, which may vary across the U.S. Travelers might also have to wait as long as two weeks from the day they apply for their application to be "In Process."
Learn more: Best travel insurance
How much is a US passport?
That depends. Travelers 16 and older applying for a passport for the first time must pay both an application fee and an acceptance fee, according to the State Department . Application fees run $130 for a passport book, $30 for a passport card and $160 for both. The acceptance fee is $35 for each option.
How long is a US passport good for?: Here's what to know - and how to renew it
Where can I travel without a passport?: Check out these 6 destinations
Those 16 and up who are renewing their passports have to pay the same application fees but do not have to pay an acceptance fee. For children under 16, application fees run $100 for a passport book, $15 for a passport card and $115 for both, with a $35 acceptance fee for each option.
For the procrastinators out there, travelers can pay a $60 fee to expedite their passports. They can opt to pay an additional $18.32 for one- to two-day delivery, though that option is not available to applicants for passport cards alone.
The State Department offers a fee calculator on its website, which can help travelers determine how much they will pay.
Where do I go to get a passport?
For routine and expedited service, travelers can apply at an acceptance facility or renew by mail (some must apply in person , including those who have never had a U.S. passport and children under 16). Those with urgent – but non-emergency – international travel plans within 14 calendar days can call 1-877-487-2778 to make an appointment, though some restrictions apply, according to the State Department .
Travelers also can make an appointment if they "have a life-or-death emergency that requires international travel within 72 hours (3 business days)." Qualifying travelers also can renew their passports online . "Full availability to the public for online passport renewal is targeted for later in 2023," the State Department says.
What to know about traveling with a U.S. passport: They are strong, but not the strongest
Planning a cruise? Here are the documents and costs to keep in mind
Applicants can find the forms and photo requirements on the State Department's website .
Do you need a passport for a cruise?
Not always. U.S. citizens booked on closed-loop cruises, which start and end at the same U.S. port, can enter the country with a government-issued photo ID and birth certificate instead, but the State Department encourages having a passport "in case of an emergency, such as an unexpected medical air evacuation or the ship docking at an alternate port," according to its website . Cruise lines might also require it.
Update April 12, 2024
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Routine: 6-8 weeks*
Expedited: 2-3 weeks and an extra $60*
*Consider the total time it will take to get a passport when you are booking travel. Processing times only include the time your application is at a passport agency or center.
- It may take up to 2 weeks for applications to arrive at a passport agency or center. It may take up to 2 weeks for you to receive a completed passport after we print it.
- Processing times + mailing times = total time to get a passport
Urgent Travel: See our Get my Passport Fast page.
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