How to Renew Your U.S. Passport

You can renew your passport by mail or in person.  To apply by mail, your passport must:

• Be undamaged and can be submitted with your application
• Have been issued when you were 16 or older
• Have been issued within the last 15 years
• Have been issued in your current name or you can legally document your name change

Submit Form DS-82, Application for a U.S. Passport by Mail.  Routine applications are processed within four to six weeks.  Expedited service is about two to three weeks door-to-door if you request overnight delivery and pay for it both ways.  You should mail your passport application with a traceable delivery method in an envelope large enough to fit the application without folding.  If you renew your passport by mail, your new passport can only be mailed back to U.S. and Canadian addresses.  If you are abroad, you should go to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate to renew your passport.  If your passport is mutilated, changed, or damaged, you must apply in person as if you were applying for the first time.
 

Laws on this topic may vary from state to state. This content is not meant to provide you with complete information and it is not intended to be legal or tax advice. It is recommended that you consult with your own attorney, accountant or other advisor regarding your specific situation.