How to Renew Passport: Complete Application Guide

Are you in need of renewing your passport?

If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by the complicated regulations associated with passport renewal, rest assured that there is a solution.

By utilizing the streamlined platform of StateVitalRecords.org, you can simplify the passport renewal process and ensure a smooth experience for your upcoming travels.

Join us as we guide you through the steps of renewing your passport with ease and efficiency, providing you with the peace of mind you deserve.

1. Determine Your Passport Eligibility

Requirements

To renew your passport, certain conditions must be met—your existing passport must be:

Undamaged,
Issued when you were 16 or older
Obtained in the last 15 years
Issued under your current name (or you can legally document the name change).

Should these criteria align with your situation, you can proceed with the renewal process.

If the criteria doesn't apply to you . . .

You'll likely need to apply for a passport as a new applicant rather than pursuing the renewal process—requiring a different set of documents and potentially incurring additional steps and fees.

Can I apply for passport renewal if my passport is damaged?

If your passport not damaged, you are not eligible for a renewal. You have to apply for a completely new one instead. The following are types of damages that you'd have to get an entirely new passport:

Water stains
Big tears
Unofficial markings
Missing pages (torn out pages)
Hole punch or other signifant damage

What kind of “damage” isn't eligible?

Regular wear and tear of a U.S. passport does not count as damage for passport renewal. This includes:

Bending of passport
Visa pages fanning when opening and closing

Gather your necessary documents

To renew your passport, you must first acquire all the required paperwork. Which normally consists of:

Your current passport
A passport-sized photo
Fully filled out application for a new passport
Identification(Driver's License or any other form of government-issued ID)
Citizenship Documentation (birth Certificate or a certificate of naturalization)

2. The Passport Renewal Process

Fill out necessary Form and Application

To renew a passport, fill out the required form and application provided by the Travel.State.Gov (U.S. Department of State) website.

Sign and date your form before your mail it.
Print your form on a single-sided sheet —> they do not accept double-sided forms.
Double-check your date of birth.
Double-check your previous passport issuance date.
Choose to renew a passport book, a passport card, OR both.
Fill out Form DS-82 if you
- require a first passport book if you only have a passport card
- require a first passport card if you only have a passport book

**It's recommended to apply for a larger passport book with more pages if you are a big traveler (This can be at no extra free).

Submit your former U.S. passport

If renewing by mail or in person, make sure you submit your most recent passport(s) with your application in order to be eligible for passport renewal.

Changing your name on your passport?

If you're changing your name on your passport renewal, you'll need the following with your application.

This includes certified copies of the legal name change document.

Examples are:

Marriage Certificate
Divorce Decree
Court-ordred name change document

If you need a copy of any of these certificates, you can apply for a copy online using StateVitalRecords.org's application process. We help you mail your information to the jurisdiction!

Provide a photo of yourself

In the application, provide a photo. Passport photo requirements are as follows:

1 color photo
Recent photo taken in past 6 months
Clear image of your face
NO changes to your photo using apps, filters, AI, etc.
NO selfies, have someone take your photo or set up a tripod
NO glasses
Have a white or off-white background
NO shadows in background
NO texture in background
NO lines in background

When attaching the photo to the application, use 4 staples vertically in the corners as close to the outer edges as possible. The application will show you where to place this photo.

3. Understanding Passport Renewal Costs

When submitting your application make sure you pay the appropriate amount to the U.S. Department of State. DO NOT send cash.

If you want expedited service —> extra fee of $60
If you want shipping of completed passport in 1-2 days after issued —> extra fee of $19.53
If you are getting a Passport Book —> fee of $130
If you are getting a Passport Card —> fee of $30
If you are getting both the Passport Book & Card —> fee of $160

You can check how to pay on the government's website, too.

4. Need Passport At A Specific Time?

Traveling in less than 3 weeks —> renew in person at a passport agency or center. (Must be 14 days before travel date).
Traveling in more than 3 weeks —> mail your completed application and documents to one of the following addresses below (This depends on where you live and how fast you want to recieve the renewal.

If you want a routine service or live in California, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, New York or Texas deliver to —> National Passport Processing Center Post Office Box 640155 Irving, TX 75064-0155
If you want a routine service and live in any other state or out of country (Canada) deliver to —> National Passport Processing Center Post Office Box 90155 Philadelphia, PA 19190-0155.
Expedited service? Write “EXPEDITE” on outside of envelope and deliver to —> National Passport Processing Center Post Office Box 90955 Philadelphia, PA 19190-0955

REMEMBER: the renewed passport and documents may be mailed in seperately from eachother on different days and it may take 2 weeks to reach processing times.

5. Tracking Your Passport Renewal Process

If you want to track your passport renewal you can sign up for email updates on the government's website.

HOW STATEVITALRECORDS WORKS

Order online – Submit the form on State Vital Records through our online order form.
Notarization Through NotaryLive - In terms of notarization, some states require notarization of an application or a sworn statement – because of State Vital Records' partnership with NotaryLive, a remote online notarization platform that provides fast, secure and convenient notarization 24/7. ((Note: Keep in mind there are added fees when using NotaryLive for convenient, remote online notarization.)
- Upload Your Document
- VerifyYour Identity
- Connect Online With An Online Notary
- NotaryLive Routes Your Documents to State Vital Records Automatically

State Vital Records – After notarization through NotaryLive, State Vital Records will send the application to the jurisdiction. This is where the jurisdiction is responsible for the rest of the application process.
Jurisdiction – Will complete order and mail copy of the requested vital records to you

If you require assistance in notarizing your document, please contact [email protected]. Interested in the notarization process? Click here to learn more.

Looking to order your state vital records? Click here to make a request. Have any questions, contact us!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I renew my passport if expired?
- Yes. Only if the passport was issued within the last 15 years.
Can I send multiple renewal application in one mailing?
- Yes. If someone else is renewing their passport as well, you may send multiple applications within the same envelope.
Can I renew my US passport online?
- No. They can only be renewed by mail. Online renewals are paused.
What is the fastest way to renew my US passport?
- Make an appointment to renew in person at a passport agency or center.
Can I renew my passport at the United States Post Office?
- Yes. Many post offices can accept and help with applications.