Americans can now renew their passports online, the State Department announced Wednesday. Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Rena Bitter said the service allows applicants to upload a photo and complete the entire process online, eliminating the need for in-person visits or mailing documents. Available 24/7, the service is currently limited to adults renewing a 10-year passport that has expired within the last five years or is set to expire within the next year, and only for those with a U.S. address.
Accessible via travel.state.gov, the platform will guide users through eligibility questions. The State Department estimates that up to 5 million Americans could use the service annually, with plans to expand it further. Bitter emphasized that processing times remain six to eight weeks, consistent with mail-in applications, and highlighted the convenience of the online option, which has received positive feedback during beta testing.
