Renew Online - Limited Release

Application Update
June 3, 2023

Online Passport Renewal and eCRBA Updates

O D K E N H U T C

On Saturday, June 03, 2023 at 6:00 PM until Sunday, June 04, 2023 at 12:00 AM (Washington, D.C. time), you cannot apply for an electronic Consular Report of Birth Abroad (eCRBA) or check your passport application status in your MyTravelGov account. Please check your email for any passport application status updates during this time. Thank you for your patience while we complete upgrades to our system.

The Limited Release is Currently Paused

On March 8, we paused our limited release of the online renewal service, so that we can introduce improvements based on customer feedback.

  • If you have already applied, you can login to your MyTravelGov account and manage your application. We continue to review and process your application. 
  • If you have not submitted an application, your MyTravelGov account will no longer include the option to renew online. 

During our limited release, over 500,000 customers volunteered to submit their applications online and test our system. We look forward to launching the enhanced application in a full, nationwide release later this year. 

While you cannot submit an application online now, you can still renew by mail if you are eligible. 

We have two different types of support for customers who still need access to their MyTravelGov account.

Technical Support

Technical issues may include problems with your password, error messages and blank screens, or problems completing part of the application such as uploading a photo or paying. Call 855-865-7750 or email PPTOPR@state.gov on Mondays through Fridays 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time (closed on federal holidays). 

Application Support After You Apply

If you have submitted your application online and have not received your passport, we can help if you have urgent travel in 14 days or less:

  • Call 1-877-487-2778 on Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, or on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET for assistance. We are closed on federal holidays. 
  • If you are traveling in 6-14 days, we will notify the agency processing your application of your date of travel and request that your passport is processed in time. 
  • If you are traveling in 5 days or less, we will attempt to schedule an appointment at a passport agency or center. Appointments are limited and we cannot guarantee that one will be available. 
  • Provide your nine-digit application locator number which should start with “95.”   

Upgrade to expedited service, pay for 1-2 day delivery of your completed passport, or change your mailing address by logging in to your MyTravelGov account and clicking on "Manage Application." You can complete these changes on your own up until the time your application is approved. 

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After I Submit My Application

Check my Status

  • By Email: You will receive email updates about your application and completed passport.
  • MyTravelGov Account: Login to your account to check your application status.

What Each Application Status Means

Application Status Description
Submitted You signed and submitted your application but we have not received it yet. Please wait up to two days for your application to move to the Received status. When renewing online, your processing times begin the day you submit your application.  
Received We have received your application in our system and will begin reviewing it shortly. Your application may be at this stage for several weeks. 
In Process Your application is being reviewed by employees at one of our passport agencies. The length of time your application remains In Process depends on the service you selected and our current processing times
Approved/Printed  We have finished reviewing your application and will begin printing your completed passport.
Mailed/Shipped  We are sending your passport to your mailing address. If you applied for a passport book, check your MyTravelGov account for the tracking number. Passport cards are sent via First Class Mail. The amount of time it takes to receive your passport in the mail is not included in our processing times. 

You may also receive emails if we need more information from you to process your application, or if you save your application and do not finish it within 30 days.

Our Passport Status page is for applications by mail only and will not indicate the status of your online renewal application. If you check the status of your online passport on this page, you will see an update of "Not Available."

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Upgrade to Expedited Service, 1-2 Day Delivery, and Change Address

Login to your MyTravelGov account and click on "Manage Application" to upgrade from routine to expedited service, pay for 1-2 day delivery of your completed passport, or change your mailing address. You can complete these changes on your own up until the time that your application is approved. 

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Respond to a Request for More Information

Login to your MyTravelGov account. Click on the image of the envelope to the right of your passport application number to read and respond to the message from us. 

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Steps to Renew Online

1. Confirm You Qualify

You can renew online if:

  1. Your most recent passport is/was valid for 10 years, and you are age 25 or older. 
  2. Your recent passport was issued over 9 years (in 2014) but less than 15 years (in 2008) from the date you plan to submit your application. Your passport can be expired. 
  3. You are not changing your name, gender, date of birth, or place of birth.
  4. You are not traveling internationally for at least 13 weeks from the date you will submit your application. Processing times for the online renewal service will be the same as those for renewal by mail.  
  5. You are applying for a regular (tourist) passport. You cannot renew a special issuance (diplomatic, official, service) passport online.
  6. You live in the United States (either state or territory). You do not qualify to renew online if you live in a foreign country or have an Army Post Office (APO) or Fleet Post Office (FPO) address.
  7. You have your passport with you, and it is not damaged or mutilated, and you have not previously reported it as lost or stolen. Keep your most recent passport and do not mail it to us. 
  8. You can pay for your passport using a credit/debit card or an ACH (Automated Clearing House) payment transferring funds from your bank account.
  9. You can upload a digital passport photo (.JPEG file format). Go to Uploading a Digital Photo for more information.
  10. You are aware that your most recent passport will be immediately canceled when you submit your application and you cannot use it for international travel.

If you do not qualify to renew online, you may be able to renew by mail or in-person. Go to our Renew page to learn more. 

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2. Create and Activate MyTravelGov Account

On March 8, we paused our limited release of the online renewal service, so that we can introduce improvements based on customer feedback. Your MyTravelGov account will no longer include the option to renew online.

If you still need access to your account, go to our MyTravelGov page to find FAQs for accessing the account. 

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3. Wait 24 Hours

We are no longer giving customers access to submit applications online. You can still renew by mail if you are eligible. 

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4. Start Your Application

On March 8, we paused our limited release of the online renewal service, so that we can introduce improvements based on customer feedback. Your MyTravelGov account will no longer include the option to "Renew Passport."

If you submitted your application and you are waiting for your passport, you will still be able to check your status, upgrade to expedited service, pay for 1-2 day delivery of your completed passport, and change your mailing address up until the time your application is approved.  

If you have applied and do not see the option to "Manage Application," call 855-865-7750 or email PPTOPR@state.gov on Mondays through Fridays 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time (excluding federal holidays).

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This is a screenshot of the "Renew Passport" button within a MyTravelGov account.
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5. Enter Most Recent Passport Info

At this stage of the application, we check your passport book and/or passport card number against our records to determine if you can renew online. There are several reasons why you may not be eligible to renew online. If you are not eligible for online renewal, the system will display a list of reasons and will provide instructions for renewing by mail or in person.

Validity of Most Recent Passport: Make sure your most recent passport was valid for 10 years. The passport must be expiring within one year or have been expired less than five years.  

Your Name: Doublecheck the spelling, capitalization, hyphens, and spacing between letters in your name and compare them to your most recent passport. For example, if your last name is spelled "McDonald" but printed as "Mc Donald," (with a space), make sure you enter your name as "Mc Donald"(with the space included) on the application. If your last name is spelled “Smith-Jenkins“ (with a hyphen) and printed in your most recent passport with the hyphen, try entering your name as “Smith Jenkins” (without a hyphen) or "SmithJenkins" (with no space). We will add the hyphen to your name when we review your application. 

Passport Book, Passport Card, or Both Documents: You can renew passport books and passport cards online. If you want to renew a passport book but not a passport card, leave the card section blank on the application. If you want to renew a passport card but not a passport book, leave the book section blank.

The following chart explains what documents you can renew online:

I have a... I want a... Can I renew online?
Passport Book Passport Book Yes
Passport Book Passport Card Only No
Passport Book Both Passport Book and Card Yes
Passport Card Passport Card Yes
Passport Card Passport Book Only No
Passport Card Both Passport Book and Card Yes
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6. Enter Upcoming Travel Plans

Thank you for volunteering and testing our system during this limited release of online passport renewal. 

If you are traveling internationally in less than 13 weeks, do not renew online. Go to our Get My Passport Fast page and renew by mail or in person.  

You will see a warning message on this screen if you try to enter an international travel date that is less than 13 weeks from now. 

 

 

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7. Select Your Processing Times

We are offering the same processing times to renew online as we are to renew by mail. Processing times do not include mailing times which may add several weeks on to the time it takes to receive your passport.

During this limited release of online passport renewal, do not renew online if you are traveling internationally in less than 13 weeks.

Our processing times are a range. You may receive your completed passport on a different date than your family member or friend who applied at the same time as you.

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8. Enter Personal Information

In this section of the online application, you will provide:

  • Biographical info such as your name, place of birth, and Social Security Number
  • Your mailing address and contact info
  • Emergency contact info of someone who is not traveling with you

Having trouble entering info?

  • In the Personal Attributes section, enter your height in this format (6'1'') where feet are marked with a single quotation mark and inches are marked with a double quotation mark. 
  • In the Mailing Address section, we check the address you entered with USPS records. If the application does not recognize your address, please call 855-865-7750 or email PPTOPR@state.gov on Mondays through Fridays 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time (excluding federal holidays).

 

 

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9. Upload a Digital Photo

When you renew online, you will need to upload an original, digital photo. This process is different than renewing by mail when you staple a paper photo to your physical application. 

  1. Go to our Uploading a Digital Photo page to learn more about how to upload a .JPEG image when you renew online.
  2. Watch this video to learn how our photo tool works. 
  3. Have someone else take your photo. No selfies.
  4. Do not scan a photo, or take a photo of an already printed photo.
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10. Review Your Information

On the Final Review page, you will see all the information you entered on your application. Carefully review each section and make sure it is correct. You can make edits to each section of the application before you sign, submit, and pay. 

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11. Sign, Submit, and Pay

Paying for your Passport

To complete your application, you must pay all passport fees. Use a credit card, debit card, or ACH (Automated Clearing House) payment transferring funds from your bank account.

The application will take you to pay.gov, which is a secure portal that uses encryption to ensure that personal and payment information is protected. 

Confirming Payment

After you pay your passport fees, you should receive an email confirming that your payment was successful. 

If you did not receive this email, you can provide the following information on the pay.gov site to confirm if your payment was successful:

  • Your pay.gov tracking ID
  • The email address you used when submitting your payment, OR the payment method and last four digits of the account/card used to pay for your passport

Pay.gov will then send you another confirmation email.

Keep Your Most Recent Passport

When you complete your application, you will need your most recent passport book and/or passport card on hand. Keep your most recent passport and do not mail it to us. 

The product number can be found in the upper right corner of your passport book's data page, or on the front of your passport card. The inventory control number is the same as your passport number.  

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Other Questions

What should I do with my old passport after I renew online?

Keep your old passport and do not mail it to us.  

When you receive your new passport, place a sticker on the old passport as a reminder that you cannot use it for international travel. 

When packing for your trip, check the date of expiration of your passport to make sure you are bringing your new passport.

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Can I request a refund after I have submitted my application?

You cannot request a refund via pay.gov after you submit your application. However, you can submit a request to refund your $60 expedited fee if you selected expedited service and did not receive your passport within the expedited service times published on our site.

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How do I get support?

We have two different types of support for customers who renew online.

Technical Support

Technical issues may include problems with your password, error messages and blank screens, or problems completing part of the application such as uploading a photo or paying. Call 855-865-7750 or email PPTOPR@state.gov on Mondays through Fridays 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time (closed on federal holidays). 

Application Support After You Apply

If you have submitted your application online and have not received your passport within 14 days of planned international travel or need a foreign visa within 28 days, call 1-877-487-2778 on Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, or on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET for assistance. We are closed on federal holidays. Please provide your nine-digit application locator number which should start with “95.”   

Last Updated: May 1, 2023