US passport online renewals now fully open to Americans | Here's how it works

Big quality for American travelers with a U.S. passport, the State Department volition let for renewal online acknowledgment to an update to the agency's erstwhile aviator program.

The State Department announced exclusively to ABC News connected Wednesday that it's aviator passport renewal programme is present afloat disposable to the public.

"We expect 5 cardinal Americans to beryllium capable to usage this each year," Rena Bitter, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Consular Affairs told ABC News exclusively.

Adults 25 oregon older who person had a U.S. passport earlier volition nary longer person to capable retired oregon people a insubstantial application, message a check, oregon marque an appointment.

"It is for radical who tin renew their passport. They've had an big passport, that has expired wrong the past 5 years oregon volition expire successful the coming year," Bitter explained.

What to cognize astir US passport online renewals

The modernized process volition beryllium simple: make an relationship to commencement the exertion process connected the State Department's website, participate your aged passport accusation and upcoming question plans.

Plus, the ordeal of going determination to get a photograph taken volition beryllium a happening of the past present that it tin beryllium done close from a cellphone.

"You tin upload your photograph and use it wholly online without having to bash thing successful idiosyncratic oregon nonstop thing successful the mail," Bitter told ABC News.

The photograph cannot beryllium a selfie, indispensable beryllium taken with a achromatic inheritance and needs to beryllium recent.

Finally, those applying for online renewal tin cheque retired utilizing a debit oregon recognition card.

"The process of applying for a passport online volition beryllium overmuch much convenient for Americans," Bitter said.

See the afloat database checklist of qualifications needed to use for online passport renewal below.

The regular processing clip for online renewals is 6 to 8 weeks, which lone includes the clip the exertion is astatine a passport bureau oregon halfway and does not see mailing times.

The integer renewal strategy was archetypal introduced successful 2021 done an enforcement bid from President Joe Biden, but aboriginal halted applications indefinitely successful 2023 owed to the backlog of delays and renewals.

Earlier this period the authorities bureau antecedently announced it would unfastened a constricted fig of applications for online renewal astatine 1 p.m. ET connected a first-come, first-serve basis.

Last year, the U.S. Department of State reported an all-time grounds precocious with much than 24 cardinal U.S. passport books and cards issued successful a 12-month span.

Online US passport renewal requirements

Passport applicants who privation to bash a renewal online indispensable conscionable the pursuing criteria, per the State Department:

-- Be U.S. citizens and residents ages 25 and older who person already had an existing passport for 10 years; the passport indispensable inactive beryllium successful the applicant's possession (and not antecedently reported mislaid oregon stolen. It can, however, beryllium expired.)
-- Not beryllium changing their name, gender, day of commencement oregon spot of commencement for the caller passport.
-- Live successful a U.S. authorities oregon territory.
-- Be applying for a regular tourer passport.
-- Be capable to upload a caller integer photo.
-- Be capable to wage the renewal interest online with either a debit oregon recognition card.