Before booking travel, always check your passport to see when it will expire. Many countries require that you have at least 6 months left on your passport before it expires. The processing time can vary but it’s usually not fast, so check well in advance. If you don’t have a passport, it can feel overwhelming to think about all you need to do to get one. Below are the steps to apply for a U.S. passport simplified and how to renew one. Hopefully this makes the process a bit easier for you.

Before we go into the easy steps, check out these hilarious pictures of my kids’ first passport photos. 😂 Notice Isaac’s shirt on the left. Great shirt choice mom. 😁

When renewing my passport the last time, I had gone to Walgreens to get my passport picture taken and had brought my pictures with me to the passport renewal office. It wasn’t the best picture of myself, but not too bad. 

When I arrived to the passport renewal office, however, I discovered that that picture wasn’t acceptable. As you can see, I wasn’t planning on getting my picture taken that day. My hair was wet. I looked like a mess! (Also my eyes look buggy!) Yikes! 

Of course your picture doesn’t matter as long as you have a passport and it is up-to-date, so let’s get into it!

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First Time Getting A U.S. Passport

If you don’t have a passport yet, start here. It can take a few months to get your passport, so planning in advance is important. Currently as of September 26, 2024, the U.S. State Department is saying that approximate processing times are between 6-8 weeks. If your trip is earlier than that you can expedite it and pay a little extra. It will still take about 2-3 weeks. These times can vary, so I would recommend checking out the current processing times at the link above.

Application Process

To apply for a U.S. passport for the first time, you must apply in person. Here are the steps:

1. Fill out the application. You can either fill it out online or print it out. You can find the form here. 
2. Provide evidence of U.S. citizenship. This needs to be the original or certified copy. This includes the following: 
   • Birth Certificate
   • Consular Report Birth Abroad
   • Certificate of Naturalization 
   • Certificate of Citizenship
3. Bring a photocopy of the U.S. Citizenship evidence.
4. Bring your current ID. Go here to find acceptable forms of ID.
5. Bring a photocopy of your ID with you.
6. There are special circumstances that could require additional information. These include if you are applying for a passport for a minor. Be sure to see if any of those apply to you. 
7. Provide a photo. You can get your photo taken for your passport at various places. You may even be able to get it done where you are applying. This seems to be the best option because they will know all of the specific requirements for passport photos. 
8. Fees. You will need a check to pay for these fees. The price varies depending if you want a card, book or both. I would recommend getting a book. The card is only for travel by land and sea from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and Caribbean countries. If you do travel by land or sea to those locations, getting both would be convenient. The card is wallet sized and easier to carry with you.
9. Make an appointment at your nearest passport acceptance facility. You can search for the closest passport acceptance facility here. 

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Renew Your U.S. Passport

Check Your Expiration Date

If you already have your passport, check the expiration date. When traveling, a general rule is that your passport shouldn’t expire within 6 months of leaving the U.S. All countries’ requirements can be a little different, so if you are unsure, check the country’s specific entry requirements here.

Requirements To Renew Your U.S. Passport

If you need to renew your U.S. passport you can either apply by mail or in person.

UPDATE: According to NPR, as of September 2024, Americans can now renew their passports online! This currently only applies to adult passport holders whose passport has expired within 5 years or whose passport will expire in the coming year.

It is not available for renewing children’s passports, adult passport holders who live outside of the United States, or for expedited applications, but they are hoping to expand it to these American passport holders in coming years.

If you are still interested in applying by mail, there are some requirements. These are: 

• You must have your current passport to submit with your application (Plan accordingly! We sadly had to forgo a trip up to Canada as we were without the boys passports for a couple months.)
• The current passport cannot be damaged
• The current passport must have been issued when you were 16 or older. 
• The current passport must have been issued within the last 15 years. 
• The current passport must have been issued in your current name or you can document the name change. 

If you answered no to any of the above items you need to renew your passport in person. 

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Application Process To Renew Your U.S. Passport By Mail

The process to renew your U.S. passport includes the following:

1. Fill out the application. You can either fill it out online or print it out. You can find the form here. 
2. Submit your most recent passport. 
3. Include your name change documents if applicable. These include:
   • Marriage certificate
   • Divorce decree
   • Court-ordered name change document
4. Provide a photo. Find the requirements here.
5. Calculate fees and pay with a check. The price depends on if you are renewing your book or your card or both. Also if you want it expedited or not.
6. Mail completed application to the correct address.

You can then track your application online by registering your email address which is super convenient. 

Application Process To Renew Your U.S. Passport Online

First be sure you meet the requirements to renew your U.S. passport online. If you are an adult and live in the States it most likely is possible. You won’t be able to renew a child’s passport, if you live outside of the U.S., you are changing your name, or if it has expired for a long period of time. Check out the exact requirements here if you are feeling unsure.

Here are the simple steps to renew a U.S. passport online:

1. Create an account on the MyTravelGov website.
2. Fill out the application. If you don’t finish it right away, that’s okay. You can save it and finish it at a later date. You just need to complete it within 30 days of when you started.
3. Enter information about your most recent passport. Be sure to double check that everything matches.
4. You will have to enter your upcoming travel plans. If you are traveling sooner than 8 weeks from your application date, you won’t be able to renew online. If you need expedited service, you will need to apply by mail or in-person.
5. Upload a digital photo. No selfies are allowed. Some requirements for your photo that are important include:
   • At least 600 x 600 pixels – it can be a rectangle, but large enough that it can be cropped. Be sure that there is space around your head and shoulders.
   • Must be in color
   • Save as a jpeg format
   • The size must be at least 54 kb but not more than 10 mb.
   • Use high quality settings so that the photo has a high resolution.
   • Make sure there are no shadows on your face.
   • Be sure that your head is in the center of the photo and not off to the side.
   • Have a neutral expression on your face. No teeth in your smile.
   • Your face must be visible. You can’t wear a hat, scarf or glasses in your photo that cover any section of your face.
   • The background needs to be neutral without patterns. Choose a white or off-white wall as your background.
6. Click sign and pay. You must pay for your passport fees by credit or debit card.
7. You will keep your current passport. You don’t need to send it in. After you apply, they will cancel your current passport, so you won’t be able to travel while it is being processed.
8. If you are interested in receiving updates on your passport, you can go to the Online Passport Status System one week after you apply to enroll to get email updates.

If you have any questions or need clarification on any of these steps, you can go to the U.S. Department of State’s website for more info.

Travel is exciting. Applying for a passport is not. Get it done though; otherwise, you better start looking into travel around the States only.

Next? Where should you travel? Check out some travel destination options here.