US Passport Renewal Checklist — What to Prepare
Renewing an adult US passport is a mail or online job if you qualify: use Form DS-82, send in your most recent passport, include a compliant photo and the fee, and your old passport comes back separately. If you do not qualify you must apply in person with Form DS-11 instead. Verified against usa.gov, September 2026 — see renew an adult passport for the authoritative word.
Stage A — Check you are eligible to renew
You can renew an expired passport only if it was issued within the last 15 years. You cannot renew it — you must apply in person with Form DS-11 — if any of these is true:
- ☐ It was issued before your 16th birthday.
- ☐ It was issued more than 15 years ago.
- ☐ It is damaged, lost, or stolen.
- ☐ It was issued in your previous name, and you do not have a legal document like a marriage license to prove your legal name change.
If you hit any of those four, this is not a renewal. Start from the first US passport checklist and apply in person with Form DS-11 instead.
Stage B — Gather what you need
- ☐ Form DS-82 — fill it out online and print it, download the PDF, or pick one up at an acceptance facility or a regional agency.
- ☐ A passport photo that meets the current US rules (see the photo stage below).
- ☐ The passport fee — check the official source for the current amount and the accepted payment method before you send anything.
- ☐ Your most recent passport — it is submitted with the application and is returned separately; in most cases it arrives about 4 weeks after your new one.
- ☐ Name change documentation, if necessary.
Stage C — Submit: by mail or online
You can renew your passport and/or passport card by mail. Or you may renew them online if you meet the requirements.
- ☐ By mail — assemble the DS-82, your photo, the fee, your most recent passport and any name change document, then follow the mailing instructions on the official page and use a trackable service.
- ☐ Online — the State Department offers the only authorized place to renew your passport online. Start from the official page rather than a search result or a third-party site.
- ☐ Check the official source for current processing times and for how you will be able to track the application.
Stage D — Timeline and the six-month rule
- ☐ Your most recent passport is returned separately from the new one — in most cases about 4 weeks after your new passport arrives. Do not assume both arrive together.
- ☐ Do not book travel on the promise of a date. Check the official source for the current processing time before you commit to tickets.
- ☐ The six-month rule: some countries and airlines will not allow a U.S. passport holder to enter if their passport expires in less than 6 months. Check the rule for your destination before you fly.
How the six-month rule works, destination by destination, is explained in the six-month rule guide.
Stage E — The photo
A printed passport photo goes in with the DS-82. Get the size and framing right before you mail or upload anything — a photo that does not match the rules is a common reason an application stalls.
- ☐ Use the current US format — size, head size and background are set out on the US passport photo page.
- ☐ If you print at home, lay the photos out on the right paper layout with the passport photo print sheet.
- ☐ Check the file or scan before you commit with the passport photo checker.
- ☐ Keep the printed photo clean and unmarked — no staples, and no writing on the back unless you are asked for it.
For the rules behind the rules, see the photo validity guide.
Get it right the first time
- Using DS-82 when you do not qualify — issued before 16, more than 15 years ago, damaged/lost/stolen, or a name change you cannot document: any of these means the in-person DS-11 route, not a renewal.
- Assuming the old passport comes back with the new one — it is returned separately, in most cases about 4 weeks after the new passport.
- Forgetting the six-month rule — some countries and airlines will not let a U.S. passport holder in if the passport expires in less than 6 months.
Frequently asked questions
Can I renew my US passport by mail?
Yes. You can renew your passport and/or passport card by mail. Assemble Form DS-82, your passport photo, the fee, your most recent passport and any name change documentation, then follow the official mailing instructions.
Can I renew my US passport online?
You may be able to, if you meet the requirements. The State Department offers the only authorized place to renew your passport online, so start there rather than from a search result or a third-party site.
My passport expired — can I still renew it?
You can renew an expired passport only if it was issued within the last 15 years. If it was issued more than 15 years ago, you cannot renew it and must apply in person with Form DS-11.
When do I get my old passport back?
Your most recent passport is returned separately from your new one. In most cases it arrives about 4 weeks after your new passport.
What photo do I need for a US passport renewal?
One printed passport photo that meets the current US rules for size, head size and background. Check the file or scan before you send it, and use a proper print layout if you print at home.
Does my US passport need 6 months of validity to travel?
Some countries and airlines will not allow a U.S. passport holder to enter if their passport expires in less than 6 months. The rule is set by the destination, so check it before you fly.