US Passport Online Renewal — Photo Parameters and Who Qualifies
US passport renewal can now be done entirely online — but only through the official portal, and only if you fit a specific eligibility set. The photo has its own digital rules: JPG, JPEG or HEIF, between 54 KB and 10 MB, in colour, taken within six months, and never filtered or AI-edited. Here is the eligibility list and the exact photo parameters. Verified against travel.state.gov, September 2026.
The 15-second answer
- Only official portal: opr.travel.state.gov — other “renew online” sites may be fraudulent.
- Eligibility: 10-year passport expiring within 1 year or expired < 5 years; age 25+; no name/sex change; not travelling for 6 weeks; US mailing address; undamaged passport in hand.
- Photo file: JPG/JPEG/HEIF, 54 KB – 10 MB, colour, taken in the last 6 months.
- No filters or AI — edited or filtered photos are refused.
- Do not mail the old passport — keep it; it is cancelled on submission.
Use only the official portal
The first thing to get right is where you apply. The State Department states: “the only official, authorized place to renew your U.S. passport online is opr.travel.state.gov”, and warns that “other websites or companies claiming you can renew your passport online may be fraudulent”. It adds that “no one else can sign and submit your online passport application for you”, and that “even if a company has ‘Gov’ in its name, it is not authorized to accept or process online renewal applications”. You must complete your own application.
The eligibility set
Online renewal is narrower than mail renewal. The conditions are: the passport you are renewing “is (or was) valid for 10 years” and “must be expiring within 1 year or have expired less than 5 years ago”; you are “age 25 or older”; you are “not changing your personal information such as your name or sex”; you are “not traveling for at least 6 weeks” (routine service only); you “have a mailing address in a U.S. state or territory” (not an Army, Fleet or Diplomatic Post Office address); and you “have your passport with you, it is not damaged or mutilated” and it has not been reported lost or stolen. If you are changing your details — a change of name or sex — you are not eligible for online renewal and must apply a different way.
Photo file: format, size, recency
The online photo page gives the technical envelope precisely. The file must “be a JPG, JPEG, or HEIF file”, and “the file size should be between 54 kilobytes and 10 megabytes”. It must be “in color and taken in the last six months”. And it must not be processed: “do not use any kind of filter or retouching tools to change your appearance”, because “if your photo is unnaturally edited or filtered, we will not accept it” — including one “created or edited using artificial intelligence or other digital tools”. One more practical warning: “to avoid making your image quality worse, do not send the image via text message”. The general pixel and metadata rules sit in the digital file requirements and image metadata guides.
After you submit: the old passport and a second review
Two things surprise applicants. First, do not post your old passport: “we will cancel, or invalidate, the passport you are renewing after you submit your application”, it “cannot be used for international travel”, and you should “keep it” and “not mail us the passport you are renewing”. Second, the automated photo check is not final: “an employee will review your photo again after we receive your application”. So a photo that clears the upload can still be questioned later. The photo itself is covered on the US passport photo page; the tool-versus-professional question is in the app vs professional guide.
60-second check
- ☐ Applying only at opr.travel.state.gov
- ☐ 10-year passport expiring within 1 year / expired < 5 years; age 25+
- ☐ No name/sex change; not travelling within 6 weeks; US mailing address
- ☐ Photo JPG/JPEG/HEIF, 54 KB – 10 MB, colour, ≤ 6 months
- ☐ No filters, retouching or AI; do not send via text message
- ☐ Keep the old passport; expect a second photo review
Frequently asked questions
Can I renew my US passport entirely online?
Yes, if you qualify — but only through the official portal at opr.travel.state.gov. Other websites or companies claiming to renew it online may be fraudulent.
Who is eligible for online US passport renewal?
You need a passport that was valid for 10 years and is either expiring within 1 year or expired less than 5 years ago; you must be 25 or older; not changing personal information such as name or sex; not travelling for at least 6 weeks; have a mailing address in a US state or territory; and have your undamaged passport with you.
What are the photo file requirements?
The photo must be a JPG, JPEG or HEIF file between 54 kilobytes and 10 megabytes, in colour, taken in the last six months, and not edited or filtered.
Can I use AI or a filter on the photo?
No. Do not use any kind of filter or retouching tool to change your appearance; an unnaturally edited or filtered photo will not be accepted, including one created with AI.
Do I need to mail my old passport?
No. Keep the passport you are renewing and do not mail it; it is cancelled after you submit the application.
Will my photo be checked again?
Yes. An employee reviews your photo again after the application is received.
Official source: travel.state.gov — Renew Online and Online Renewal Photo, retrieved 2026-09-27 via archived official pages (snapshots 2025-12-29; the photo page states Last Updated December 15, 2025). Confidence A (official text, quoted verbatim).
Related: the US passport photo page, the digital file requirements guide, the channel comparison guide, and the passport photo checker.