Passport Renewals by Mail: Requirements in 2024

It’s super convenient to apply for your passport by mail. No traveling to the passport office, no lining up. Unfortunately, not everyone has such an opportunity. Let’s figure out if you qualify to renew your passport by mail, and how to apply using our hand-in-hand instructions.

Renew passport by mail: Requirements

The US State Department explains on the official website that you need to observe the following requirements to undergo passport renewal by mail. The key point here is you can renew the document by mail but you can’t submit your application by post for a new passport. The procedure and the type of application form vary here. Additionally, to submit a passport renewal by post you need to match a few criteria:

1. Your passport is an adult’s passport.
2. Your passport is undamaged (normal wear and tear is fine).
3. Never been lost or stolen.
4. Issued within the last 15 years.
5. At the moment of issuance, you were aged 16 or older.
6. It bears your current name or you can provide proof of your name change, such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, statutory declaration, or court order that is evidence of your name change.
7. You must not have multiple passport thefts or losses, or issues with passport damage or mutilation that resulted in limitation of validity.
8. The passport is in your possession.

How to renew a passport by mail in short?

If you set off to a foreign country overseas, or to one of the neighboring places such as Canada or Jamaica by plane, you need a passport. To apply for your passport by mail conveniently, you’ll require the following things:

• Your last passport.
• Form DS 82 filled-out.
• Proof of name change.
• Passport photo.
• Personal check or money order payable to the U.S. State Department. The fees are $130 for a passport book, $30 for a passport card, or $160 for the two. If your application is urgent, you can add the expedited service fee of $60.
• Post your application and documents to the National Passport Processing Center.

How to renew your passport by post: Steps to take in 2024

We update our information regularly. However, the changes might take place. If you need the latest information, please use the official website of the US Department of State.

1. Fill out passport application Form DS 82

Strictly follow the recommendations provided in the form. Don’t mischoose your form for Form DS 11, which an applicant must submit when they apply for a new passport or passport renewal in person. You can either fill the form out by hand with black ink or use a tool on the US Department of State’s site to type in your data online to be saved and printed.

2. Gather Documents

-Proof of having changed the name

The documents to be provided for proof of your name change are marriage, divorce, or court-ordered. You’ll have to send away the originals. You’ll get the originals back in different envelopes as a rule.

-Most recent passport

If you have a few old passports, you don’t need to send them all, just the most recent one you used. The new passport will come in a separate envelope from the rest of the documents. The old passport will be invalidated.

-Remember about passport photo

Source: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/renew.html

If your previous passport photo leaves much to be desired in the sense of looking the REAL you, give it a good try this time. Of course, your photo must follow the official rules set by the government. Make sure you wear no glasses, earphones, big jewelry, headwear, uniform, and no white clothes. Then passport photos won’t be a reason for putting your application on hold. If you need a photo now, use PhotoBooth Online to take passport photos super-quickly and compliantly with unlimited attempts. Have a go right now!

It’s also crucial you staple your passport photo correctly to your passport application. Just as it is shown on the application above. For the best result, use four vertical shots.

If you need more information on how to take a passport photo in order to renew your passport by mail easily, go to our passport photo page with the online tool and actionable tips to ace the task in minutes.

3. Get the fees right to renew your passport by mailing

To take the guesswork out of fee calculation for your application, consult the Department of State website: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/fees/fee-calculator.html.  Double-check the exact amount you need to put in your check or money order payable to U.S. Department of State. Print your full name and date of birth on the front. Cash and credit cards are no help for you here.

4. Mail-in to renew passport by mail

Get all the paperwork together: Form 82, supporting documentation, passport, passport photo, and payment. Use USPS Priority Mail Express and Priority Mail services as they will already have a big-size envelope to fit your passport application and your documents.

5. Get the addresses right

For California, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, or Texas, use the following address:

• National Passport Processing Center
• Post Office Box 640155
• Irving, TX 75064-0155

For any other state or in Canada, use the following address: 

• National Passport Processing Center
• Post Office Box 90155
• Philadelphia, PA 19190-0155

Expedited processing

Regardless of your place of residence, send your documents to the following address, if you need expedited processing instead of the routine service:

• National Passport Processing Center
• Post Office Box 90955
• Philadelphia, PA 19190-0955

Write EXPEDITE on the envelope.

6. Track your status when renewing passport through mail

If you renew your passport by mail or in person, go to the official website of the US Department of State to check the status of your passport. You’ll learn if your passport application is in progress, approved, or mailed. It can also be not found. It usually means you need to give it some time to reach the system (14 days on average).