Can I Renew My Passport Online? Check Every Requirement

Online renewal is fast and paperless, but the State Department only lets a specific group of adults use it. Before you start the application at opr.travel.state.gov, run through every condition below. If even one does not fit, the system is not for you, and this page tells you what to do instead. All rules here come from the State Department's online renewal page as checked on October 7, 2026.

The quick yes/no checklist

Answer each question honestly. You need a "yes" on every row.

Each requirement explained

You are 25 or older

This is a firm age line for online renewal. If you are between 16 and 24, you may still be able to renew by mail with Form DS-82, as long as your most recent passport was issued when you were 16 or older and was valid for 10 years.

Your passport was valid for 10 years

Passports issued to children under 16 are valid for only 5 years and cannot be renewed at all. Limited-validity passports, issued for less than the normal 10 years, are also outside the online route. The State Department has a separate page on replacing those.

The timing window: expiring within 1 year or expired less than 5 years ago

Look at the expiration date printed on your data page. Online renewal works only if that date is less than a year away, or if it has already passed but fewer than 5 years ago. Many people miss the first half of this rule: if your passport still has more than a year of validity, you cannot renew it online, even if you want a new one because it is filling up. In that case, mail renewal is the route. Our page on renewing an expired passport covers the older end of the window.

No change to your name or sex

The online system is built for identical renewals. If you married, divorced or changed your name by court order, you cannot use it. Mail renewal accepts a certified marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order. If your passport was issued less than a year ago, Form DS-5504 may let you update it for free. See renewing a passport with a name change.

You are in a U.S. state or territory

The requirement is about where you are when you submit, not where you live permanently. If you are abroad on the day you would apply, you cannot use online renewal.

You are not traveling for at least 6 weeks

The State Department says plainly that online renewals cannot be expedited. Your current passport is cancelled once you submit, so you cannot travel internationally on it while you wait. If your trip is closer than 6 weeks, renewing by mail with expedited service is the faster option.

You have your passport and it is in good shape

You need to have the passport with you. If it is lost, stolen, or damaged beyond normal wear and tear, you must apply in person with Form DS-11.

Which documents you can get online

The online system also limits which document combinations you can request:

The one thing every eligible applicant still needs: a usable photo

Passing the eligibility check does not mean your application will sail through. You still have to upload a digital photo that meets the State Department's rules: color, taken in the last 6 months, JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF, between 54 KB and 10 MB, plain white or off-white background, no glasses, no filters, and not a scan of a printed photo. The State Department says unacceptable photos are the top reason it puts applications on hold.

If you are taking the photo yourself, keep the camera several feet away, use even natural light and stand in front of a plain white wall. You can also run it through the free passport photo checker before you start the application.

If you do not qualify: your options

Renew by mail with Form DS-82

Mail renewal is open to more people. You can use it if you can submit your most recent passport, it was never reported lost or stolen, it was issued within the last 15 years, it was issued when you were 16 or older and valid for 10 years, it is in your current name (or you can document the change), and it is not damaged beyond normal wear. You pay by check or money order, include 1 printed 2 x 2 inch photo, and can add expedited service. Compare both routes in online vs mail renewal.

Apply in person with Form DS-11

You must apply in person at an acceptance facility, such as many post offices and libraries, if your passport was issued more than 15 years ago, was issued before you turned 16, is lost, stolen or damaged, or if you cannot document a name change. In-person applications include a $35 acceptance fee on top of the application fee.

Urgent travel

If you have international travel within 14 calendar days, or need a foreign visa within 28 days, you may qualify for an appointment at a passport agency or center. The State Department does not charge for appointments.

Children under 16 cannot renew at all, online or by mail. Their passports are valid for 5 years, and each new one requires an in-person application with both parents or guardians.

Next steps

If you passed every check, move on to how to renew your passport online for the step-by-step process. If not, the online passport renewal overview helps you pick the right path.