Fast & Secure U.S. Passport Renewal

You can renew your U.S. passport by mail using Form DS-82, provided you meet several requirements. Your most recent passport must have been issued when you were 16 years of age or older, it must have been issued within the last 15 years, and it must currently be in your physical possession.

To complete the process, you must mail the completed form, your old passport, a new compliant photo, and the exact renewal fee.

The standard government fee to successfully renew an adult U.S. passport book by mail is $130. Because you are mailing the application directly to the processing center yourself, you avoid paying the $35 execution fee that is normally required at physical acceptance facilities.

If you are in a rush and need expedited processing to receive your passport sooner, you must include an additional $60 government fee in your check or money order.

Under current Department of State guidelines, routine processing for a standard passport renewal by mail takes roughly 6 to 8 weeks to complete. If you opt to pay for expedited service, that internal processing time is significantly reduced to just 2 to 3 weeks.

However, these estimates don’t account for mailing time, which can add several extra weeks to your overall timeline.

To successfully renew your United States passport through the mail, you’re required to complete, sign, and date Form DS-82. This specific form is designed exclusively for eligible adult renewals.

If you don’t meet the eligibility requirements to use Form DS-82, such as having a severely damaged passport or if your current passport was issued before you turned 16, you cannot renew it by mail. Instead, you’ll need to apply in person using Form DS-11.

Yes, you can expedite your passport renewal by mail. To do so, you must include an additional $60 government expedite fee in your payment check submitted with your application.

To ensure mailroom staff process it correctly, you should clearly write the word "EXPEDITE" in large letters on the outside of your mailing envelope. This helps to flag your application for reduced processing time — usually 2 to 3 weeks.

Yes, the U.S. Department of State returns old, canceled passport books or cards after renewal. For security and logistical reasons, the old passport is mailed separately to your residential address. This second mailing may arrive several weeks after you receive your new, active passport.

Make sure that the mailing address you provide is accurate to avoid delays or misdelivery of the canceled passport.

Yes, the federal government allows you to renew an already expired passport by mail using Form DS-82, provided that the expired document was originally issued within the last 15 years. This gives you a five-year grace period after expiration.

If your old passport was officially issued more than 15 years ago, you cannot get a standard mail renewal. Instead, you need to apply in person using Form DS-11.

The 6-month passport rule requires that a traveler’s passport remain valid for at least six months beyond the planned departure date from a foreign country. This rule is enforced by many international destinations to ensure travelers have sufficient validity for entry.

If a passport expires sooner than this period, airlines may deny boarding, and foreign border authorities can legally refuse entry. Travelers should check passport validity well in advance to avoid travel disruptions.

The U.S. Department of State recommends renewing approximately 9 months before expiration. Many countries require 6 months of validity for entry.

No. If your passport is significantly damaged (e.g., water damage, torn pages) or has been lost, you cannot use the renewal process and must apply in person using Form DS-11.

No. Passports issued to children under 16 cannot be renewed by mail. You must apply for a new adult passport in person using Form DS-11.