Can You Renew a U.S. Passport Online? Eligibility Checks and How to Avoid Fake Renewal Sites

You may renew a U.S. passport online if you’re at least 25, located in a U.S. state or territory, and your eligible 10-year passport is expiring within one year or expired less than five years ago.
Online renewal is routine service only. Don’t use it if you’re traveling within six weeks, changing your name or sex, replacing a damaged or lost passport, or applying from Canada.
The only authorized online renewal service is the Department of State’s official portal at opr.travel.state.gov. Websites charging to complete the online application may be unauthorized or fraudulent.

Can you renew a U.S. passport online right now?

Yes. As of September 11, 2026, eligible U.S. citizens can renew a passport online for routine service. The online process is available only to people who are physically located in a U.S. state or territory when they submit the application.

The biggest catch is timing: online renewals can’t be expedited. The State Department says you should not use online renewal if you’re traveling internationally within six weeks of submitting your application. Routine processing currently takes about four to six weeks, and mailing time can add up to two more weeks.

The official online renewal portal is the only place you should submit the application. Look for the exact government service at opr.travel.state.gov, rather than relying on a search ad or a company that uses words such as “official,” “government,” or “passport service” in its name.

Start the official online passport renewal application

Online passport renewal eligibility checklist

You must meet every applicable requirement below to renew online:

Your passport was valid for 10 years.
Your passport is expiring within one year or expired less than five years ago.
You are at least 25 years old.
You aren’t changing personal information such as your name or sex.
You’re not traveling internationally for at least six weeks after submitting the application.
You’re physically located in a U.S. state or territory when you apply.
You have the passport with you, and it isn’t damaged or mutilated.
You haven’t reported the passport lost or stolen.

These rules are narrower than ordinary adult passport renewal rules. For example, someone who qualifies to renew by mail may still be ineligible for online renewal because of a name change, travel date, location, or passport condition.

Passport book and passport card combinations

The online system can handle several document combinations. You can generally renew a book as a book, a card as a card, or either document while requesting both a book and a card. If you have only a passport card and want a passport book, or only a book and want a passport card, the State Department directs applicants to renew by mail instead.

Who should not use online renewal?

Don’t start an online renewal if your passport is lost, stolen, or seriously damaged. You also shouldn’t use it when you need to change your name or another personal detail, when you’re under 25, or when your previous passport wasn’t valid for the standard 10-year period.

Children under 16 cannot renew passports. If you don’t meet the online requirements, use the State Department’s renewal-by-mail or first-time application instructions instead.

Apply for a first-time or otherwise ineligible adult passport

Renew your passport by mail

What you need before starting

Gather the following before opening the application. The online session may expire if you leave and return later, which means you could have to start over.

Your current or recently expired passport.
A digital passport photo that meets the State Department’s requirements.
Your Social Security number and other personal information.
An emergency contact.
A credit or debit card for the application fee.

Current online renewal fees are $130 for a passport book, $30 for a passport card, and $160 for both. Optional one-to-three-day delivery for a completed passport book costs $23.36, according to the current online renewal guidance.

Do not mail your old passport for an online renewal. After you submit the application, the State Department will cancel it, so you must not use that passport for international travel. Keep it as proof of citizenship until you receive the replacement.

How to renew your passport online

Confirm that you meet every eligibility requirement, especially the six-week travel rule and the requirement to be inside the United States.
Prepare your passport, digital photo, payment card, Social Security number, and emergency-contact information.
Open the official online renewal portal and complete the application yourself.
Upload your digital photo and review the document type, personal details, mailing address, and travel information carefully.
Pay the passport fee through the official government service.
Save the confirmation information and watch for status emails.

No third party can sign and submit the online renewal application for you. A private company may offer general assistance or courier services in other passport situations, but it cannot turn an unofficial website into an authorized online renewal channel.

Travel timing matters more than the convenience

Online renewal is meant for travelers who have enough time for routine processing. The State Department currently lists routine processing at four to six weeks, excluding mailing time. Applications may take up to two weeks to reach a processing facility, and delivery after printing can also take additional time.

If your trip is less than six weeks away, online renewal is not the right option. You may be able to renew by mail with expedited service, or—if your international travel is within 14 calendar days—make an appointment at a passport agency or center. Passport agencies require proof of travel and appointments are free through the government’s official system.

Make an urgent passport-agency appointment

Don’t pay a website to “unlock” an urgent appointment. The State Department does not charge a fee to make a passport-agency appointment.

Can you renew a U.S. passport online from Canada?

No. U.S. citizens living in Canada cannot use the online renewal system. The State Department provides a separate mail-renewal process for Canadian residents, and people traveling in less than eight weeks may need to contact a U.S. embassy or consulate in Canada.

Canada-based applicants should use the State Department’s dedicated instructions rather than entering a U.S. address to force access to the online system. The location requirement is based on where you are when you submit the application, not simply your citizenship.

View passport renewal instructions for U.S. citizens in Canada

How to spot a fake passport renewal website

Passport scams often appear in search results before the official government page. Some copy government colors, seals, and wording. Others use a name that includes “USA,” “government,” or “passport,” then charge a large service fee for forms or a submission process that the State Department provides directly.

Use these checks before entering your Social Security number, passport details, photo, or payment information:

Check the domain. The official online renewal service is on a .gov domain: opr.travel.state.gov. Be cautious with .com, .org, .us, or lookalike domains.
Don’t pay for a form. Passport forms are free. You still pay the government’s passport fee, but a separate fee to download or complete an official form is a warning sign.
Don’t pay for an appointment. Passport-agency appointments are free when booked through the State Department.
Ignore speed guarantees. No private company can guarantee approval or make an online renewal faster than the government’s available service.
Be wary of unsolicited messages. The State Department generally does not need a random text message, social-media message, or phone call to start your renewal.
Read the final payment screen. Confirm that you’re paying the government service and understand the exact passport fee before submitting.

A private courier company is not automatically a scam, but it is not part of the State Department and it charges extra. Courier companies cannot submit an online renewal for you. If you use one for another type of passport service, research the company carefully and understand that the extra fee does not guarantee faster processing.

What happens after you submit?

The State Department sends email updates when your application enters processing, is approved, or is mailed. It may also contact you if more information is needed.

You can check the application status online using your last name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. If the State Department requests additional information, follow the instructions in the letter or email and respond within 90 days of the date shown.

If your travel plans become more urgent after applying, call the National Passport Information Center at 877-487-2778. Ask about the options available for your application, such as upgrading service or adding one-to-three-day delivery for a passport book. Do not submit a second application just because your status has not updated immediately.

Check Your Passport Application Status

What to do if you used a suspicious site

If you entered payment or identity information on an unofficial passport website, contact your card issuer or bank promptly, save screenshots and receipts, and report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission. If your personal information may have been misused, use IdentityTheft.gov for recovery guidance.

You can also report suspected passport fraud to the Department of State. The safest next step is to stop communicating with the suspicious company, avoid paying additional “refund” or “cancellation” fees, and use only the official government resources for any replacement or status check.

Report passport or visa fraud to the Department of State

Federal Trade Commission ReportFraud

Helpful Links

Official Online Passport Renewal Portal – Start an eligible routine U.S. passport renewal directly through the authorized government portal.
Renew Your Passport from Canada – Find the separate mail-renewal process and travel guidance for U.S. citizens living in Canada.
Avoid Scam Websites That Offer Passport Services – Learn how passport renewal scams work and how to report a suspicious site or payment.
IdentityTheft.gov – Get recovery steps if an unofficial passport website may have exposed your personal information.
Renew Your Passport by Mail – Official page referenced in the article.
Apply for Your Adult Passport – Official page referenced in the article.
Make an Appointment at a Passport Agency – Official page referenced in the article.
Reporting U.S. Passport or Visa Fraud – Official page referenced in the article.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is opr.travel.state.gov the only official U.S. passport renewal website?

A. Yes. The State Department identifies opr.travel.state.gov as the only authorized place to renew a U.S. passport online. Other companies may offer paid assistance, but they cannot submit an online renewal application for you.

Q. Can I renew online if my passport expires next month?

A. You may meet the expiration-date rule, but online renewal is not appropriate if you’re traveling within six weeks. Online renewals cannot be expedited, and processing and mailing time may extend beyond your trip.

Q. Can I renew online after changing my last name?

A. No. Online renewal is not available when you’re changing personal information such as your name. Use the State Department’s instructions for renewing by mail or applying in person, depending on your circumstances.

Q. What should I do if I paid a fake passport renewal website?

A. Contact your bank or card issuer, preserve receipts and messages, report the website or payment to the Federal Trade Commission, and use IdentityTheft.gov if your personal information may have been compromised.

Q. Can I renew my U.S. passport online while visiting Canada?

A. No. The online service is limited to applicants located in a U.S. state or territory when they submit the application. U.S. citizens in Canada should follow the State Department’s Canada-specific mail or consular instructions.