Online US Passport Renewal To Open in 2023

The US Department of State has announced that an online passport renewal service will be launched to the public in early 2023 after two successful limited pilot programs took place earlier this year.

Following the success of a limited pilot program for online passport renewal this summer, the U.S. State Department says it plans to fully launch an online passport renewal option for the general public in early 2023.

The online renewal option comes on the heels of President Joe Biden’s December 2021 executive order directing the federal government to implement services that are “simple to use, accessible, equitable, protective, transparent and responsive for all people.”

Currently, the passport renewal process is cumbersome and time-consuming. Many travellers can request renewal by mail, but they must still print, fill out and submit several documents and send a check or money order to cover the cost.

Passport Wait Times

Since 2020, shuttered passport offices and personnel cuts at the State Department have bogged down the system, with wait times for passport renewals stretching as long as 18 weeks. Some travellers resorted to going across the country in order to have their passports renewed in person.

Currently, processing times for online renewal remain the same as those sent by post. But while there’s no guarantee that online renewal will shorten wait times, it will cut down on paperwork and streamline the process.

State Department officials hope online renewal will help ease long wait times, which have become the norm since the start of the pandemic because of layoffs and passport office closures.

Though processing times are starting to get faster, federal officials are still working through the backlog.

Cost Of Online Renewal

Passport renewal fees are the same whether you renew online or via traditional methods: $130 for an adult and $135 for a minor. An additional $60 fee for expedited service also remains the same.

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