U.S. Reopens Online Passport Renewal Pilot Program Temporarily

For the third time since its launch, the U.S. Department of State has reopened the portal for Americans to renew their passports online, operating on a first-come, first-served basis—anticipating that, based on previous experiences, spots will likely fill up quickly.

“Starting October 11, we are temporarily opening our online renewal service to new customers,” states the State Department website. “We appreciate your participation in testing our system during this pilot program.”

Initially launched in August, the State Department's online passport renewal pilot program allowed 25,000 applicants to test the system's features. This process means Americans won’t need to send in their old passport or any supporting documents. The program reopened for another 25,000 applicants in September, suggesting a similar limit will apply in October.

However, there are specific criteria to meet. To qualify for online renewal, applicants must be:

• Must be at least 25 years of age
• Renewing a passport that was issued between 2007 and 2013 (it must have been valid for 10 years but not older than 15 years)
• Renewing a passport that is set to expire within one year or has already expired

It's crucial to understand that applicants looking to change their name, gender, date, or place of birth cannot renew online at this time. Additionally, applicants must have their passport in hand; those who have lost it or had it stolen cannot apply online.

The State Department anticipates that the processing times for online renewals will mirror those for passports renewed by mail, which is 8 to 11 weeks for 'routine' processing and 5 to 7 weeks for 'expedited' service. It is advised that individuals with international travel plans in the next 5 weeks refrain from participating.

To join the pilot program, individuals will need to create a MyTravelGov account. The State Department will then register this account, which may take up to 24 hours. After registration, applicants can log in and begin their application process.

The cost for the online renewal process remains the same as the traditional method: $130 for a passport book, $30 for a passport card, and $160 for both.

The program's launch in August occurred almost eight months after President Joe Biden issued an executive order designed to simplify travel. In addition to enabling online passport applications, the order aims to create 'shorter security and check-in lines at airports through enhanced technologies, such as new security machines and advanced screening computers that streamline these processes.'

If you happen to miss this round, there's no need to worry. The State Department intends to conduct another round of pilot testing in November and will offer online renewals to the broader public next year.