Renewing a US passport is usually simpler than getting your first one — but only if you qualify to renew by mail or online. Use the wrong path and you'll be sent to an in-person appointment. Here's exactly how to tell which route is yours, what it costs, and how long it takes in 2026. (Fees and processing times change; the figures below are current as of April 2026 — confirm the latest at travel.state.gov.)
Can you renew by mail (Form DS-82)?
You can use the mail-in DS-82 only if all of these are true:
- You can submit your most recent passport with the application.
- It was issued within the last 15 years.
- It was issued when you were age 16 or older.
- It was issued in your current name (or you can document a legal name change with a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order).
- It is undamaged (normal wear is fine) and was never reported lost or stolen.
Miss any one of those and you must apply in person on Form DS-11 — that includes passports issued before age 16, passports more than 15 years old, and any that were lost, stolen, or damaged.
The online renewal option
The State Department's online passport renewal system (opr.travel.state.gov) is available in 2026. You can use it if you're age 25 or older, your passport was a 10-year book that is expiring within a year or expired less than 5 years ago, you're not changing your name or other details, you're located in the US, and you're not traveling for at least 6 weeks. The one big limitation: online renewals cannot be expedited.
2026 fees
From the official passport fee page:
- Adult passport book renewal: $130
- Passport card: $30
- Book + card: $160
- Expedite (optional add-on): +$60
- Faster return shipping (1–3 day delivery): +$22.05
Because DS-82 mail and online renewals don't go through an acceptance facility, you skip the $35 execution fee that first-time in-person applicants pay.
How long does renewal take?
As of April 2026, the State Department lists routine processing at 4–6 weeks and expedited at 2–3 weeks (the $60 expedite add-on). Crucially, mailing time is not included — allow up to about two weeks for your application to arrive and up to two more for the new passport to reach you. If you have urgent international travel within 14 days, you'll need an in-person appointment at a passport agency.
Don't let the photo sink your renewal
Every renewal needs a new photo — a 2x2-inch color photo, taken in the last 6 months, on a plain white or off-white background, with a neutral expression and your head measuring 25–35 mm from chin to crown (official photo rules). A wrong-sized head or an off-white-that's-really-grey background is one of the most common reasons a mailed renewal gets bounced. Check your photo for free against the official spec with Snapassport, or read our full US passport photo requirements guide first.