Documents Required for Passport Renewal

Passports expire, we lose them, they get stolen. For these and many more reasons you may be in a sudden need to renew your passport.

Or maybe you might have to get a fully new passport? 

Why, how to do it, what documents you have to gather, and what mistakes to avoid? 

Answers to these, and some more, questions you can find in the article below. 

Determine your eligibility to renew your passport 

The first thing in determining whether or not you’re eligible for a passport renewal is proving your US citizenship in a form of, for example, a birth certificate. 

You can also renew your passport if:

• Your previous passport was issued after you turned 16 years old,
• Your previous passport didn’t get lost or stolen (in this case you will need to apply for a new passport),
• It was issued in your current name (should it have changed you will need to apply for a new one),
• It was issued within the last 15 years (any older than that will require you to get a fully new passport). 

When should you renew your passport?

There are some instances when it’s good to renew your passport. We’ve put them below in a list. 

Renew your passport if:

• It’s about to expire (it’s good to start with the application as early as 9 months before your passport is going to expire),
• You’re traveling to a country that requires you to have a passport valid for an additional certain time even after you leave it. 

Documents you will need to renew your passport 

You need to be prepared to present the following with your US passport renewal application:

• A passport photo: it has to be a new one, no older than 6 months; make sure it represents your current look; have two identical copies prepared; it has to be done against a white background; you need to present a fully frontal look with open eyes looking straight into the camera lens
• A confirmation that you have paid the customary passport renewal fees: if you want to renew your passport through the traditional process, it’s going to cost you $110; if you want it to go faster, you will have to pay an additional $60
• The last passport you had: it has to be undamaged and in a fairly good condition
• A correctly filled out application form (DS-82): you can fill it out either by hand or online but you cannot submit it online; it has to be signed
• If you changed your name then be prepared to present some sort of legal documentation stating so: this can be, for example, a marriage license; you will not be able to renew your passport if you changed your name without presenting such documentation

Things to keep in mind when preparing passport renewal documents

We have gathered a list of mistakes to avoid when it comes to the US passport renewal process:

• Watch out for spelling mistakes in your application 
• Make sure to provide documents legally recording your name change
• Don’t apply with your previous passport photo as it’s a requirement for the photo to be no older than 6 months. 

Documents needed for US passport renewal summed up 

Certain documents are needed for US passport renewal, including the DS-82 form and a new passport photo. You need to check if you’re eligible for a passport renewal and submit your application by mail to a designated location. Double-check your application before sending it as there are many common mistakes that you can make which can get your application rejected. 

FAQs