The era of wasting an entire afternoon at a government office just to get a travel document is finally over. For years, the passport renewal process was a mess of paper forms, physical checkbooks, and the hunt for a specific type of printed photo. It was a tedious, analog hurdle that felt decades behind the way we handle the rest of our lives.

Who's eligible to do their renewal online? If your current passport was issued within the last 15 years, you're likely in the clear. The government claims the application takes about 40 minutes, but if you've got your documents ready, you'll probably finish it faster than it takes to order a pizza. All you've got to do is set up a MyTravelGov account and upload a digital photo. Plus, keep your eyes peeled for the digital passport feature Apple is reportedly baking into the iPhone soon.

If you aren't a fan of bureaucratic red tape and physical queues, this is the win you've been waiting for. We'll show you exactly how to navigate the online system so you can get back to planning your next vacation instead of dreading the paperwork.

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How can I renew my US passport online?

Most US citizens renew their passports by printing and filling out form DS-82, then mailing that form with a new passport photo and a renewal fee in the form of a check or money order. The online passport renewal system instead uses a website form and a payment system that allows credit cards, debit cards or online ACH transfers.

Renewing your passport online does not mean you receive it any sooner than usual, though. The State Department is sticking to its "routine service" for passport renewals, whether they are online or by mail. That means you will receive your new passport in four to six weeks, no matter how you apply.

If you need your passport sooner than that, you have to apply by mail and pay $60 more for expedited service.

Who is eligible to renew a US passport online?

The most important qualifying factors for renewing your passport online are:

• You are at least 25 years old.
• You live in the US (state or territory).
• Your current passport is or was valid for 10 years.
• Your current passport must be at least 9 years old and have been issued within the last 15 years.
• You still have your existing passport and it is not mutilated or damaged.

Along with the main eligibility requirements, the State Department provides a list of further restrictions for online renewal:

• You can only renew regular passports online, not "special issuance" passports (diplomatic, official or service).
• You cannot change your name, gender, place of birth or date of birth from your previous passport.
• You must be able to pay for online renewal using a credit card, a debit card or ACH transfer.
• You must be able to upload a new passport photo.
• You cannot travel internationally for 8 weeks after submitting your online renewal application.

That last restriction is important because your existing passport, if still valid, will be immediately canceled as soon as your online renewal application is accepted. If you do not meet the eligibility requirements for renewing your passport online, you will need to renew by mail or in person at a passport agency.

What are the steps to renew a US passport online?

Before you can apply for an online passport renewal, you'll need to create a MyTravelGov account, which uses the government's login.gov system. If you don't already have a login.gov account, you can visit MyTravelGov, click on the blue Sign In button in the top-right corner, then click on Create an account.

You will then need to enter an email address and choice of language: login.gov is available in English, Spanish and French. After submitting your email address, you need to verify it by clicking on a link in an email message from login.gov, after which you will choose a password and preferred form of multifactor authentication.

You then need to provide personal information for the account, at a minimum, your first and last name. Once you are done, you should be able to access the online passport renewal page. Click the blue Start button at the bottom of the page to begin the application. The State Department estimates that the online application process will take about 40 minutes.

To begin the application for online passport renewal, you need the following items:

• Your existing US passport.
• A digital passport photo.
• Payment in the form of a credit card, debit card, or your bank routing and account numbers for ACH transfer.

In the first part of the application, you will enter information about your current passport, your legal name and whether you want a passport book, passport card or both. Next you will upload your digital passport photo, and then finally your payment information.

MyTravelGov will send you two email verifications after you submit your renewal application. The first will confirm your pending payment, and the second will confirm that the payment has been received. One week after you apply, you can sign up for email updates about your passport using the online State Department passport status system. You should expect to receive your new passport in the mail within six to eight weeks.

Can I also renew my US passport card online?

Passport cards are wallet-sized documents that look like US driver's licenses. They allow travel from the US by land or sea to Canada, Mexico or Caribbean countries. However, they are not valid for international air travel.

You can renew both passport books and cards online. Basically, you can renew whichever US passport document you currently hold. If you have an old passport book and passport card, you can renew both at the same time. If you have one or the other, you can only renew that specific document.