Renewing a US passport has become remarkably easy in the past few years, and the government recently made it even easier.

Who's eligible to renew their passport online? If your current passport was issued within the last 15 years, you probably fit the bill. You no longer need to create an account on MyTravelGov, and the new renewal process at opr.travel.state.gov should only take about 10 minutes to complete.

We'll show you how to navigate the online system so you can get back to planning your next vacation instead of dreading the paperwork.

How do I renew my US passport online?

In the past, US citizens were required to renew their passports by printing and filling out form DS-82 (PDF), then mailing it with a new passport photo and a renewal fee in the form of a check or money order. (You can still do that.) 

The new online passport renewal system instead uses a website form and a payment system that allows credit cards or debit cards.

Renewing your passport online doesn't change the expected processing time for your application. The State Department is sticking to its "routine service" for passport renewals, whether they are online or by mail. That means your passport application will be processed in four to six weeks, and you should receive it within another two weeks, no matter how you apply. However, renewing online will save the time that it would take for your physical application to be delivered.

If you need your passport sooner than six to eight weeks, you need to apply by mail and pay $60 extra 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 or debit card.
• You must be able to upload a new passport photo.
• You cannot travel internationally for eight weeks after submitting your online renewal application.

That last restriction is important because your existing passport, if still valid, will be canceled immediately upon acceptance of your online renewal application. 

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?

The new passport renewal process is much simpler than the previous online application on MyTravelGov. You no longer need to create an account, and a State Department wizard at opr.travel.state.gov will quickly walk you through the entire process.

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 or a debit card.

In the first part of the application, the government provides information about what you need to apply and who is eligible. Next, you'll need to share imminent travel plans, if you have any. Then you'll specify whether you're renewing a passport book, passport card or both, and you'll enter your existing passport numbers and your legal name and birthdate. Next, you will upload your digital passport photo, and then finally your payment information.

If you have any problems with the online passport renewal process, you can call for help at 877-487-2778. You can also call that phone number if your mailing address changes after you apply, or if you decide you want to pay for expedited delivery.

After you submit your renewal application and provide an email address, you can receive automatic status updates by email or by checking passportstatus.state.gov. You should expect to receive your new passport in the mail within eight to 10 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 documents 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.

How much does it cost to renew a US passport or passport card?

If you don't need to expedite your passport renewal, it will cost you $130 for a standard passport book. You can pay an additional $22.05 for express delivery to receive it in 1-3 days. Here are the full costs for renewing passports, passport cards or both.

• Passport book: $130
• Passport card: $30
• Passport book and card: $160
• Express mail (optional): $22.05

Correction, June 5: A previous version of this article misstated the website for US passport renewal and the payment options.