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The photo must be clear, in color and show your face in the middle of the frame on a white background. No hats, glasses or smiles! Have a blank expression with no shadows covering your face and look directly into the camera. Even if you’re having a bad acne day, no filters or photo edits are allowed. The photo must be a JPEG file with a minimum size of 600 x 600 pixels. Only photos that fully comply with the guidelines are accepted.
How do I submit the application?
First, you must register for a MyTravelGov account so you can renew your passport online. When you visit the government website To register, click Renew your passport and enter your email to create an account. Then, open your email inbox, find the activation email, and click the link provided.
This will take you to a page to set up your two-factor authentication, an online security step that is always essential. After setting up two-factor authentication, click Accept and continue to create your account. Then finish this part of the process by clicking Complete personal information and completing the MyTravelGov profile with your name, address and other details.
Creating your account is simple, but you’ll need to use strategic timing for the next step: launching the app. According to the State Department website, “Over the next few months, we will limit the number of daily applications. The system will open for a limited period at noon Eastern Time each day and will close once we reach our limit for the day.” Keep trying every day until you can open an online application. While it is quite frustrating to have to get one of the daily spots during this beta test, it may take up to 30 days to complete your renewal after starting.
Before moving to the next step, find the physical copy of your old passport. When you can finally begin the application process, browse the website pages to verify your eligibility and review the disclaimers.
Next, enter the requested information from your passport. If you have a passport card in addition to your passport book, fill in the information for both. Those who are eligible will be asked to share more information about their travel plans, select a passport type, confirm their personal information and upload the corresponding photo. Finally, you will need to pay for your new passport to complete the application.
How much does it cost?
Online renewal fees are similar to what you would pay at a physical location. A passport book costs $130 and a passport card costs $30. Need both? Online renewal for both types costs $160. However, it is worth noting that if you only have one type of passport (book or card) and want to purchase the other type, then you are not eligible to go through the online renewal process.
How long does it take to get there?
Now comes the biggest wait of all. Once the filing is active in the government system, your passport renewal could take up to six to eight weeks to process. And then finally, it may take two weeks for the new passport to arrive in your mailbox.
You have the option of paying an additional $60 for a faster result if you apply by mail, but that is not an option for online applications. However, if your travel plans change, you can call the agency to request faster processing.
You can also see the status of applications by mail online, but that is not an option for digital renewals. With that in mind, you can sign up for email updates and expect four messages to arrive in your inbox letting you know when the application is received, in process, approved, and submitted. Be sure to check your spam folders so you don’t miss out on emails.
Although it may not be a pleasant experience, the sooner you stop procrastinating and renew your passport, the sooner you will be able to travel again.