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You must include a check or money order for the renewal fees in the envelope payable to U.S. Department of State. Write the full name and date of birth of the applicant on the check. Cash is not accepted. Address the envelope to the correct national passport center, based on where you live or if you want expedited service.
How do you renew your passport in person?
If you don’t meet the requirements to renew your passport online or by mail, you must renew in person at a passport acceptance facility such as a post office, library, or local government office. Use this search tool to find a facility near you, and check to see if you need an appointment.
When you go to the facility, bring a printed copy of the completed application form and one document proving US citizenship. This can be a hard copy of a birth certificate, an undamaged US passport with full validity (which means 10 years for adults and 5 years for children under 16 ), a consular report of birth abroad, or a certificate of naturalization or citizenship.
You’ll also need a photo ID, like a driver’s license. You need to make photocopies of your proof of citizenship and the front and back of your photo ID as well. You will need additional documents if your passport was lost or stolen.
Bring a passport photo and pay the fees with a check or money order made out to the U.S. Department of State. Write the applicant’s name and date of birth on the check. Acceptance facilities require an additional $35 fee.
How do you renew your passport in less than three weeks?
If you are traveling internationally in less than three weeks, you qualify for an in-person appointment to renew your passport at one of the 28 official passport centers around the country. In-person appointments can be scheduled online. Once the appointment is scheduled, you will receive an email with the details of what to bring with you. You can expect to bring your old passport and proof of immediate travel, like an airline ticket.
If you need to travel internationally in less than two weeks due to an immediate family member who has died, is dying, is in hospice care, or has a life-threatening illness or injury, you qualify for a fast passport under life-or-death emergency. Keep in mind the government defines “immediate family” as parent or legal guardians, children, spouses, siblings, or grandparents.
First, try to make an appointment at one of the passport centers online. If that option isn’t available, try making an appointment by phone. You should have a document proving the emergency (like a death certificate), proof you’re traveling abroad in less than two weeks (like an airline ticket), a completed passport application, a passport photo, and a photo ID. More information is available on the State Department’s site.
What are the photo requirements for renewing your passport?
The State Department says that unacceptable photos are the top reason why passport applications are put on hold. So it’s of utmost importance to adhere to the photo requirements, especially if you’re on a tight timeline.
Passport photos must be one color photo taken in the last six months. The photo must be the original, unedited picture with no filters or other digital changes. Use a plain white or off-white background with no shadows, textures, or objects behind you and stand several feet away from the camera so your entire head is visible and centered in the frame. Remove anything from your face, like eyeglasses, unless it is a covering for documented religious or medical purposes. Directly face the camera, do not tilt your head, use a neutral expression, and avoid showing teeth.
