Renewing An Expired Passport Is Easy

by erin on March 31, 2010

After people obtain their passports, they either use them constantly or just throw them into the back of their desks, saving them for the day when they eventually take that dream vacation abroad. If that day comes, the person often opens the passport book only to find that the passport has expired. An expired passport doesn’t have to be a cause for stress because they can easily be renewed either via mail or in person.

If the passport holder was over age 16 when the passport was issued, it is valid for ten years. If they were age 15 or younger, the passport is valid for five years. The data page of the passport book contains the issue date of the passport. Passports should be renewed approximately nine months before they expire. Some countries even require that a passport be valid for a minimum of six months following the dates of the trip for which it is being used.

An expired passport may be renewed either via mail or in person. In order for the passport holder to renew his or her passport via mail, several conditions must be met. The passport holder’s most recent passport must be undamaged and able to be submitted with the renewal application. The passport must have been issued less than 15 years ago in the person’s current name or the person must be able to provide documentation of any name change. The most recent passport must also have been issued when the person was at least 16 years old.

To renew the passport by mail, the passport holder must complete an application for U.S. Passport by Mail. This form may be found online and may be completed electronically or printed and hand-completed. The applicant must mail a packet containing the application, his/her most recent U.S. Passport, two identical photos, the passport fee, and documentation substantiating a name change, if applicable.

If the passport was issued more than 15 years ago, the passport holder must re-apply for a passport in person. The Application for a U.S. Passport must be completed and submitted with evidence of U.S. Citizenship, acceptable additional identification, photocopy of this identification, two identical passport photos, and the passport fee. The applicant must go to a U.S. Passport Acceptance Facility or Regional Passport Agency in order to get the new passport. A directory of the locations of these agencies is available online.

The standard processing time for passport renewal or re-application is four to six weeks. The government offers an expedited delivery service that will process the renewal application within two to three weeks. Another alternative is to use an independent expediting service that can process the renewal within as little as 24 hours for an additional charge in excess of the government fees. The independent expediting service can accommodate applicants who must renew in person, but applicants must first present the required documentation to the Passport Acceptance Facility or Agency.

U.S. citizens who reside in Canada may renew their passports by mail. U.S. citizens residing in other countries excluding Canada must renew their passports at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. A directory of the locations of these facilities may be found online.

An expired passport doesn’t mean that the family cannot take that vacation of a lifetime. Passports may be renewed via mail or in person with ease. Processing time may be shortened by using an independent expediting processing service.

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