Have you ever wondered if you can renew your passport, or if you need to go through the procedure to get a new passport? If you aren’t sure of the difference, here’s a quick primer. The new passport procedure uses US government form DS-11, and requires you to visit a Passport Acceptance Agent and submit proof of your identity and US citizenship. A passport renewal uses a simpler form, Form DS-82, and you can skip going to the Passport Acceptance Agent. In a passport renewal, the passport you submit along with your application works as your proof of identity and citizenship.
To qualify for a passport renewal, you need to have a US passport that meets all of the following requirements:
- Was issued less than 15 years ago,
- Was issued after you turned 16,
- Is in good condition, and
- Is in your current legal name, or you can submit original copies of your legal name change documents.
At G3passports.com, we’ve had plenty of travelers ask us if their passport can be renewed. In this article, we’ll look at a number of different scenarios and answer the question of “can this passport be renewed?”
My passport is about to expire. It was issued when I was 13, but I’m 18 now. Can I renew my passport?
I just realized my passport expired four months ago, and I have a trip coming up in 10 days. Can I renew my passport?
My passport was issued by the US Embassy when I was studying in France. I’m back in the US now, and my passport will expire soon. Can I renew my passport that was issued overseas?
I just got my passport 18 months ago, but I do a lot of traveling, and it’s already out of blank pages! Can I renew my passport, even though it’s nowhere close to the expiration date?
I lost my valid passport, but I still have an old passport at home. Can I use that passport for a passport renewal?
My dog chewed on my passport, and I want to get a new one. Can I renew my passport so I can have an undamaged book?
No, you can’t renew your passport. If your passport has any holes or tears in the cover or pages, it’s considered to be a mutilated passport, and it’s no longer valid for renewal. You’ll need to go through the mutilated passport procedure using Form DS-11 to get a new passport.However, if your passport is looking a little rough due to wear and tear – perhaps the page edges are worn, or the cover is curling – but it doesn’t have any rips, cuts, or unauthorized markings, you are eligible to do an early passport renewal to get a fresh book for your travels.
I recently lost over 100 pounds and dyed my hair. The photo in my passport doesn’t look much like me now! Can I renew my passport, or will I have to go through the new passport procedure because I look so different?”
Need help with your passport renewal? Call us today!