After years of testing, pilot programs, and delays, the U.S. State Department formally launched online passport renewals two years ago. Next year, even first-timers getting a passport will be able to apply online.
That's according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who announced the news onstage Tuesday as part of a broader slate of upcoming changes to U.S. passports, which also includes a new passport book design coming in 2028 and even a more “dignified” shipping container for new passports than the rumpled postal services packages they currently arrive in. But online applications for all are the marquee item for travelers.
While Rubio's onstage presentation was short on specifics, the online passport application process would be handled by the new, AI-powered America.gov website. Rubio said it's designed not just to streamline and expedite the passport application process but also to cut out third-party services that charge for handling the current, paperwork-and-mail-driven process.
“By the end of 2027, our goal is for the vast majority of Americans to be able to apply for a passport or a passport card on America.gov,” Rubio said. “So, whether you live in the middle of a major city or you live in a rural town, you’ll be able to apply from anywhere.”
Rubio also said the State Department will roll out a “real-time status” tracker to see an estimated delivery date for your passport.
It's a long-awaited development in the 21st century, when Americans and especially travelers expect to handle virtually everything online. But the U.S. will hardly be the first nation to allow citizens to apply for passports online.
A handful of countries beat the U.S. to the punch with online passport applications, including Singapore, New Zealand, Finland, Ireland, and the U.K.
The Biden administration laid the groundwork for this advancement way back in 2021, when it first announced plans to bring passport renewals online. The State Department initially targeted a full launch in the fall of 2022, but repeatedly pushed back the timeline for several rounds of beta testing and limited acceptance of applications.
Online passport renewals officially went live for all Americans in September 2024.
Read next: Application to Arrival in 13 Days: My Online Passport Renewal Success Story
U.S. passports currently cost $165 for first-time adult applicants and $130 for renewals – before any extras like expedited processing or rush shipping – after an increase in late 2021. Rubio did not mention whether passport prices would change as a result of these new systems.
