Every U.S. citizen that has a passport finds the need over the course of their life to apply for a U.S. passport renewal. This can be accomplished either through the U.S. mail service or if it is convenient, in person. There are also available, private expediting services that can help reduce the amount of time it takes to receive the new passport.

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 have been issued when the person was at least 16 years old.

A specific form will need to be filled out when applying for renewal by mail. This form may be found by going on the Internet and either filling it out there or printing it out to be completed by hand. Once this has been filled out correctly, it must be mailed in along with two new passport pictures that are identical along with any supporting documents showing a name change if there happens to be one.

The passport renewal normally takes four to six weeks when done through the standard channels. The Department of State also offers an expediting service than can shorten the time to two to three weeks. If the need should arise that necessitates receiving the passport faster than this, there are private services that can expedite the process in as little as one to two business days. These services are perfect for emergency situations but do come with an additional fee.

If the passport is not eligible to be renewed by mail, 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. The independent expediting service can accommodate these applicants, but applicants must first present the required documentation to the Passport Acceptance Facility or Agency.

Passport renewal for minors has a few different rules than those for an adult passport. The minor must appear in person at one of the authorized centers and present the old passport along with all the proper forms and new photos. There is no option for them when it comes to renewing by mail. There are, however, the expediting options offered by the government and private providers in getting the new passport back quickly. This applies to all minors that were 16 years old or younger when their passport was originally issued.

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.

The pasport renewal is probably most easily completed by going through the mail. If the proper criteria cannot be met by the holder, then it will be necessary to complete the process in person. It has been shown that the private USA Passport expediting services can help an applicant receive their passport back much quicker than the stander government expediting service.