To renew a U.S. passport, you need five things: your most recent passport, a completed application (Form DS-82 for mail, or the online form), one recent passport photo that meets State Department specifications, payment, and — if your name has changed since your last passport was issued — a certified document proving the change. The documents needed to renew a passport are the same whether you’re a first-time renewer or your fifth, but the format differs depending on whether you renew online or by mail.
Documents for a Mail Renewal
Mail renewal uses Form DS-82 and requires you to assemble a physical package. Everything goes in one envelope.
- Completed Form DS-82. Download it from the State Department website, print single-sided, and sign and date in ink.
- Your most recent passport. This serves as both your proof of citizenship and your proof of identity, so you don’t need a separate birth certificate or driver’s license copy. The government returns it separately after processing, punched to mark it invalid.
- One passport photo. A 2 x 2 inch color photo taken within the last six months, stapled to the application at the four corners.
- Name change documentation, if applicable. A certified copy of a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order. Photocopies and notarized copies are not accepted.
- Payment. A personal check or money order payable to the U.S. Department of State, with your full name and date of birth written on it. No cash.
Your Social Security number is required on Form DS-82. Federal law requires it on every passport application, and omitting it can result in delays, denial, or a $500 IRS penalty.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 22 USC 2714a – Revocation or Denial of Passport in Case of Certain Unpaid Taxes Starter and temporary checks tend to be rejected, and a rejection sends the entire application back unprocessed.2U.S. Department of State. Renew Your Passport by Mail
Documents for an Online Renewal
Online renewal handles verification digitally, so you assemble less on paper but still need most of the same items in a different format:
- Your current passport. You must have it with you during the application, but you don’t mail it in. It cannot be damaged, mutilated, or reported lost or stolen.
- A digital passport photo. You upload it rather than printing. The same size and background rules apply.
- Your Social Security number. Required for the same reason as on the mail form.
- A credit or debit card. Online applications accept card payments only.
- An emergency contact. Name and contact details for one person.
You complete everything at the State Department’s online portal and get status updates by email. Online renewal has narrower eligibility than mail: your passport must be expiring within one year or have expired less than five years ago, you must be 25 or older, located in a U.S. state or territory, not changing your name or other personal information, and not traveling for at least six weeks. You also can’t switch between a passport book and a passport card online — that requires the mail form.3U.S. Department of State. Renew Your Passport Online
Passport Photo Requirements
The photo is where applications most commonly stumble, and a rejection adds weeks to your timeline. Yours must be:
- Taken within the last six months
- 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), with your head measuring 1 to 1 3/8 inches from chin to top of head
- In color, against a plain white or off-white background with no shadows, texture, or lines
- A full-face view, directly facing the camera with a neutral expression and both eyes open
Glasses are not allowed. If you cannot remove them for medical reasons, include a signed note from your doctor with your application.4U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passport Photos Retail photo services at pharmacies and shipping stores typically charge $15 to $30 and will format the image to State Department specifications. For online renewal, you upload a digital version of the same photo.
Name Change Documentation
If your name changed since your last passport was issued, you can still renew — you just need to prove the change with a certified document. The State Department accepts a certified copy of a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order.2U.S. Department of State. Renew Your Passport by Mail Certified means the copy carries the issuing authority’s official seal or stamp; a photocopy or a notarized copy is not enough. If you’re renewing by mail, this document goes in the envelope with everything else. If you have a name change, you cannot use online renewal at all — you must file by mail.
What You’ll Pay and How
Renewal fees as of February 2026 are:5U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
- Passport book: $130
- Passport card: $30
- Passport book and card together: $160
- Expedited processing: $60 additional (mail only)
- 1–3 day return delivery: $22.05 additional
Mail renewals are paid by personal check or money order to the U.S. Department of State. Include the delivery fee in the same check if you want faster return shipping, and do not enclose a pre-paid return envelope.6U.S. Department of State. How to Get My U.S. Passport Fast Online renewals are paid by credit or debit card.3U.S. Department of State. Renew Your Passport Online
When You Can’t Use the Renewal Process
Not every passport qualifies for renewal. If any of the following is true, you cannot renew with Form DS-82 or online, and you’ll need to apply in person as a first-time applicant. That means a different form, an in-person interview, and original proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate.
- You don’t physically have the passport, or it was lost or stolen.
- It’s significantly damaged — water damage, torn pages, or a separated cover. Normal wear is fine.
- It was issued before you turned 16.
- It was issued more than 15 years ago.
- It was a limited-validity passport rather than a standard 10-year passport.
These rules come from the federal regulation governing when a renewal can be submitted without appearing in person.7eCFR. 22 CFR 51.21 – Execution of Passport Application
Two Debts That Can Block a Renewal
Even a complete application with every document in order can be denied over unpaid federal debt, and many applicants don’t see it coming.
If you owe more than $66,000 in federal tax debt — the 2026 inflation-adjusted threshold — the IRS certifies it to the State Department as “seriously delinquent.” The State Department then holds your application for 90 days to give you time to resolve the debt or enter a payment arrangement. If you don’t act within that window, the application is denied.8Internal Revenue Service. Revocation or Denial of Passport in Cases of Certain Unpaid Taxes The threshold is adjusted annually for inflation.9Internal Revenue Service. The IRS Collection Process
Unpaid child support triggers a denial at a much lower amount. Federal law requires the State Department to refuse a passport to anyone certified as owing more than $2,500 in child support arrears.10Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 U.S. Code 652 – Duties of Secretary There is no built-in waiting period; the denial is mandatory once the state child support agency certifies the debt to the federal government.