Featured

How Do You Renew a Passport?

2 Mins read

In the United States of America, any individual who is a U.S. citizen by birth or by naturalization can obtain a United States passport. Passports are necessary to travel internationally. Therefore, if you would like to go to another country in Europe, to South America, to Australia, or even to Canada, you must have a valid passport. It is imperative that your passport is valid, meaning it is not expired. If your current passport is expired, it cannot be used, and you will need passport renewal services in order to update it.

What Do You Need to Renew a U.S. Passport?

There are several items you will need to renew your passport. First, you will need to fill out an application form, which can be downloaded from the United States government website.

You will also need a passport photo of yourself that fulfills several important requirements. For instance, you cannot be wearing a hat or any other large accessories in the photo. It must be against a white background, and you should not smile in the photo.

You will need to show your most recent passport as well. If your name has recently changed and that’s why you’re changing your passport, you’ll need documentation of this (like a marriage certificate). Finally, you will have to pay for your passport.

When Can Your Passport Not Be Renewed?

Most people need to renew their passports for simple reasons. For example, if a woman recently got married and changed her name, she’ll need a new passport that reflects her new name. Alternatively, if your passport is simply outdated or your appearance has changed significantly, you will want to renew your passport.

In some cases, however, you cannot renew your passport — even if you have had a passport in the past. For example, you need to apply for a brand-new passport if your passport was stolen or lost, if it was issued before your 16th birthday, if it was issued in a different name and you do not have legal documentation to prove your new name, or if it was issued more than 15 years ago.

How to Renew Your Passport More Quickly

There are some events in life that necessitate having a valid passport immediately. Working with the United States government to renew your password inevitably means waiting long periods of time, however. Fortunately, there are some passport renewal services out there that can help you renew your passport much more quickly. In some cases, you can update your passport in as little as four minutes, and you can even do so online without having to go anywhere to file the paperwork.

If you need your passport renewed extremely quickly, this is definitely a service to look into.