You can renew your U.S. passport if:
- Your most recent passport was issued when you were age 16 or older.
- It was issued within the last 15 years.
- It is a 10-year validity passport.
- It is not damaged (except for normal wear and tear).
- It was issued in your current name, or you can provide legal documents to prove a name change.
You can renew your passport at any time while it is still valid, or if it has expired within the last 5 years. There's no official limit on how early you can renew, but it is recommended to renew about 6 to 9 months before the expiration date, especially if you have upcoming travel that requires at least 6 months of passport validity.
In 2025, a new option allows eligible U.S. citizens living in the U.S. to renew passports online if their current passport is expiring within the next year or has expired less than 5 years ago.
Routine processing can take 6 to 9 weeks, so starting the renewal well in advance is advisable.
In summary:
- You can renew your U.S. passport any time up to 15 years after it was issued.
- It's best to start renewal about 6-9 months before expiration.
- Online renewal is now available for certain eligible applicants in 2025.
Always check the most current requirements and processing times on the U.S. Department of State website before applying.
