Starting December 27th, 2021, the Department of State will increase fees for a passport book by $20 for all customers. Price updates reflected here. Show
You already know that it’s a bad idea to wait until the last minute to renew your passport. But how early is too early to renew your passport? Can you renew a passport anytime? Find out when to renew a passport and if you qualify for a passport renewal. When to Renew a PassportAs long as you’re over the age of 16, your passport is good for 10 years after it’s issued. There’s not really a limit on how early you can renew it, but the expense involved means that you won’t want to renew until close to the expiration date. You also cannot renew a minor (child) passport. A minor passport is issued to applicants 15 and younger and has a 5-year validity. Each time it is considered a new passport. But the adult passport can be renewed whenever you’d like, as long as it’s not damaged and it is less than 5 years expired. Standard passport processing is currently 8-12 weeks. However, you can expedite your passport renewal. Update Passport Name ChangesIf you get married, divorced, or otherwise change your name within the first year after you get your passport, you don’t need to renew. Instead, you can use Form DS-5504 to get your name changed free of charge. Just fill out the form, send it in along with one new passport photo (if it’s been more than 90 days since your passport was issued). However, if you need a name change and it’s been more than one year since you received your passport, you have no choice but to renew. The fee to renew your passport is currently $130. Need Additional Passport Pages?There used to be an option to get additional passport pages added to your passport for $82. However, adding passport pages has been discontinued. If you run out of passport (visa) pages, you will need to apply for a passport renewal. Visa pages are required for entry and exit visa stamps and visa validation stickers. You should always have a few blank pages for any international trip. If you are running low, then apply for a passport renewal. Your old passport will be returned along with your new passport so you can keep it as a souvenir of all your previous travels. Also, remember your passport number will change. Six Month Validity RuleThe six-month validity rule basically states that you should have at least six months of validity until your passport expires. So for all international trips, your date of returning home should be at least six months before your passport expires. Many countries won’t let you in if your passport expires in 6 months or less, so renewing 9 months in advance ensures that your travel plans don’t get derailed. Renewing your passport normally takes about 8-11 weeks for routine processing and 5-7 weeks for expedited service. If you need it processed more quickly, an expediting company like RushMyPassport can have it done in as little as 1 week, with no need to take time out of your day to visit a passport office. Renew your passport with us today! If you're an avid traveler, chances are you're well aware of when your U.S. passport expires and your options for renewal. However, like everything else, the pandemic has complicated that process. Application renewals were suspended for several months and now there is a huge backlog of renewal applications. But the good news is that expedited processing is once again available. Here's everything you need to know about renewing your passport right now. For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. When should you renew your passport?(Photo by Jeff Greenberg/UIG via Getty Images)The State Department website has a handy calculator to help you figure out your passport renewal options and cost. When timing your passport renewal, you should keep in mind your expiration date as well as where and when you're traveling. Ideally, you should renew it at least six months before it expires, especially if you have travel coming up to countries that require six months of validity. Regardless of entry requirements, it's always best to renew ahead of time to avoid backlogs during busy travel periods and possible delays like those we've experienced during the pandemic. A U.S. passport is valid for ten years for most adults, or five years if it was issued before age 16. Standard passport renewal can take up to 18 weeks (up to 12 weeks for processing and 6 weeks for mailing), though you can pay $17.56 to have it delivered within 1-2 days of processing. In early July, U.S. Department of State deputy assistant secretary for passport services Rachel Arndt told reporters that the wait time for new and renewal routine passport applications currently ranges from 12 to 18 weeks.
Sign up for our daily newsletter Related: US State Department warns of 18-week wait times for passport applications You can also pay an extra $60 to have your passport expedited to 12 weeks (6 weeks processing and 6 weeks mailing). Again, you can tack on the $17.56 expedited shipping fee to move things along quicker. Arndt warned in her briefing that expeditated applications still face wait times of up to 12 weeks. If you need your passport even faster, you can choose the in-person Expedited Agency Processing option, which also costs $60 but requires you to travel within the next 72 hours. This option wasn't available during much of the pandemic, but now that things have normalized and travel demand has skyrocketed, it's back. A very limited number of appointments are available for both emergency and non-emergency travel within 72 hours. As of July 22, these appointments can only be scheduled via phone, as the State Department announced they were temporarily suspending their online appointment system. Renewal: Why I renewed our passports in the midst of a pandemic and how long it took Countries that require six months of passport validityHere's a round-up of the countries that require U.S. citizens to have at least six months of validity on their passports. I've notated the few that require three months or less:
Countries that require passport validity at the time of entry(Photo by michaeljung/Shutterstock)While most countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months, a few require validity at the time of entry or throughout your stay. If you're visiting one of these countries, you can put off renewing your passport as long as the expiration date isn't during your trip:
Related: Americans can now visit 90+ countries and territories — here’s the complete list How should you renew your passport?You can renew your U.S. passport via mail or in-person. You will need to fill out Form DS-82 and provide a photo, your most recent passport and a check for the fees. Make sure your photo complies with the specified guidelines. In-person renewals were restricted to life-and-death emergencies during the pandemic. Now, this option has been expanded again to those with travel booked within the next 72 hours. If you're mailing your renewal application, keep in mind that you have to use the United States Postal Service (USPS). No exceptions. If you use another carrier, your renewal package will be returned to you without being processed. If you're mailing your passport renewal application from Canada, you must use Canada Post. Related: Should you apply for or renew a passport right now? Everything you need to know How much does it cost?Renewing your U.S. passport costs $110 for a passport book or $140 for both the book and a passport card. You can also pay $60 to get your application expedited, which takes up to 12 weeks (including standard shipping and processing). I once renewed my passport in July using the expedited option and got it back in less than two weeks. That probably won't happen now, so definitely plan ahead. If you need your passport renewed faster than 12 weeks, you can do so in person at a passport agency. This option can take 24-72 hours and is available if you can provide proof of travel within the next 72 hours. You'll typically be required to show proof of upcoming travel and an official document (i.e., doctor's note) verifying the emergency. Related: Top credit cards for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck What country holds the most powerful passport?While the U.S. has historically been in the top five most powerful passport list, that began to change inn 2019 when it dropped to number six on the Henley Passport Index. Since then, the U.S. has shared the number seven spot, alongside the U.K., Switzerland, Norway, Belgium and New Zealand. Japan has ranked as the most powerful passport since 2018. The ranking is established based on the number of countries passport holders can access. Top 10 most powerful passportsHere's a current list of ten countries with the most powerful passports:
10 least powerful passportsThe least powerful passports include countries throughout Asia, Europe and the Middle East with ongoing conflicts. Afghanistan and Iraq are at the bottom of the list, granting access to just 26 and 28 countries, respectively.
Bottom lineKeep in mind that your passport number will change when you renew it. That means if you're part of a trusted travel program like Global Entry, you'll need to update your passport information. Luckily, you can do this online. Simply log into your account and click on the "Update Documents" tab to enter your new passport number. The only change you can't make online is a name change, for which you'll have to visit a Global Entry enrollment center. Read more: Learn from my experience: How to avoid a 7-week passport renewal saga Additional reporting by Caroline Tanner. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Can you renew a passport too early?How early can you renew your U.S. passport before it expires? There is no minimum time to renew your passport before it expires. Although the U.S. Department of States recommends renewing your passport approximately 9 (nine) months before the expiration date, you are allowed to do it at any point in time.
Can I renew my passport 2 years early?Yes. Your passport does not have to be expired for you to renew it. If you want to renew both a valid passport book and passport card, you must submit both documents.
Is it easier to renew passports before they expire?Answer: Application for a passport renewal should be done approximately nine months prior to the passport's expiration date. There are three reasons for renewing your passport so early. One, the earlier you apply, the less likely you are to need expedited services. Expediting a passport can be quite expensive.
|
How soon can you renew your passport before it expires
Related Posts
Copyright © 2024 chuyencu Inc.
