A United States passport renewal may be accomplished by any U.S. citizen by either mail or in person. Renewal by mail is only an option if the passport holder meets all the requirements. By visiting a local passport office, process will still take some time but it can be moved along a bit smoother by being on hand to provide any documentation that may be needed. There are services available online that can help to expedite this or the government offers their own version of expedited service.

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.

As with anything else when it comes to the government, there are forms that need to be completed. The renewal form must be printed out or filled out online and submitted along with the old passport. The form is easily located by going on the Internet and simply searching it out. This will need to be accompanied by two new color photos along with any applicable fees and if there is a name change since the issue date, supporting paperwork to that effect.

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.

The above guidelines are strictly for adults applying for a renewal, minors on the other hand have a few more guidelines that must be followed. They must apply in person no matter what, if they are still under the age of 16 or if the passport was issued while they were under that age. They then must follow the same guidelines as an adult and submit the renewal form along with pictures, ID and the processing fee, if any. The same rules for expediting apply for minors as they do adults in that they may choose either the governments offering or to go with one of the private service providers for a passport renewal.

U.S. citizens that happen to live in Canada are also able to renew their passports by mail if the meet all the requirements. Those who live in other countries, however, only have the option for renewal by appearing in person at either the local Consulate office or U.S. Embassy. All the locations of these offices may be searched out by going on the Internet.

If certain conditions are met, pasport renewal may be done via mail. Otherwise, the person must re-apply for a new passport in person. If a passport holder needs to receive the new U S passport quickly, the government or independent expediting agencies provide this service for an additional fee.