| A passport renewal may be accomplished by any | | | | two to three weeks. If the need should arise that |
| U.S. citizen by either mail or in person. Renewal by | | | | necessitates receiving the passport faster than |
| mail is only an option if the passport holder meets | | | | this, there are private services that can expedite |
| all the requirements. By visiting a local passport | | | | the process in as little as one to two business |
| office, process will still take some time but it can | | | | days. These services are perfect for emergency |
| be moved along a bit smoother by being on hand | | | | situations but do come with an additional fee. |
| to provide any documentation that may be | | | | Should the passport holder not meet all the |
| needed. There are services available online that | | | | requirements to renew by mail, a trip to a local |
| can help to expedite this or the government | | | | Passport Acceptance Facility or Regional Passport |
| offers their own version of expedited service. | | | | Agency will be necessary. An applicant will then |
| There are certain criteria that must be met in | | | | need to present a properly filled out DS-11 form |
| order to renew by mail. The old passport must be | | | | along with proper identification. There will also be |
| available to be returned with the application and | | | | the need to have new passport photos on hand |
| must be in the holder's original name. The | | | | when applying for the renewal. The private |
| passport cannot be more than 15 years old from | | | | service providers can still help these applicants but |
| date of issue and must have been issued after | | | | there will still be a necessity to appear at a facility |
| the holder was older than 16 years of age. | | | | of this type. |
| As with anything else when it comes to the | | | | The above guidelines are strictly for adults |
| government, there are forms that need to be | | | | applying for a renewal, minors on the other hand |
| completed. The renewal form must be printed out | | | | have a few more guidelines that must be |
| or filled out online and submitted along with the old | | | | followed. They must apply in person no matter |
| passport. The form is easily located by going on | | | | what, if they are still under the age of 16 or if the |
| the Internet and simply searching it out. This will | | | | passport was issued while they were under that |
| need to be accompanied by two new color | | | | age. They then must follow the same guidelines |
| photos along with any applicable fees and if there | | | | as an adult and submit the renewal form along |
| is a name change since the issue date, supporting | | | | with pictures, ID and the processing fee, if any. |
| paperwork to that effect. | | | | The same rules for expediting apply for minors as |
| The passport renewal normally takes four to six | | | | they do adults in that they may choose either the |
| weeks when done through the standard channels. | | | | governments offering or to go with one of the |
| The Department of State also offers an | | | | private service providers for a passport renewal. |
| expediting service than can shorten the time to | | | | |