US Passport Renewal – Eligibility, Documents & Other Important Information

US Passport Renewal – passport is one of the essential international travel documents. You require a passport if you want to enter any country for business purposes or travel. You have to present your passport in front of authorities before reaching the country or after.

Just like every other thing in the world, passports also have expiry dates. After that expiry date, you cannot use your passport. Every government in the world puts expiry dates on a passport so that they can verify the documents once again after some yes. It is important for both the security of the country and the issuing person. 

Usually, you won’t find any tutorial on US passport renewal as most people are just busy telling you about a fresh passport. That is why we came today to talk about the US passport renewal process. 

Eligibility to renew your US passport

Before you move ahead And Start learning about the US passport renewal, you should first know about the eligibility to renew your passport. If you do not fall under the eligibility criteria, then the department of travel is not going to renew your passport.

Kindly remember there is a difference between a fresh passport and a renewed passport. If you have never been issued a passport, then you can apply for a fresh passport. If you were issued a passport, then you are eligible to apply for renewal.

  • If your passport was issued before your 16th birthday, then you are not eligible to renew your passport.
  •  If your passport was issued 15 or more years ago, you are not eligible to renew your US passport.
  •  If your old passport was damaged, it was lost or stolen. You can not apply for a US passport renewal.
  •  You have recently changed your name, and you want your passport with a fresh name without any document, then you can not apply for US passport renewal.

If any of these conditions apply to you, then kindly go and apply for a fresh passport. 

US Passport Renewal
US Passport Renewal

Documents for your US passport renewal

Now let’s take a look at all the documents you will require for your US passport renewal. Kindly remember that only filling out the application and presenting your older passport is not going to renew your old passport.

First of all, you have to fill out an application form DS 82. you can fill out the form using an online form filler, or you can also print it out and fill it by hand. Just like a fresh passport application, you can fill a form using an online platform, but you have to submit the application form offline by visiting a local passport acceptance facility.

  • You have to submit your most recent passport with the application form in order to be eligible.
  • You must have your recent passport-sized photos.
  •  Kindly include your passport renewal fee along with your application.
  •  If you have recently changed your name, then you will have to attach a certified copy of your marriage certificate or a court order of your change.

Tips for US passport renewal

Currently, take a look at all the tips given below for US passport renewal. These tips will help you with your passport renewal process and give you insights into the process.

First of all, you should make sure you are renewing your old passport approximately nine months before it expires. As you are already aware, no country issues a fresh visa on any passport if it is about to expire in the next six months.

Experts usually suggest you renew your passport nine months before it expires because the department takes a few weeks of time to renew your passport. 

There have been some incidents where the airline did not allow a person to board because their passport was about to expire in a few weeks. 

If you are a frequent traveller, then kindly check the 52-page box at the top of your passport application to receive a larger passport book with 52 pages. The larger passport book will not cost you extra money so kindly feel free to check it.

UK passport renewal

Passports do not expire only in the United States, but every country in the world has an expiry date on its passport. Similarly, if you are a UK citizen and you have a passport, then it is going to expire after certain years.

Documents required for UK passport renewal

Kindly take a look at all the documents required for the UK passport renewal service. Without these documents, you will not be able to renew your old and expired passport. 

 Kindly remember if you have lost your passport or damaged it, then you have to use the replacement services rather than renew services.

The UK government does not allow passport renewal service for anyone who has lost their passport. That is why authorities demand old passports at the time of offering a new one.

  • You have to submit your old passport to renew it.
  • A digital photo with at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall.
  • A debit or credit card to make the payment.
  • You must have 75.50 pounds of renewal fees.

UK passport renewal methods

There are two different UK passport renewal methods that you can use depending on your comfort. The first one is an online process, and the other one uses an application from an offline process.

Online process

First of all, let’s take a look at the online method which you can use sitting anywhere in the world to apply for UK passport renewal services. 

Kindly click on the button given above to land on the official website of the government of the UK and click on the renew online button. As soon as you click on the preview button, it will take you to a digital form.

In the digital form, it will ask you a few general questions.

  • Full name of the applicant.
  • Residential status of the applicant.
  • Date of birth of the applicant.
  • Status of your passport. Such as lost or stolen.
  • Issued date of your passport.
  • Do you have dual nationality?
  • Upload digital photos.
  • Your current passport number.
  • Gender of the applicant.
  • Contact details of the applicant such as email and mobile number.

Once you have filled out the digital form, it will ask you to pay the renewal fees, which is around 80 British pounds. 

Offline method

Apart from the above given online material, you can also use traditional offline methods to apply for a renewed passport in the UK.

In order to apply using offline methods, first of all, you have to get a paper application from a nearby post office that has a check and send service, or you can also call the passport advice line.

The offline process costs about 85 British pounds, and you can pay using your debit or credit card. Apart from that, you can also use a check made payable to her majesty’s passport office.

In the offline method, you also required two new and identical printed photos of yourself.

Takeaways

Every passport is going to expire one day, no matter which country has issued it. Passports of developed countries, including the United States of America and the United Kingdom, also have an expiry date. Citizens of the country have to renew it using a specific process depending on the country.

Just like a fresh passport, every country has a few rules and regulations to renew your old passport. For example, US passport renewal has a few rules, such as your passport should not be 15 years old or it should not be damaged other than regular wear and tear.

UK passport renewal also has a few requirements, such as you must possess your current passport and two photographs in order to renew. Every country has different rules, and you have to follow those rules before you renew your passport.

Can I renew my US passport book and US passport card at the same time?

As per the official website of the department of travel, yes, you can renew your US passport book and US passport card at the same time. You don’t have to provide documents twice to renew both of them. On the passport renewal application, you will get an option to select both documents. Kindly remember you have to pay for both passports.

My UK passport has the European Union on the cover. Can I still use it?

Yes, you can use your passport even if it has the European Union written on its cover. As per the latest guidelines issued by the UK government, you can use your passport with the European Union on the cover as long as it’s valid for international travel. You should renew your passport if it has nine or fewer months left till expiry.

My active visa is on an old passport. What should I do?

As per the latest rules, you don’t have to surrender your old passport to get a fresh passport. It is clearly mentioned in the rules that youth can use a visa attached to their old passport along with their new passport. It is completely legal, and no country will deny your entry if you have a visa on your old passport.

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