Renewing your passport might be among the most annoying things in the world—perhaps just behind going to the DMV and making a dentist appointment. Luckily, some new updates from the State Department mean it might be a whole lot easier to get your passport renewed.
Latest updates
The first bit of good news is that the US State Department is adding six more passport agencies across the country, including locations in Orlando, FL; Salt Lake City, UT; and Kansas City, MO, to name a few. It should hopefully be a lot easier and less of a wait to get a new passport. We still don’t know when those new locations will open, though.
Fret not, because the other piece of good news is that you will now be able to renew your passport online. The program is still in beta testing and has some detailed rules, but it should be noted that you can’t do the online renewal if your passport has expired more than five years ago.
These are welcome changes given that in 1990, only 5% of Americans had passports compared to today, where 48% do. The State Department, certainly is overdue for keeping up with travel demand, to say the least.
More tips
Generally speaking, you cannot travel with a passport that expires in less than six months. It’s recommended that you submit your passport renewal at least nine months before it expires. On a personal note, I also highly recommend scheduling your passport photo the same day as your next hair appointment 😉