The State Department has expanded its beta website for online US passport renewals to the general public, offering a more efficient process similar to that experienced by Sean Hollister. Previously, Hollister renewed his passport online without the need to ship his old one, and now this same convenience is available to all users. The service can be accessed on the State Department’s official website.
According to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the new online renewal process allows Americans to bypass the traditional paper application and mailing procedures. This secure, digital method aims to save time and effort for applicants.
Currently, the renewal website estimates processing times to be between six and eight weeks, not accounting for mailing times. Therefore, applicants may not receive their renewed passports as swiftly as Hollister did. Additionally, specific eligibility requirements must be met to renew a passport online.
Blinken also mentioned that the average processing time for routine passport applications is “well under” the advertised window. Thus, users of the online renewal service might still experience a faster-than-expected turnaround.