How do I renew my passport if my current one has expired and I have gotten married?

by Michaela
(Terrell, Texas, USA)

Question: I accidentally let my passport expire, and since I was getting married (last week) I waited to get a new one. Now I'm planning a trip to Europe. How do i proceed? Can the process be done by mail? Can it be expedited? Thanks!

Answer: You can renew your passport by mail if you meet all the criteria. It is possible to apply for a passport renewal by mail even if your current passport is expired and your name has changed.

Is your current passport undamaged?

Was it issued within the last 15 years?

Was it issued when you were age 16 or older?

Can you legally document your name change?

If you answered yes to all of the questions above, then you can apply for a renewal by mail.

You can also expedite the process. You can do this in one of three ways.

One, you can simply write "expedite" on the outside of the envelope and include an additional $60 for the expedited service. Your renewed passport should arrive in 2-3 weeks.

How to Get a Passport Renewal

Two, you can make an appointment at the Dallas Passport Agency and submit the application yourself. Applications are usually processed the same day.

Dallas Passport Ageny

Three, you can authorize a professional passport expediter to submit your application at the regional agency for you. This is ideal if you need to get your passport renewed in 2 weeks or less and are unable to visit the regional agency yourself.

Rush Passport Expediting