Expired Passport? Renew Online, Renew by Mail, or Apply Again

Can You Travel with an Expired Passport?

In practical terms, no. An expired U.S. passport is not a valid document for international travel. If your passport has expired, the better question is which renewal or replacement path fits your situation now.

Expired Passport? Start Here

The right path usually comes down to eligibility, passport condition, and how close your travel date is.

When You Can Renew an Expired Passport Online

Online renewal is worth checking first because it may be the simplest option, but it is only for routine service and only for applicants who meet the official requirements.

You may be able to renew online if all of the following are true:

• Your passport was valid for 10 years.
• It is expiring within 1 year or expired less than 5 years ago.
• You are 25 or older.
• You are not changing personal information such as your name or sex.
• You are not traveling for at least 6 weeks from the date you submit the application.
• You are in a U.S. state or territory when you apply.
• You have the passport in hand, and it is not damaged or mutilated.

Important: The only official place to renew a U.S. passport online is the State Department's portal. Be careful with third-party websites claiming they can renew your passport online for you.

Best next step: Compare your renewal options in one place before you choose between online renewal, DS-82 by mail, or a different path.

When You Can Renew by Mail with Form DS-82

If online renewal is not a fit, the next question is whether you can still renew your expired passport by mail.

You can generally renew by mail if your most recent passport meets all of these rules:

• It was issued less than 15 years ago.
• It was issued when you were age 16 or older.
• It is not damaged beyond normal wear and tear.

This is the rule many travelers think of as the 15-year rule. Passports are valid for 10 years, but eligible adults usually get an additional 5-year window after expiration to renew instead of starting over.

Example: If your passport was issued on March 1, 2011, you can usually renew it through March 1, 2026. After that, it is more than 15 years old, and you would need to apply in person with Form DS-11.

Basic mail-renewal steps

1. Complete Form DS-82. Follow the DS-82 renewal instructions.
2. Print and sign the application. Sign it yourself in black ink.
3. Get a new passport photo. Do not reuse the old one. Review our guide to getting an acceptable passport photo if needed.
4. Include the correct fee. Check the current passport fees.
5. Mail your package using a trackable method. Include your signed DS-82, photo, fee payment, and your most recent passport.

Do not forget: If you renew by mail, you must send in your most recent passport. The State Department will cancel it and return it to you, often in a separate mailing.

Best next step: See the full renewal process or go straight to our Form DS-82 walkthrough.

When You Must Apply in Person with Form DS-11

Sometimes an expired passport cannot be renewed at all. In that case, the State Department treats the situation as a new in-person application.

You will need to apply in person with Form DS-11 if:

• Your passport was issued more than 15 years ago.
• Your passport was issued before you turned 16.
• Your passport is damaged.
• You do not meet the requirements for online renewal or mail renewal.

This often surprises travelers, especially young adults whose child passports have expired. A passport issued before age 16 cannot be renewed. The applicant must apply in person and start with a new adult passport application.

Best next step: See what is required for a new passport application and review the DS-11 form instructions.

Frequent Expired Passport Mistakes to Avoid

Expired passport problems often start with one bad assumption. These are the mistakes we have dealt with the most often in our reader correspondence:

• Assuming an expired passport can always be renewed: Not every expired passport qualifies for renewal. If it was issued before age 16, is more than 15 years old, or is damaged, the answer usually changes.
• Overlooking the age-16 rule: Many young adults are surprised to learn that a passport issued before age 16 cannot be renewed, even if it was their most recent passport.
• Treating damage like a minor issue: Water damage, torn pages, major wear, or other condition problems can force you into a replacement path instead of a renewal path.
• Underestimating mailing time: Official processing estimates do not include shipping time to and from the State Department. For close-in trips, that detail matters.

Need Your Passport Fast?

If your trip is close, the right path is not just about eligibility. It is about timing, mailing time, logistics, and whether you can realistically complete the process without mistakes.

Once you are inside a real time crunch, the advice on this page changes. At that point, the question is not simply whether your passport is eligible for renewal. It is whether the path you choose still gives you enough time for paperwork, transit, processing, and delivery without creating a new delay.

Traveling within 14 days

If you have urgent international travel in the next 14 days, the official path is usually a regional passport agency appointment.

Need a foreign visa within 28 days

You may still qualify for urgent handling through the agency system if a visa deadline is the issue.

When a registered passport courier may be worth considering

If an agency appointment is not practical, or you want help managing the paperwork and timing, compare the top audited passport courier services.

Need a broader list with filters, verification notes, and more audited details? Browse our full passport courier directory.

For an explanation of how private couriers work, what they can help with, and how to evaluate them, read our passport expediter guide.

Couriers do not change the government's official rules, but the right service may help with document review, timing, logistics, and hand-carry submission where that service applies.

Best next step: See how the regional agency option works. If that is not realistic, compare the top audited services.

Why Renewing Early Still Matters

Even if your passport is not expired yet, waiting until the last minute creates unnecessary risk.

• The six-month validity problem: Some countries require a passport to remain valid for months beyond your arrival or departure date. See which destinations apply this rule.
• Mailing time is real time: Even when official processing looks manageable, transit time and separate mailings can stretch the true door-to-door timeline.
• Urgent travel gets expensive fast: Once a trip is close, the cheapest and easiest option often disappears.

Current Processing Times, Mailing Time, and Fees

Routine Service: 4 to 6 weeks
Expedited Service: 2 to 3 weeks

Those estimates apply to the time your application is being processed. They do not include mailing time to the State Department or mailing time back to you.

To compare options more clearly, use these pages:

• See current passport timelines explained
• Review the current fees
• Compare expediting services