The expiration date on a standard adult passport renewal is based on the issue date printed on the new passport, not the expiration date of the old passport. The State Department gives a full-validity adult passport a 10-year validity period from that new issue date.
A full-validity passport book or card issued to someone age 16 or older is valid for 10 years from its new issue date. Any unused time on the previous passport is lost when the new passport is issued.
The new issue date starts the full 10-year adult validity period. The expiration date printed on the new passport is the controlling date.
Passport Renewal Expiration Dates at a Glance
| Passport situation | How the expiration date is determined | What happens to remaining validity |
|---|---|---|
| Standard adult passport renewal | 10 years from the new issue date | Unused time on the previous passport does not carry over |
| Adult passport card renewal | 10 years from the new issue date | Calculated the same way as a passport book |
| Child passport | Children cannot renew; a newly issued child passport is valid for 5 years | The old child passport's remaining time does not transfer |
| Limited-validity passport | The State Department assigns a shorter validity period | Use the expiration date printed on the passport |
| Correction of a State Department error | Within one year, the corrected passport receives full validity; after one year, it keeps the original expiration date | The timing of the correction controls the result |
Do not mail a routine renewal. Attend a regional passport agency appointment, or use a registered passport courier service to handle agency submission and pickup.
The New Issue Date Controls the Expiration Date
The issue date shown on the new passport determines when it expires. The following dates do not control the new expiration date:
- The expiration date on the old passport.
- The day you submit the renewal application.
- The date you mail Form DS-82.
- The date the application status changes to “In Process” or “Approved.”
- The date the new passport arrives.
The State Department assigns the issue and expiration dates when it issues the new passport. Check the data page of the passport book or the front of the passport card. The printed expiration date is the date airlines and border authorities use.
Example
If the State Department issues a full-validity adult passport in August 2026, the new passport will expire in August 2036. The previous passport’s expiration date does not change that result.
What Happens When You Renew Early?
Renewing early does not preserve or add the unused months from the old passport. The new 10-year validity period starts with the new issue date.
For example, renewing a passport with eight months of validity left does not produce a passport valid for 10 years and eight months. The new passport receives the standard 10-year adult validity period.
Do not wait solely to avoid losing unused validity.
Some destinations require three or six months of passport validity beyond the travel dates. Current processing and mailing time also reduces the amount of usable time left before a trip.
Before deciding when to renew, check the six-month passport validity rules and the specific entry requirements for your destination.
Does Online Renewal Calculate the Expiration Date Differently?
No. A standard full-validity adult passport receives the same 10-year validity period whether you renew online or by mail with Form DS-82.
The submission methods differ, but the expiration-date calculation does not:
- Mail renewal: The State Department issues a new passport after processing the mailed application and supporting documents.
- Online renewal: The State Department issues a new passport after processing the digital application. Online renewal is routine service only.
In both cases, the issue and expiration dates printed on the new passport are final.
Exceptions to the Standard 10-Year Validity Calculation
Limited-Validity Passports
The State Department can issue a passport for less than 10 years. A limited-validity passport does not follow the standard adult calculation. Use the expiration date printed on the document and follow the renewal requirements that apply to limited-validity passports.
Correcting a Data or Printing Error
A replacement issued to correct a State Department data or printing error follows separate rules:
- Error reported within one year of issuance: The corrected adult passport is valid for 10 years.
- Error reported after one year: The corrected passport keeps the expiration date of the original incorrect passport.
Use the passport correction process rather than a standard renewal when the passport contains a State Department error.
Child Passports
A child passport cannot be renewed. A child must apply in person for a new passport, which is valid for five years from its issue date. See the child passport application guide.
When Should You Renew?
Choose the renewal date by working backward from your travel plans, destination rules, and the total time required to receive the new passport.
Routine processing is currently 4 to 6 weeks, and expedited processing is currently 2 to 3 weeks. Mailing can add up to two weeks before processing and up to two weeks after the new passport is sent.
- No international travel for at least six weeks: Eligible adults can consider online renewal.
- Travel in less than six weeks: Use the expedited passport renewal process.
- Travel within 14 days, or within 28 days when a foreign visa is required: Follow the urgent passport renewal guide.
Renewing early costs some remaining validity, but waiting too long can mean you don't have a usable passport for an international trip.
Passport Renewal Expiration-Date FAQs
No. A standard adult renewal is valid for 10 years from the issue date printed on the new passport.
Yes. Unused validity from the previous passport does not carry over to the new one.
No. The printed issue date controls. The submission, mailing, processing, approval, and delivery dates do not replace it.
No. A full-validity adult passport renewed online is valid for 10 years from its new issue date.
Current State Department guidance still describes a standard adult passport as valid for 10 years from its issue date. Federal law authorizes the State Department to align expiration dates with passport holders’ birthdays, but the Department has not announced that this has replaced the standard published calculation. Use the expiration date printed on your passport.
Yes. A passport corrected more than one year after the incorrect passport was issued remains valid only until the original expiration date.
Last reviewed: July 2026
Our role: U.S. Passport Service Guide explains passport validity, renewal, and urgent-service rules. The State Department assigns the official issue and expiration dates and decides whether to issue a full- or limited-validity passport.
