United States: how often does the American passport need to be renewed, how much does it cost and how to do it?

Have the valid passport is one of the main requirements to travel freely outside the country, in this case, United States of America. But to do so you must follow all the requirements imposed by the government of said country, since in case of loss or theft you will have to order a new one.

The government site that organizes the information to be able to access the passport renewal process has carried out a accurate description of everything you need, how much it costs and how to renew it.

check for eligibility

To start your passport renewal application, you need to meet various requirements specific. Some of these are: that the current passport was issued after the age of 16, that it has not been 15 years since it was issued, that it is in good condition and that it has all of its legal information.

Determine how urgent the passport is

If the need to renew your passport is not so urgent, you can renew it by mail and request the normal service. If it’s really a priority to get a new passport, you can request a service squeeze through a passport agency.

If it’s through regular service, the next step is to complete the file DS-82 formin PDF or online.

Collect the required documents

The next step is collect documentation required for the process: the passport to be renewed, a passport-sized photograph, and, if the passport to be renewed does not have your current name on it, a certified copy of a court order about your name change.

Then, a mandatory fee must be paid which varies according to the type of passport requested: for a book passport the price is $130; for the card it is $30 and for both it is $160.

The last step is to deliver all this documentation together with the form during the appointment, which must be requested from the Passport Services Office. It is recommended to start this process until 9 months before the expiration of the passport.