US State Department proposes online passport renewal for citizens abroad

The US State Department has proposed a new rule to allow qualified American citizens living abroad to renew their passports entirely online. This expansion of the Online Passport Renewal platform aims to eliminate the requirement for two in-person visits to an embassy or consulate.

The program is expected to be introduced overseas in phases, with the department maintaining a list of participating countries on its travel website. Once implemented, eligible applicants will be able to submit applications, pay fees, and upload passport photographs digitally. This shift is intended to accelerate processing times and reduce logistical challenges, such as the difficulty of securing consular appointments.

The department estimates that expanding these services could add approximately 220,000 eligible applicants to the platform during fiscal year 2027. Additionally, the proposal seeks to remove the existing rule requiring an applicant’s most recently issued passport to have one year or less of remaining validity to qualify for online renewal.