Ready to renew your passport? Check out our top four things to keep in mind that will help make the process easier.
Know the regulations
Most passports can be renewed by mail. All you have to do is fill out a form at the post office and attach a passport photo and your old passport. Some exceptions to this include if you haven’t renewed in longer than 15 years, if your current passport is damaged or if you were younger than 16 when your last passport was issued.
Don’t leave it too late to renew
Renewing your passport takes time – anywhere between 4 and 8 weeks. Also, consider that if you need to arrange an appointment it could take even longer. The Department of State recommends renewing your passport within nine months of its expiry date, too – so always keep this date in mind and even set a reminder in your phone or diary so that you don’t miss it.
If you desperately need a passport because of an emergency, it is possible to obtain an expedited passport which takes around 8 business days with the option for overnight delivery or a same-day passport. They’re costly but an option if you have unexpected travel plans.
Save those pages
If you travel a lot, you might find that travel and visa stamps take up a lot of room. All passports come with 52 pages and you used to be able to request more; however, that’s no longer possible. In order to use less space, consider sticking Post-It notes over blank pages or asking customs officials not to stamp on specific pages. That way you won’t run the risk of having one stamp on every page and having to renew again earlier than you’d like!
Get your passport photos approved online
As well as knowing the regulations for renewing your passport, you also need to know the regulations for your passport photo. There are strict requirements on how your photo should appear and failing to comply could see your passport renewal delayed. You can also use an online passport photo approval service like Paspic to have peace of mind that your passport will be accepted.
