🛂 Travel & Immigration

How Early Should You Renew Your US Passport?

Updated July 19, 2026

A US passport is valid for 10 years if you were 16 or older when it was issued, and 5 years for children under 16. That long lifespan is exactly what makes it dangerous: a decade is plenty of time to forget the expiration date entirely, and most people only look at it when a trip is already booked.

The short answer to "how early should I renew?" is earlier than you think. The State Department recommends starting your renewal roughly 9 to 12 months before your passport expires. Here is why that buffer matters, and how to make sure you never cut it close.

Why renew a passport 9-12 months before it expires?

Two separate clocks work against you. First, processing takes time: your passport is out of your hands for weeks, sometimes longer during peak travel seasons, and expedited service shortens the wait but does not eliminate it. Processing times change throughout the year, so always check the current estimate at travel.state.gov before you plan around it.

Second, an unexpired passport is not always an acceptable passport. Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least 6 months beyond your date of entry or planned departure. That means your passport effectively stops being useful for much of the world about half a year before the date printed inside it.

Stack those together and the math is simple: a passport with under a year of validity left is already on borrowed time for international travel. Renewing 9 to 12 months out gives you room for processing delays, the 6-month rule, and any last-minute trips that come up.

How long does passport renewal take?

Routine processing times vary by season and demand, and the State Department updates its published estimates regularly. Add mailing time on both ends: the window that matters is from the day you send your application to the day the new passport lands in your mailbox, not just the official processing window.

Expedited service is available for an additional fee, and in genuine emergencies you may be able to get an appointment at a passport agency. But both options cost more money and more stress than simply starting early. Check current routine and expedited processing times at travel.state.gov rather than relying on a number you heard last year.

How to renew: mail, online, or in person

Most adults renewing an undamaged passport issued within the last 15 years can renew by mail using Form DS-82, and the State Department has also rolled out online renewal for eligible adults. You will surrender your old passport, provide a new photo that meets current requirements, and pay the applicable fee.

You will need to apply in person with Form DS-11 instead if your passport was lost, stolen, or significantly damaged, if it was issued when you were under 16, or if it was issued more than 15 years ago. Children cannot renew at all: every child passport requires a new in-person application, with both parents or guardians involved.

Renew by mail or online (if eligible): undamaged passport, issued within 15 years, issued at age 16 or older
Apply in person: lost, stolen, damaged, issued under age 16, or issued more than 15 years ago
Children under 16: always a new in-person application, valid 5 years

Set a passport renewal reminder you cannot ignore

Ten years is too long to trust your memory. The fix is a cascading reminder anchored to your passport expiration date: a first nudge about a year out when renewal is a cheap, calm errand, then follow-ups as the date approaches in case life got in the way.

Do the same for every passport in your household. Children’s passports expire twice as often, and a family trip only works if every passport in the family is valid. Set the reminder now, while the expiration date is in front of you.

Frequently asked questions

Can I renew my US passport before it expires?

Yes, you can renew at any time, and renewing early is exactly what the State Department recommends. There is no penalty for early renewal; your new passport simply gets a fresh 10-year validity period from its issue date.

Can I travel internationally with a passport that expires in 3 months?

Often not. Many countries require at least 6 months of validity beyond your entry or departure date, so a passport with 3 months left may get you turned away at check-in. Always verify the destination country’s entry requirements before booking.

What happens to my old passport when I renew?

You send it in with your renewal application, and it is usually returned to you separately with a hole punched through it to cancel it. Keep it: old visas inside may still be useful, and it serves as a record of past travel.

How long is a US passport valid?

Ten years for applicants who were 16 or older at issuance, and 5 years for children under 16. Child passports cannot be renewed by mail; a new in-person application is required each time.

Official sources