You probably have a friend or acquaintance who has just come of age and, when dusting off their pre-COVID passport, has realized that it has expired. Until they renew it, they can say goodbye to all their plans for a Euro-trip or a fortnight drinking caipirinhas and eating pho in Bali.
However, renewing a passport in this age group is not as easy as the procedures we see our parents going through. In fact, it is not possible to renew it online and be done with it. The government wants you to show up in person to request a new one. But why exactly is this the case?
Well, it all comes down to the age at which your last ID was issued: if your previous passport was issued before you turned 16, you are prohibited from using the standard renewal process by mail. It doesn’t matter if you are now a legal adult aged 20 or 25; if the photo on your old document is from when you were a child aged 15 or younger, that passport is not renewable and you must follow a different protocol.
The big misunderstanding: Why can’t I renew?
Before we start thinking that government bureaucrats are a bunch of villains, we need to understand the protocols first. The U.S. Department of State divides citizens into two strict groups: “minors” (under 16) and “adults” (16 and older). Passports for minors are only valid for five years. After all, the physical appearance of a child or teenager changes a lot in a short time—we’ve all witnessed our cousins’ growth spurts in record time. In addition, the validity period is shortened to prevent child identity theft and parental abduction (unfortunately quite common).
The problem that confuses most people arises when you got your passport at age 15, for example. That document expires when you turn 20, and even though you already feel like an adult with a driver’s license and the right to vote, for the passport system, your current document is still a “child’s document.”
You cannot renew a child’s document to convert it into an adult’s by mail. The government needs to see you in person once again to verify that it is you and for you to sign as an adult in front of a federal official for the first time. Therefore, technically you are not going to do a “renewal,” but rather you are going to apply for a “new” passport.
How to get your first adult passport You will need to go to a post office (USPS) or an official agency. The number one mistake people make is downloading the wrong form, the DS-82 (Renewal Application). If you use that one, you will be rejected. The correct form you need is DS-11, which is for applying for a passport for the first time.
As for the cost, prices may vary, but for the 2025/2026 period, you should be prepared to pay around $130 USD. The passport booklet costs approximately $130 USD, and because the process is done in person, there is an additional “processing fee” of about $35 USD, for a total of about $165 USD.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Step 1: Form DS-11 You can find it online, fill it out on your computer and print it, or fill it out by hand in black ink and clear handwriting. Do not sign it until you are at your appointment and an agent is present to see you signing it.
- Step 2: Gather your proof of citizenship You need to prove that you are a U.S. citizen. The good news is that you don’t need to find your birth certificate if you don’t have it on hand, as your old passport (the one from when you were a child) serves as valid proof of citizenship, even if it has expired.
- Step 3: Identification and Photocopies You must bring valid photo identification, such as your driver’s license or state ID. The government must keep copies of your documents, so bring a photocopy (front and back) of your ID and the data page of your old passport.
- Step 4: The Photo You need a recent 2×2-inch color photo with a white background, no glasses, no hats, and no filters.
- Step 5: The Appointment Finally, go to your appointment (check if your post office requires you to schedule it on the USPS website). Bring the unsigned DS-11 form, your old passport, your license, the photocopies, and the money. The agent will review everything, ask you to raise your right hand, sign the paper in front of them, and pay. With that, the process will be complete.
FAQs
What happens if I send the renewal form (DS-82) by mistake?
If you send it by mail, the government will process your payment immediately, but weeks later you will receive a rejection letter. Your papers will be returned to you, and you will have to start from scratch by going to an office, having lost the money you spent on shipping and several weeks of valuable time.
How long does it take to arrive and how long is the new one valid for?
The standard process usually takes between 6 and 8 weeks, although you can pay an extra $60 USD for expedited service (2-3 weeks). The good news is that this new passport will be an adult passport, so it will be valid for 10 years and next time you can conveniently renew it by mail. You only have to go through this ordeal once.