The US Government Just Made Passport Renewal Surprisingly Painless

The U.S. State Department has launched online passport renewal for eligible U.S. citizens through MyTravelGov.

Applicants must meet rules such as being 25 or older, living in the U.S., and holding an eligible 10-year passport issued within the last 15 years.

The process replaces mailing in the DS-82 form with a digital application, photo upload, and online payment.

Processing still takes about four to six weeks, and travelers should not leave the country for eight weeks after applying.