Online passport renewal: eligibility and the photo upload
You can renew a US passport online if you are 25 or older, your last passport was valid for 10 years and expires within a year or expired less than 5 years ago, you are in the US, not changing your name or sex, and not travelling for at least 6 weeks. You upload a digital photo: a JPG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF file of 54 KB to 10 MB.
Who can renew online
You must meet all of these:
- You are age 25 or older
- The passport you are renewing was valid for 10 years, and expires within 1 year or expired less than 5 years ago
- You are not changing your name or sex
- You are not travelling for at least 6 weeks from when you apply
- You are in a US state or territory when you apply
- You have the passport, it is not damaged, and it was not reported lost or stolen
If you don’t meet these, renew by mail with form DS-82 and a printed 2 × 2 photo instead.
Fees
Online renewals cannot be expedited when you apply. Check the official page for current fees and times.
- Passport book: $130
- Passport card: $30
- Book and card: $160
- Optional 1–3 day return delivery: $26.87
The digital photo rules
- File type: JPG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF
- File size: 54 KB to 10 MB
- In colour, head centred, the frame ending around your shoulders
- Plain white or off-white background, no shadows
- Face the camera, both eyes open, avoid showing teeth
- No filters, retouching or AI edits; don’t photograph or scan a printed photo
- Taken in the last 6 months, no glasses
How to get the photo
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Take it at home
Follow our home photo guide, or let the owl coach you live.
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Get the right file
We give you a 1200 × 1200 px JPEG, well inside the size limits, with your head sized like a 2 × 2 print.
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Upload it
Save the file to the device you renew on, and upload it when the form asks for your photo.
Questions
Can I use my old passport photo for online renewal?
No. The photo must be new (last 6 months), and you can’t photograph or scan a printed photo.
What size should the online renewal photo be in pixels?
The State Department sets file type and size (54 KB to 10 MB) rather than pixels. A square 1200 × 1200 px JPEG works well.
What if the online form rejects my photo?
Check the file type and size first. If the photo itself is refused for a photo reason, our guarantee covers it.
Sources: Renew online - travel.state.gov , Uploading a digital photo - travel.state.gov . Checked Oct 4, 2026. How we keep rules accurate