Get All Access for $5/mo

You Can Now Apply to Renew Your U.S. Passport Online — But There's a Catch The U.S. State Department officially launched the beta program this week.

By Emily Rella Edited by Melissa Malamut

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

If you've ever planned an international trip only to realize that your passport was expired, you know the agony of getting it renewed in person.

But now there's good news. On Wednesday, the U.S. State Department launched a beta program that offers U.S. citizens the option to renew their passports online.

Related: Rich Americans Getting Secondary Passports in Record Numbers

"The goal of online passport renewal is to save Americans time and effort, making it more convenient to renew their U.S. passports," a senior State Department official told ABC News.

The government will begin allowing a small number of people to apply to the online portal each day with plans to slowly ramp up the daily number as the system works itself out.

Not everyone is eligible to apply, however.

To try the system, hopeful applicants must be at least 25 years old and have a U.S. passport issued between 2009 and 2015. The passport must also have been valid for at least 10 years. Applicants also can't have any international travel planned for at least eight weeks from when their application is submitted.

Expedited online service will not be available.

Related: Teen Booted From Flight Over 1-Centimeter Tear in Passport

The beta program is expected to run during the "coming months" with no specific timeline. State officials noted that once a new application is submitted, the person's current passport will be deemed invalid.

As the system currently stands, the average wait time to renew a U.S. passport is between six and eight weeks, or two to three weeks for those paying extra for expedited service.

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business Culture

Stop Blaming Remote Work for Your Productivity Woes — 5 Signs of a Productive Office Culture

It doesn't matter if you work from a cubicle, couch or cafe — if the (remote) office culture is broken, productivity will suffer.

Business News

These Companies Offer the Best Work-Life Balance, According to Employees

The ranking is based on Glassdoor ratings and reviews.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Leadership

Why Your AI Strategy Will Fail Without the Right Talent in Place

Using fractional AI experts through specialized platforms allows companies to access top talent cost-effectively, drive innovation and scale agile strategies for growth.

Business News

5 Trends Every American Small Business Owner Needs to Watch in 2016

Technology will continue to cost less but borrowing is becoming more expensive. Don't expect much substantial from Washington in an election year.