4 days ago
US Proposes Online Passport Renewals for Americans Abroad
The US State Department wants some Americans living in other countries to renew their passports online.
If the plan is approved, they could send their application, photo and payment through a website.
They would not usually need to visit an embassy or consulate twice.
The service may eventually be available in India and other participating countries.
The first countries have not yet been announced.
Applicants would still need to meet rules about their old passport.
Lost or stolen passports and passports issued more than 15 years ago would not qualify under this proposal.
People can comment on the plan for 60 days before the department decides what to do.
The State Department has proposed expanding online passport renewal to eligible Americans living overseas.
Applicants could submit forms, pay fees and upload photographs online, avoiding two embassy or consulate visits.
The first participating countries have not been identified, and India could be included after authorization.
Eligibility would generally require a 10-year passport issued when the applicant was at least 16 and no more than 15 years earlier.
The proposal would retain the same passport fee, while potentially reducing travel, postage, photograph and lost-work costs.
- Who
- The US State Department and eligible American passport holders living abroad.
- What
- A proposed expansion of the Online Passport Renewal platform to qualified applicants overseas.
- Where
- Foreign countries, through participating US embassies and consulates; the first countries have not been identified.
- When
- The proposed rule was published Friday; public comments will be accepted for 60 days, with an estimated 220,000 overseas applicants added in fiscal 2027.
- Why
- To reduce embassy visits and logistical difficulties, speed processing and lower costs for applicants and the department.
Key facts
- Proposal status
- The rule is not final and will undergo a 60-day public-comment period.
- Potential overseas users
- About 220,000 eligible applicants could be added to the platform in fiscal 2027.
- Current platform
- Online passport renewal was introduced in 2022 and is currently limited to qualified applicants in the United States.
- Core eligibility
- The previous passport must have been valid for 10 years and issued when the applicant was at least 16.
- Time limit
- Applicants would ordinarily need to apply no more than 15 years after the previous passport was issued.
- Excluded cases
- Passports reported lost or stolen, and passports issued more than 15 years earlier, would remain ineligible.
- Estimated savings
- The department estimates nearly $148.7 million in annual savings from expanded and existing online renewals.
Quotes
US State Department
US government department responsible for passport services and foreign affairs
“By enabling eligible persons overseas to submit applications, pay fees, and upload photos entirely online, the traditional requirement for two in-person visits to a consular post would be eliminated.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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