Passmere is a private company, not a government agency. This guide is free information, not legal advice. Each fact links to the official source and shows the date we checked it.

Passport

Renew your U.S. passport by mail (Form DS-82)

Q: Do I pay the acceptance facility fee for a renewal?

No. (under review — check the official source)

Q: Can someone else, or a company, renew online for me?

No. (under review — check the official source)

Q: Will Passmere ask for my Social Security number?

No. (under review — check the official source) Passmere never asks for it: you write it on the form yourself.

Q: How do I track my application?

See Track your passport application. (under review — check the official source)

Who can renew by mail, what goes in the envelope, what the government charges and where to send it, with the official source for every fact.

Updated October 2, 20263 min read

Can you renew by mail?

under review — see the official source ³

If even one of these is not true, you need Form DS-11 in person. The State Department also offers online renewal for some people; you must do it yourself on the official site, under review — see the official source ⁴.

under review — see the official source ⁵

Step by step

Fill in Form DS-82 on a computer, print it single-sided, then sign and date it.
Get one passport photo that meets the official rules (see Passport photo requirements).
Staple the photo to the form as the instructions show, and put your most recent passport in the envelope.
If your name changed, add a certified copy of the marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order.
Write a check or money order to "U.S. Department of State" for the fees (see the table below).
Mail everything with the U.S. Postal Service to the address for your state and service speed, preferably with tracking.
Watch your email for status updates and keep your mailing receipt.

under review — see the official source ⁶

Checklist

What goes in the envelope

Form DS-82, printed single-sided, signed and dated
One passport photo, stapled as the form shows
Your most recent passport book or card
Certified name change document, if your name changed
Check or money order payable to "U.S. Department of State", with your name and date of birth on it
"EXPEDITE" written on the outside of the envelope, if you are paying for expedited service

Do and don't

Do

Send your most recent passport; the old one is returned to you in a separate mailing.
Use the form filler on the official site or a printed PDF, and print on one side of the paper only.
Keep a copy of everything you send and the tracking number.

Don't

Don't send cash.
Don't use mail renewal for a passport that is damaged or that you reported lost or stolen.
Don't pay a website that says it will renew online for you. under review — see the official source ⁷

Fees

These are government fees. They are paid to the U.S. Department of State, not to Passmere.

What	Paid to	Fee
Passport book	U.S. Department of State	under review — see the official source ¹
Passport card	U.S. Department of State	under review — see the official source ⁸
Book and card	U.S. Department of State	under review — see the official source ⁹
Expedited service (optional)	U.S. Department of State	under review — see the official source ¹⁰
1–3 day return delivery (optional, book only)	U.S. Department of State	under review — see the official source ¹¹
Larger book with more visa pages	U.S. Department of State	under review — see the official source ¹²

under review — see the official source ¹³

Where to mail it

Routine service if you live in California, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, New York or Texas:

under review — see the official source ¹⁴

Routine service from any other state:

under review — see the official source ¹⁵

Expedited service, from any state:

under review — see the official source ¹⁶

For expedited service, write "EXPEDITE" on the outside of the envelope. Living outside the United States and Canada? under review — see the official source ¹⁷

How long it takes

Routine processing: under review — see the official source ².
Expedited processing: under review — see the official source ¹⁸.
Mailing can add up to under review — see the official source ¹⁹ each way.
Your old passport and documents come back up to under review — see the official source ²⁰ after the new passport.

Traveling soon? Read Urgent travel: getting a passport fast.

Frequently asked questions

Can I renew an expired passport by mail?

Yes, if it meets every condition above, including being issued within the last 15 years when you were 16 or older.

Do I pay the acceptance facility fee for a renewal?

No. under review — see the official source ⁶

Can someone else, or a company, renew online for me?

No. under review — see the official source ²¹

Will Passmere ask for my Social Security number?

No. under review — see the official source ²² Passmere never asks for it: you write it on the form yourself.

How do I track my application?

See Track your passport application. under review — see the official source ²³

Sources and verification

Government application fee — adult passport book — U.S. Department of State: Passport Fees. under review — see the official source
Routine processing time — U.S. Department of State: Get Your Processing Time. under review — see the official source
Who can renew by mail (Form DS-82) — U.S. Department of State: Renew Your Passport by Mail. under review — see the official source
Official online renewal site — U.S. Department of State: Renew Your Passport Online. under review — see the official source
Who can renew online — U.S. Department of State: Renew Your Passport Online. under review — see the official source
How to send a mail renewal — U.S. Department of State: Renew Your Passport by Mail. under review — see the official source
Unofficial renewal websites — U.S. Department of State: Renew Your Passport Online. under review — see the official source
Government application fee — adult passport card — U.S. Department of State: Passport Fees. under review — see the official source
Government application fee — adult book and card — U.S. Department of State: Passport Fees. under review — see the official source
Expedited service fee — U.S. Department of State: Passport Fees. under review — see the official source
1–3 day return delivery fee — U.S. Department of State: Passport Fees. under review — see the official source
Extra cost for the large passport book — U.S. Department of State: Renew Your Passport by Mail. under review — see the official source
How to pay the government fees — U.S. Department of State: Passport Fees. under review — see the official source
DS-82 routine mailing address — CA, FL, IL, MN, NY or TX — U.S. Department of State: Renew Your Passport by Mail. under review — see the official source
DS-82 routine mailing address — all other states — U.S. Department of State: Renew Your Passport by Mail. under review — see the official source
DS-82 expedited mailing address — U.S. Department of State: Renew Your Passport by Mail. under review — see the official source
Applying from outside the U.S. and Canada — U.S. Department of State: Form DS-82 (edition 04-2025) — instructions. under review — see the official source
Expedited processing time — U.S. Department of State: Get Your Processing Time. under review — see the official source
Mailing time each way — U.S. Department of State: Get Your Processing Time. under review — see the official source
Return of your supporting documents — U.S. Department of State: Renew Your Passport by Mail. under review — see the official source
Online renewal must be done by you — U.S. Department of State: Renew Your Passport Online. under review — see the official source
Social Security number on the form — U.S. Department of State: Form DS-82 (edition 04-2025) — instructions. under review — see the official source
Official application status site — U.S. Department of State: Get Your Processing Time. under review — see the official source