Quick Guide on How to Update Your Passport
My passport has served me very well the past decade. It’s taken me to Germany three times, Mexico three times, The Netherlands, London, Paris twice, South of France, Portugal, hiking in Czech Republic, Poland, Estonia twice, Finland, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Guatemala and plenty other places around the world.
But it was time to get it updated. Here is a quick guide to everything you need to have in order to update your passport.
NOTE: This is only if your passport has expired! Not for first-time passport applications or if yours was lost/stolen.
You need to have a few things together before you go to the post office to renew your passport:
Fill out the paperwork. You can fill it out online and print it, or print it then fill it out. Either way, you need this paperwork filled out. It’s easier to fill it out prior to doing anything else.
Get a new passport photo. Don’t try to do it yourself. Get it done at Walgreens or somewhere that offers this service. The State Department can deny your passport renewal if your photo isn’t perfect (white background, right dimensions, ears showing, no smile).
Get a check or money order made out to “U.S. Department of State.” Do not send cash. I got a cashiers check from my bank and it was easy!
Prices are:
$130 for typical passport book
$30 for passport card (for travel to Mexico and Canada)
$160 for both
$60 for expedited service
Once you have the completed paperwork, your passport photo, and the check or money order, you can mail everything to the Department of State. The address you need to send it to is within the document you filled out.
Then you wait!