Form DS-82 is the U.S. Department of State application used to renew an eligible U.S. passport by mail, without requiring an in-person visit to a passport acceptance facility. Authorized under 22 U.S.C. Section 211a and regulated by 22 CFR Part 51, this form provides a streamlined renewal process for passport holders who meet specific eligibility criteria.

To qualify for mail-in renewal using Form DS-82, applicants must meet all of the following conditions: the most recent passport must be undamaged and available to submit with the application, it must have been issued within the last 15 years, and it must have been issued when the applicant was age 16 or older. The passport must also be in the applicant's current legal name, or the applicant must be able to document the name change with an original or certified court order or marriage certificate.

The renewal process through Form DS-82 is significantly simpler than the initial application (Form DS-11). No in-person appearance is required, no citizenship evidence beyond the previous passport is needed, and no separate identity documents must be provided. The applicant completes the form, encloses their most recent passport, a new passport photo, and the applicable fees, and mails the package to the designated processing address. The State Department processes the application, issues a new passport, and returns the old passport (cancelled with holes punched through the cover) separately.

Form DS-82 is used whenever an eligible passport holder needs to renew their passport without visiting a passport acceptance facility. The most common scenario is renewing an expiring or recently expired adult passport — many countries require at least six months of passport validity beyond the intended travel dates, so travelers should plan to renew well before expiration.

Specific situations where DS-82 applies include renewing a passport that has expired or will expire within the next year, changing a legal name on your passport due to marriage, divorce, or court order (if the passport was issued within the last year, Form DS-5504 may be used instead for free), updating your passport after a significant change in appearance, and obtaining additional visa pages (though this option was eliminated in 2016 — now you must renew the entire passport).

DS-82 cannot be used if your passport was lost, stolen, or damaged — those situations require Form DS-11 and an in-person appearance. It also cannot be used for minors under 16, whose passports are only valid for 5 years and always require in-person application. Routine processing takes 6-8 weeks, expedited processing takes 2-3 weeks for an additional fee, and applicants can pay for 1-2 day return delivery. During peak travel season (spring and summer), processing times may be significantly longer.

Form DS-82 requires the applicant's full legal name, date of birth, Social Security Number, and current mailing address. The Social Security Number is mandatory under 26 U.S.C. Section 6039E, and failure to provide it may result in a $500 penalty. The form also asks for email address and phone number, which the State Department uses for processing notifications.

The applicant must indicate whether they are applying for a passport book, passport card, or both. A passport book is required for international air travel, while a passport card can only be used for land and sea border crossings to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. The form includes a section for the applicant's most recent passport information — passport number, issue date, and a description of any name changes since issuance.

A new passport photo must accompany the application. The photo must be 2x2 inches, taken within the last six months, with a white background, and meet State Department specifications for head size and facial expression. The application must be signed and dated by the applicant. For name changes, an original or certified copy of the legal document (marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order) must be enclosed.

Fees are paid by check or money order made payable to the U.S. Department of State — cash is not accepted for mailed applications. The fee structure includes the passport issuance fee plus an optional expedited processing fee. The complete package — signed form, previous passport, photo, name change documentation (if applicable), and payment — is mailed to the address specified in the form instructions. Applicants should use a trackable delivery method and avoid sending original documents other than the passport and required name change documents.