Form DS-82: Application For Passport Renewal By Mail

Form DS-82, Application for a U.S. Passport Renewal, is the form eligible adults use to renew their passport by mail without appearing in person. You can use Form DS-82 if your most recent passport meets all the conditions for mail-in renewal: it is undamaged and you can submit it with the application, it was issued when you were 16 or older, it was issued within the last 15 years, and it was issued in your current name or you can provide documentation of a legal name change. If your passport does not meet all those conditions, you must apply in person using Form DS-11. The DS-82 process lets qualifying applicants mail the completed form, their most recent passport, a new photo, and the fee. Because the mail-in renewal is more convenient than an in-person application, confirming you meet every eligibility condition before using Form DS-82 ensures your renewal is accepted rather than returned for in-person processing.

Submitting Form DS-82 requires the completed application, your most recent passport, a recent compliant passport photo, the renewal fee, and, if your name has changed, documentation of the change. Your most recent passport is submitted with the application as proof of prior issuance and is returned to you separately after processing. The passport photo must meet the current size, background, and recency standards, and a noncompliant photo is a common cause of delay. If your name differs from the name on your prior passport, you include a certified copy of the marriage certificate, court order, or other legal document showing the change. You mail everything to the address indicated in the instructions, which depends on whether you choose routine or expedited service. Because the application is processed by mail, you should ensure the photo meets requirements and the fee is correct. Confirming the current document and photo standards before mailing helps your Form DS-82 renewal proceed without being returned.

The time for passport renewal with Form DS-82 depends on whether you select routine or expedited service and on current State Department processing times, which change with demand. Routine service generally takes a number of weeks, while expedited service for an extra fee is faster, and the published estimates are updated periodically. Processing time is measured from when the application is received at a processing center, and mailing times to and from the center add to the total. If you have urgent international travel, you may be able to obtain faster service, though the in-person urgent appointments are typically associated with the in-person process. Because processing times fluctuate and can lengthen during peak travel seasons, you should mail your Form DS-82 well before any planned trip, often several months in advance, and check the current estimates. Choosing expedited service and paying for faster return shipping can shorten the overall time when you need the renewed passport sooner.

You cannot use Form DS-82 if your passport was lost, stolen, or significantly damaged, because the mail-in renewal requires you to submit your most recent undamaged passport with the application. A lost or stolen passport must be reported, and you must apply for a new passport in person using Form DS-11, which involves presenting proof of citizenship and identity. Similarly, a passport with significant damage beyond normal wear cannot be renewed by mail and requires the in-person DS-11 process. Reporting a lost or stolen passport promptly also helps prevent its misuse. If your passport is merely worn from normal use but intact and submittable, you may still qualify for DS-82, but water damage, tears, or missing pages generally disqualify it. Because the DS-82 process depends on returning your existing valid passport, any situation where you cannot submit an undamaged prior passport means you must use Form DS-11 and apply in person instead.

The difference between Form DS-82 and Form DS-11 is the application method and eligibility: Form DS-82 is for eligible adults renewing by mail, while Form DS-11 is for first-time applicants and others who must apply in person. You qualify for the mail-in DS-82 renewal only if your most recent passport is undamaged and submittable, was issued when you were 16 or older, was issued within the last 15 years, and is in your current name or you can document a name change. If you do not meet every one of those conditions, or you are applying for the first time or for a child, you must use Form DS-11 and appear in person with citizenship and identity documents. The DS-82 process is more convenient because it does not require an appointment, but it is limited to qualifying renewals. Because using the wrong form leads to a rejected application, you should confirm whether you meet all the DS-82 conditions before choosing between the two forms.