Renewing your passport can be a real nuisance, but some exciting news has come out of the U.S. Department of State. Starting September 18th, 2024, American travelers can renew their passports entirely online! We don't deal with too many logistical emergencies at Yellow Dog, but having a valid passport is priority number one for internationally traveling anglers. Remember, some destinations will not accept a passport if it is set to expire within six months of arrival into the foreign country.
Per the Department of State:
"The Department of State is making our new online passport renewal system fully available to the public today, a significant step forward in ensuring that Americans can more easily access passport services. Instead of printing a paper application and mailing it with a check, Americans can now renew their passports through a secure process that will save time and effort.
Our online passport renewal system is an important example of how the Department is modernizing government services for the benefit of Americans and delivering on President Biden’s Executive Order, Transforming Federal Customer Experience and Service Delivery to Rebuild Trust in Government. By offering this online alternative to the traditional paper application process, the Department is embracing digital transformation to offer the most efficient and convenient passport renewal experience possible. Thanks to increased staffing, technological advancements, and a host of other improvements, the average routine passport is being processed today in roughly one-third the time as at the same point last summer, and well under the advertised six to eight weeks processing times.
We continue to find ways to reduce administrative barriers and improve efficiency, equity, and accessibility throughout the passport application process. We are dedicated to ensuring the American public can seamlessly access passport services and to making our new online process the best tool possible. We encourage Americans to apply."
