Check the U.S. Department of State's website to determine eligibility to renew a passport through the mail. To do so, you must have a passport issued within the past 15 years. If your passport was lost, stolen or mutilated, you have to reapply in person. Additionally, the previous passport must have been issued when the applicant was 16 or older.
Fill out form DS-82, which is available online. Include your social security number in the appropriate blank as failure to do so can result in significant delays.
Print out the completed form.
Attach a passport photo to the form in the space provided using four staples positioned vertically, one in each corner. Do not position the staples horizontally.
Sign and date the form on page 1 of the application.
Mail the completed form in a padded envelope to the address listed on the form. The Department of State recommends using a weather-proof envelope to protect the contents from weather damage. Be sure to include a second passport photo, a check for the passport fees and a certified copy of a marriage certificate or court order if your name has been changed. Don't attach the second passport photo to the form; place it loose in the envelope.
