Renewal can be done by mail if the passport that the holder received most recently was not damaged and was issued when the holder was 16 or older, within the last 15 years and in the name of the holder (or if the name change can be supported by a legal document).
The recent passport has to be sent in along with a completed Form DS-82, Application for a U.S. Passport by Mail, to the National Passport Processing Center in Philadelphia. The full address is given on the form, which can be downloaded from the U.S. Department of State's website. Passports should be sent in stuffed envelopes and through registered mail or with a courier service. The form and passport should be accompanied by two passport photos and $110 to cover the processing fee, as of September 2010. To expedite the application, include $60 as a check or money order payable to the U.S. Department of State and write "Expedite" on the envelope.
If any of the conditions for renewal by mail are not fulfilled, or if the passport is needed within four weeks (to obtain a visa) or two weeks (for international travel), then the application has to be done in person. Schedule an appointment with a regional passport office by calling 1-877-487-2778 or contacting the passport office directly.
U.S. citizens living in Canada can renew by mail using the same form and address as if they were living inside the United States. U.S. citizens living outside the United States or Canada must renew their passports at the nearest U.S. consulate or embassy. The procedure is the same as it is for renewal at one of the regional passport centers in the United States.
