Before you begin the process of submitting a passport application by mail, first make sure that you meet the U.S. Department of State’s eligibility requirements. Only citizens renewing a passport can submit their application through the postal service. All first-time applicants must apply in person at a passport acceptance facility or passport agency. To submit a renewal form by mail, the previously issued passport must be undamaged and in the possession of the applicant. Make sure the passport was issued within the previous 15 years and that you were at least 16 years old at the time. The passport must also be issued in your current name or you must be able to prove that name change with a legal document like a court decree or marriage license. If you or your passport do not meet all of these requirements, you must apply in person as a first time applicant.
Once you are certain that you can submit your passport renewal by mail, fill out Form DS-82: Application for a U.S. Passport by Mail. The form can be obtained on the U.S. Department of State website or at a local passport acceptance facility. Since a passport agent will not be present to look over the form, it is even more important that applicants submitting forms through the mail double-check that all information is legible and accurate. Print all the required information in black ink or use the online form to type your answers before printing it out. Sign and date the application on the first page.
Overseas travel can be stressful enough. Make sure your passport arrives on time by sending all of the necessary documents, fees and photographs along with the application form. A comprehensive list of application requirements can be found on the U.S. Department of State website. Your previously issued passport must be submitted along with the application. You will also need to include two passport-size photographs that meet Department of State regulations (see resources) and appropriate processing fees in the envelope. If your legal name is different than the one appearing on the previously issued passport, send official documentation verifying that name change.
The U.S. Department of State recommends that passport applicants mail the application contents in secure packaging, such as a Tyvek envelope. To ensure the safety of the personal documents you are sending, the department also encourages applicants to use a traceable delivery service such as USPS priority mail with delivery or signature confirmation.
If your departure date is quickly approaching, consider expediting your application. Expedited passports arrive between two and three weeks after the date of submission. To expedite your passport, clearly write ‘EXPEDITE’ in bold, capital letters on the front of the envelope. You must also include a check or money order to the Department of State for $60. Consider using an overnight delivery service to send out the application.
