Verify the date your passport expires. Passports are good for 15 years. If your passport expires in three to six months, renew it right away. Check the processing times at the U.S. Department of State's website. If your passport expires in several weeks and you have to travel abroad within that time, you may not be able to get it in time for your trip.
For example, if the processing time listed on the website is four to six weeks, and your passport expires three weeks before the date of the trip, you won't have enough time to get it processed. In that case, you'll have to opt for the expedited service if the website lists less than two to three weeks for that service.
Before you renew a passport by mail, your most recent passport must be in your possession. The passport must be undamaged and cannot have been issued more than 15 years ago or when you were younger than 16. If your passport does not meet those requirements, you'll have to go to a passport agency to renew your passport.
Renewal of your passport requires filling out form DS82. This form can be found at the State Department DS82 website. You have two choices for filling out the form. You can print the form and fill it out by hand or fill it out online by typing in the information requested and then printing it. Make sure you sign and date the form.
The State Department requires that you have your picture taken so they can attach it to the inside front cover of your passport. The passport photo must be a good quality, 2-by-2 photo paper print. The print must contain an image of your head and shoulders that fills up the frame, with some room above your head. When you have your photo taken, dress like you normally would. You can wear your glasses in the photo, but they must not be tinted.
Staple your picture in the appropriate place on the DS82 form -- there's a square marked on the form to do this. Put it in a durable envelope large enough to hold all of your documents without folding them. Mail your passport to the address listed on the DS82 form.
