Adult Passport Renewal Checklist (2026)
Last updated: September 1, 2026
Your printable checklist
- Form DS-82 if you still qualify
- Your most recent U.S. passport book (mailed with the form)
- One new 2×2 photo
- Payment to the Department of State (no execution fee)
- Large envelope that fits the book without bending it
Steps at a glance
- Read the official DS-82 eligibility list the same day you print the form.
- Take a new compliant photo.
- Mail to the address on the current form, not an old blog post.
- Use trackable postage if you want proof of delivery.
Adult renewals by mail use Form DS-82 when you meet every eligibility rule on the official renew page. The old book travels with the application in the same envelope.
You do not visit a post office counter for execution unless your renewal is rejected and you must reapply on DS-11 in person.
Wrong postage, a bent passport, or a bad photo adds weeks. This checklist matches what the calculator assumes for a standard mail renewal.
What happens if you are missing a document
Without your prior passport book, DS-82 cannot be processed. If you no longer qualify for mail renewal, you drop to DS-11 in person and owe the execution fee again.
Fee estimate: adult passport renewal cost. Full hub: passport documents.
FAQs for this scenario
Can I renew by mail if my passport is damaged?
Usually no. Damage often forces DS-11 in person with the execution fee.
Do I mail my birth certificate?
Not for a standard renewal when DS-82 says the old book is enough. Follow the form you have.
What if my name changed?
You need documented proof of the change. Without it, you may need DS-11 in person.
How long does mail renewal take?
Published ranges start when the file enters the system. See processing times for routine and expedited options.
See adult renewal fees
Application, execution, and optional expedite in one total.
adult passport renewal cost