Americans Can Now Renew Passports Online And Bypass Cumbersome Paper Applications

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans can now renew their passports online, bypassing a cumbersome mail-in paper application process that often caused delays.

The State Department announced Wednesday that its online passport renewal system is now fully operational.

After staffing shortages caused mainly by the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in lengthy passport processing delays, the department ramped up hiring and introduced other technological improvements that have reduced wait times by about one-third over last year.

The online system will allow renewal applicants to skip the current process, which requires them to print out and send paper applications and a check by mail.

They now can submit their documents and payment through a secure website.