Passport Renewals Go Digital in Beta Test

Renewal access is limited during the beta test phase.

-By Charles Givens

June 12, 2024

The U.S. State Department launched a beta test of its online passport renewal program today, more than two years after President Joe Biden signed an executive order for its development.

The program will accept a limited number of applications each day during a midday window, gradually increasing capacity over several months. The department aims to identify and address any issues before a wider rollout.

“Allowing the public to participate is important to monitor how the site is performing at scale in a real-world environment,” a State Department spokesperson said, cautioning that access will be limited during the beta phase.

Eligible applicants must create a login.gov account to use the program. Processing times will mirror those of mail-in renewals, and expedited services are not available online.

The launch comes as Americans gear up for summer travel. While the department reported shorter processing times in October of last year, Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged the ongoing high demand in March, noting increased staffing and resources to assist with the number of requests.

Blinken projected that 65% of renewal customers will opt for the online process once fully operational.