Form DS-82 — Application for Passport Renewal
DS-82 is for eligible adults renewing by mail. Unlike DS-11, you sign it yourself — no witness required.
Who can use DS-82
DS-82 is available only to adults who meet all six of these conditions. Missing any one requires an in-person DS-11 application instead.
- Your most recent U.S. passport is in your possession
- It was issued at age 16 or older (valid for 10 years)
- It was issued within the last 15 years
- It is undamaged beyond normal wear and tear
- It has never been reported lost or stolen
- Your name matches the passport, or you have a certified legal document proving the change
One point worth knowing: an expired passport still qualifies for DS-82 as long as it was issued less than 15 years ago. The 15-year window runs from the issuance date, not today's date. A passport that expired three years ago is eligible. A passport issued 16 years ago is not — even if it has a few months of validity left on it.
Children are never eligible for DS-82. Every child's passport application requires an in-person DS-11 appearance.
Where to get the form
Use the State Department's Form Filler at pptform.state.gov to fill out DS-82 on your computer and print it. Do not download DS-82 from unofficial sources — the form version number is verified during processing, and outdated forms are rejected.
Acceptance facilities also carry paper copies of DS-82, though filling it out by hand increases the risk of legibility-related delays. Print single-sided only; the State Department rejects double-sided forms.
How to fill out DS-82
DS-82 is simpler than DS-11 because it requires no in-person appearance and no witness. You sign and date the form yourself before mailing it. This is one of the few federal documents where self-signature is permitted — and a common source of confusion for applicants who are used to the DS-11 process.
Key differences from DS-11 to watch for:
- Sign before mailing. Unlike DS-11, signing DS-82 early is correct procedure. The form must be signed and dated by you before it is mailed.
- Large book option. A 52-page passport book is available at no extra cost — check the "large book" box if you travel internationally often.
- Adding a passport card. If you want to add a card when renewing a book, you cannot do it through DS-82 alone — you must use the mail renewal process with separate payment, or renew the book via DS-82 and apply for the card separately via DS-11 in person.
- Name change documentation. If your name has changed since your last passport, include a certified copy of the legal record — not the original, which you should keep.
What to include in your DS-82 envelope
- Signed and completed DS-82 — Printed single-sided. Sign and date it before sealing the envelope.
- Your current passport — The original passport book (or card) you are renewing. The State Department returns it separately by First Class Mail, typically two weeks after issuing your new passport. Do not send a photocopy — the original is required.
- Passport photo — 2×2 inches, color, taken within the last 6 months, white or off-white background. Staple it at the four corners to the form as close to the outer edges as possible. Do not fold or bend it.
- Name change documentation — If your name differs from the name on your current passport, include a certified copy of the marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order documenting the change. Do not send the original — it will not be returned.
- Payment — A personal check or money order made out to "U.S. Department of State." Write the applicant's full name and date of birth in the memo line. No cash. Fees: $130 for a book, $30 for a card, $160 for both. Add $60 for expedited service. Add $22.05 for optional Priority Mail Express return delivery (not available on card-only renewals).
No execution fee applies to DS-82. The $35 fee is charged only when an acceptance agent witnesses your signature in person — since DS-82 requires neither, there is no execution fee.
Where to mail your DS-82 renewal
The mailing address depends on your state of residence and whether you are requesting expedited service. Use USPS to mail your application — other carriers may not deliver to these P.O. Box addresses.
Routine service — residents of California, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, or Texas:
National Passport Processing Center
P.O. Box 640155
Irving, TX 75064-0155
Routine service — all other states:
National Passport Processing Center
P.O. Box 90155
Philadelphia, PA 19190-0155
Expedited service — all states:
National Passport Processing Center
P.O. Box 90955
Philadelphia, PA 19190-0955
When mailing for expedited service, write "EXPEDITE" in large letters on the outside of your envelope. Routine and expedited applications go to different processing queues — an envelope mailed to the wrong address will be rerouted and will lose the expedited priority.
Routine processing runs 4–6 weeks from receipt. Expedited service runs 2–3 weeks. See current processing times for the latest figures.