Dear John,

I have exciting news that will save you time, stress, and even a trip to the post office! The State Department recently announced that you can now renew your passport online–quickly, securely, and without needing to leave the comfort of your home.

Passport renewals generally take 6-8 weeks to process, so if you have upcoming international travel for the holidays, now is the time to check your passport’s expiration and apply to renew.

Fortunately, the online portal is simple and easy to use. To apply for renewal, visit the State Department’s website here, make an account, and fill in the relevant information. If the link doesn’t work (or if you want to give this information to friends or loved ones), you can also type MyTravel.State.Gov directly into your internet browser.

Renewing your passport is easier than ever! Just go to MyTravel.State.Gov and follow eight easy steps.

Once you have completed the process, the State Department should process your application within 6-8 weeks. You will then receive your passport by mail. To learn more about the process, you can watch this video.

As a single mom, I know how frustrating it is for families to deal with the unnecessary piles of paperwork and in-person appointments for things like passport renewals. As your Congresswoman, I’ve made it a priority to improve how government works for people like you, emphasizing how federal agencies need to be more accessible, efficient, and transparent.

I pushed the State Department to create an online passport renewal system as part of my Trust in Government Act. I am glad the State Department is taking the initiative to simplify and modernize the process for renewing passports, and I hope Congress will conduct appropriate oversight to verify that this system actually works for the American public. 

I urged the State Department to modernize its passport renewal system. This month, the agency announced that eligible citizens can now renew their passports online—saving Americans time and money.

My Trust in Government Act also goes beyond passport renewals to make government services more efficient, transparent, and accountable to the people. For example, it would direct the:

• Department of Education to create a centralized student loan repayment portal,
• Department of the Treasury to expand electronic tax filing options, and
• Small Business Administration to streamline online disaster assistance applications. 

Another piece of my Trust in Government Act would require the Department of Interior to create a centralized website with all the permits Americans can get to conduct authorized activities on our public lands. The House just passed this provision unanimously, finding bipartisan compromise on permitting reform, which is one of the most contentious issues in Congress.

In my six years in Congress, I have worked hard to change the way government does business, to make it actually deliver for our families, and to earn back the American people’s trust. Getting the State Department to let you renew your passport online is a small part of this mission.

I hope you will take advantage of this new passport renewal process—and enjoy your international travels!

To stay up to date on how I’m representing you and California’s 47th District, please follow @RepKatiePorter on X, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.

Very truly yours,

Katie Porter
Member of Congress