After testing online passport renewal on a limited basis this summer, the State Department said Wednesday that it is now fully operational.
The service enables Americans with a U.S. address to do everything they need to do to renew a passport online -- apply, pay the renewal fee and upload a photo.
The option is available to Americans seeking to renew an adult 10-year passport that has expired within the last five years or will expire in the coming year.
The processing time for a renewed passport will remain six to eight weeks, said Rena Bitter, assistant secretary of state for consular affairs. Online passport renewal is not available for citizens who want expedited processing.
Bitter said that the State Department did 24 million passport-related transactions last year, and that about 40% were passport renewals. She expects that up to 5 million Americans a year will be able to use the online passport-renewal service.