Don’t renew passport online abroad

Americans overseas should not renew a United States passport through the State Department’s online system, because submitting the application cancels the passport they are carrying. (travel.state.gov) The State Department says online renewal is only for people who are physically in a United States state or territory when they apply, and it offers only routine service. The agency also says applicants cannot switch that online case to expedited processing later if travel plans change. (travel.state.gov) The risk abroad is immediate: once the online application is submitted, the current passport is electronically invalidated and cannot be used for international travel. The department’s overseas guidance says passport applications outside the United States usually must be handled through a United States embassy or consulate. (travel.state.gov, travel.state.gov) That warning comes as the State Department has expanded online renewal for eligible adults, making the option more visible to travelers who may assume it works anywhere. The department’s passport pages now list online renewal alongside mail renewal and in-person services for adults who qualify. (travel.state.gov, usa.gov) The rules for applying abroad are different from the rules inside the country. In most countries, Americans must appear in person at an embassy or consulate for passport services, though the State Department says a limited number of countries allow some services by mail. (travel.state.gov) Embassy notices have repeated the same point in country-specific terms. The United States Embassy in Georgia says the online renewal system is “not approved for overseas use” and tells Americans abroad to make an appointment with the embassy or consulate instead. (usembassy.gov) Canada is one exception with a separate process. The State Department says eligible Americans in Canada can mail Form DS-82 to the United States for routine or expedited renewal instead of going to an embassy or consulate. (travel.state.gov) The department also warns applicants to avoid third-party websites that claim to renew passports online. It says the only authorized site for online renewal is the government portal at opr.travel.state.gov, and outside companies cannot legally submit the application for you. (travel.state.gov) For Americans already abroad with an expiring passport, the State Department’s direction is narrower than the new online pitch: use the embassy or consulate process where you are, or the Canada mail option if it applies, and do not click “renew online” from overseas. (travel.state.gov, travel.state.gov)