The U.S. is Finally Eliminating a Dreaded Passport Requirement
The U.S. is Finally Eliminating a Dreaded Passport Requirement
Al ChumbaTue, October 6, 2026 at 5:07 AM UTC
1
A familiar document carried by millions of Americans is getting both a visual overhaul and a new way to apply for it.
The changes affect how travelers get their passports as well as what the document itself will look like in the years ahead.
For Americans who need a passport, the biggest change is coming to the application process.
The State Department plans to let first-time applicants complete the process online beginning next year, building on an online renewal system that has already cut the time required for many renewals.
A redesigned passport is expected to follow in 2028.
First-Time Passport Applications Move to Login.gov by 2027
Secretary of State Marco Rubio demonstrated the proposed application process at President Donald Trump’s America.gov event on September 29.
The proposed system will let applicants log in through Login.gov, use information already held by the government, upload a passport photo from a phone or other device, pay online and track the application digitally.
Rubio said applicants would be able to complete the process from home, without printing forms or attending an appointment.
He said the goal is for the “vast majority of Americans” to be able to apply for a passport or passport card through the online platform by the end of 2027.
The State Department is building on a system that already handles online renewals.
Digital.gov reported that its Online Passport Renewal service now processes renewals in about 10 minutes, compared with 40 minutes for the earlier paper process.
JIM WATSON / Getty ImagesDigital Online Passport Renewals Cut Processing to 10 Minutes
The existing renewal system has processed approximately 9 million applications as of September 2026, with more than half of all passport renewals now completed digitally.
Digital.gov says the online shift has eliminated more than 4 million hours of customer burden since 2022, and reported customer satisfaction above 90%.
Advertisement
The agency also says photo-related error rates have fallen by nearly 50%. Photo upload time for customers using vendor-provided images has dropped from more than 10 minutes to about five minutes.
Laura Larrimore, a Travel.State.Gov manager, described the challenge the department was trying to solve.
“We had a passport process developed in the 1970s, now processing 23 million passports a year,” Larrimore said. “We had a fierce desire to make the process more efficient for the customer, and honestly more efficient for us.”
2028 Flight of the Eagle U.S. Passport Redesign Adds Animation
The digital changes are separate from another planned update.
Rubio also unveiled a new passport design expected to roll out in 2028.
The proposed “Flight of the Eagle” passport gives the American eagle a more prominent role throughout the document.
The cover features a larger Great Seal and a more prominent “United States of America” inscription.
Inside, pages will depict moments from U.S. history, including the American Revolution, westward expansion, the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima and NASA’s Artemis missions.
The passport will also feature an animation that creates the impression of an eagle flying as the pages are turned.
Current U.S. Passports Remain Valid Until Expiration Dates
The redesign does not mean travelers need to replace a valid passport.
Existing U.S. passports can continue to be used for international travel until their stated expiration date, provided they remain otherwise valid.
Related: Thailand Welcomes Tourists Under New Visa Rules
This story was originally published by TravelHost on Oct 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add TravelHost as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Breaking”
