# How to fill out Form DS-82 to renew a passport by mail

> Who can renew by mail, what to send with it, and the boxes people get wrong.

Canonical page: https://bettrpdf.com/forms/passport-renewal-ds-82  
This file: https://bettrpdf.com/forms/passport-renewal-ds-82.md  
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Updated 2026-10-24. Pages: 2 (plus instructions). Who fills it: The passport holder. Send to: The address on the form. Usually with: Old passport, photo, payment.

## What a Passport renewal (DS-82) is

Form DS-82 renews a U.S. passport by mail, without going in person, if your most recent passport is undamaged, was issued when you were 16 or older, was issued within the last 15 years, and is in your current name (or you can document the change). Otherwise you use Form DS-11 in person. Many people can now renew online through the State Department instead.

## Every field

| Field | What goes in it |
| --- | --- |
| Name, date and place of birth | Exactly as on your current passport, unless you are changing your name with a marriage certificate or court order. |
| Contact details | Email and phone so the State Department can reach you about the application. |
| Most recent passport | Book or card number and issue date. You send the passport itself with the application. |
| Book, card or both | The book is for international travel; the card is for land and sea crossings with Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. |
| Signature and date | Sign in ink on the printed form. The State Department requires a handwritten signature on DS-82. |

## Mistakes that get it sent back

- **Signing electronically.** DS-82 needs a wet signature. Fill it on screen, print it, then sign it by hand.
- **A photo that does not meet the rules.** 2 by 2 inches, taken in the last six months, white background, no glasses. Photo problems are the top reason for delays.
- **Wrong fee or payee.** Pay by check or money order to the U.S. Department of State, and check the current fee before you send it.

## Terms

- On the form: DS-82, DS-11, Passport book, Passport card, Expedited service
- Send with it: Old passport, Passport photo, Payment, Name change document
- Who uses it: Adults renewing, Travelers, People who changed their name

## FAQ

**Can I fill it in here?**

Yes. Download the DS-82 from travel.state.gov, open it in Fill & Sign and type into it on any device. Then print it and sign it by hand.

**Can I renew online instead?**

Often yes. Check the State Department's online passport renewal to see if you qualify; it skips the mailing.

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