You finally have that trip of a lifetime booked! Is your passport ready to go? Getting your first passport is exciting! You probably feel ready to go anywhere with that lovely little book in your possession. However, passports are only good for ten years. Every passport needs to be renewed and kept current at all times. Although it may seem daunting, the process is relatively straightforward. I have outlined this below so you can renew your passport in a few simple steps!
Make a note in your calendar or task list as to when your passport will expire and give yourself six months advance notice. With all of the electric planners on the market these days and the calendar app resident on most smartphones, it’s easy to schedule a deadline for your passport renewal.
A typical passport renewal will take between four to six weeks, so allow yourself the necessary time. You can get a rush renewal for additional fees, but with planning why bother?
You never know when something will come up and you need a current passport. Having an expired one does you no good. If you are planning that trip of a lifetime overseas, you don’t want to get caught with documents that are out of date.
The good news here is that you can actually take your own photo now instead of going to a photo lab. How times have changed! Here are the parameters that you should follow per the US Passport Photo Information:
Passport cards are a little more convenient as they fit into your wallet and are the size of a driver’s license; however, a passport card can only be used for ground transportation.
👉 So if you are traveling to any place other than Canada or Mexico, you will need a booklet.
All air and sea travel currently requires a passport booklet along with possible Covid ID, so be sure to check with your destination prior to embarking on your journey.
Starting January 8, 2025, U.S. citizens traveling to the United Kingdom for tourism, business, short-term study, or family visits will need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before departure.
Applications can be submitted online or via the UK ETA mobile app, with a processing fee of £16 (approximately $20 USD). 💸
While most decisions are made within three working days, it’s recommended to apply at least a week before your travel date to account for any unforeseen delays. For more information and to apply, visit the official UK government website: gov.uk.
As this blog dates, fees may change so be sure to double check the current fee when submitting your application. Currently in 2025, the fee for a booklet renewal is $130 by mail. If you are renewing a passport card, the fee is only $30 by mail.
As a final note, be sure to leave enough time for your documents to process. Typical turnaround time is four to six weeks for a standard passport renewal here in the States. Once you have it, let’s book a trip!
Don’t wait until the last minute. Renewing your passport isn’t glamorous, but it is essential. Once it’s done, you’re free to roam the world—no stress, no surprises.
Now that you’ve got the boring-but-important stuff handled, let’s plan something fabulous.
🛫 Need help deciding where to go next? Let’s chat.
Contact me and let me know if you found this information helpful. I’m always happy to hear from followers!
🥂
